Get Thee to an Airport!

Bummed that you missed that spectacular congressional trip last month to Slovenia and Italy? Not to worry. There's an even better one leaving tomorrow for . . . drumroll . . . the Galapagos!

Yes, you and your spouse, along with a few members of Congress, will fly aboard your own U.S. military jet to the famed archipelago off the coast of Ecuador.

Granted, Quito, the capital, is not really a tourist destination. That's why we've arranged for you to spend less than a couple of hours at the airport before boarding a flight to the islands, home of those spectacular tortoises and other species of flora and fauna that informed Charles Darwin's evolution theories.

Rep. Brian Baird (D-Wash.), who chairs a subcommittee of the House Science and Technology Committee, will lead six other lawmakers, including: Democrats Darlene Hooley (Ore.), John Tanner (Tenn.), Eddie Bernice Johnson (Tex.) and Ben Chandler (Ky.), and Republicans Bob Inglis (S.C.) and Frank Lucas (Okla.). on the trip. The purpose is to meet officials and scientists and search for elusive facts on global warming and marine science and such.

Baird, Inglis, Lucas and Tanner -- are bringing spouses for what promises to be a spectacular trip; if taxpayers weren't paying the tab, it would cost you many thousands in airfare and lodging alone. Five committee staff members will be on board to smooth things along.

The embassy will make sure your transportation around the archipelago, including charter boats and the diving gear you'll need to really understand the effects of climate change, is provided.

After four days hauling in those facts, you'll head back to Quito on Monday night. The next morning, it's out to the airport, where the plane and crew, who've patiently awaited your return, are standing by to bring you home.

Note: We apologize for the late notice on this splendid journey. If we come across more of this caliber, we'll try to be more timely. However, with the political conventions and the elections approaching, look for some falloff on the travel front, at least on the Hill. On the other hand, this is traditionally high season for outgoing senior administration officials to take critical overseas trips.

(If Loop Fans spot some excellent junkets out there, that e-mail is: kamena@washpost.com.)

What's Won, Lost in Transition

The Washington chatter is all about whom Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama are going to pick as their running mates. (Yes, we've got your Loop "Pick the Veep" contest entries pending.)

Obama calls it "the most important decision I'll make before I'm president" -- a bit strange when you consider Bush I's pick of Dan Quayle.

But there's another job that both candidates should focus on fairly soon: transition director. Sure, some snarky columnists will gig them for presuming victory by gearing up preelection. But solid transition planning -- and initial personnel decisions -- are simply too important to put off until after the election.