Slime the Messenger

Nancy A. Youssef writes for McClatchy Newspapers: "Navy Adm. Michael Mullen and Marine Gen. Peter Pace offered different visions of U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan on Monday at the ceremony that marked Mullen's ascendancy to the top U.S. military post and Pace's retirement from it.

"Mullen, in his first act as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke of the day the United States will leave Iraq and Afghanistan and said the United States must 'be ready for who and what comes after.'

"Pace, who sworn Mullen in as his last official act as chairman, defended his controversial tenure, saying the United States was in two wars because 'the enemy . . . has declared war on us.'

"Mullen, the former chief of naval operations, has criticized the military's performance of the war at times and has fretted publicly about the strain that two wars have put on an all-volunteer military. Pace, who wasn't reappointed because of objections in Congress, has steadfastly backed the military's performance."

Bubble Watch, Part I

Bush is holding one of his signature "town hall meetings" tomorrow, this one on the budget, in solidly Republican Lancaster County, Pa.

It's not exactly hostile territory, and just to make sure the audience is super-friendly, the event is only open to members of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and representatives from the hosting organization, a fast-growing marketing and fulfillment company called The Jay Group.

Tom Murse writes for the Lancaster New Era: "About 70 members of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry, which is hosting the president, lined up outside its South Queen Street office as early as 4 a.m. today to get one of only 100 tickets available."

But hold on, White House advance team! You may want to keep a rally squad available to surround this guy: "Manheim Realtor Gerry Beane, 59, was the first to secure a ticket. He said he wants to hear Bush address the numerous problems facing the United States, specifically the state of the housing market, the economy and the Iraq war.

"'I'd ask him when he's going to finally acknowledge the public's opinion on Iraq and react appropriately,' said Beane, who is opposed to the war and wants the troops brought home."

Bubble Watch, Part II

Robin Wright writes in The Washington Post: "After the controversial appearance of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at Columbia University last week, an Iranian university yesterday invited President Bush to travel to Iran and speak on campus about a range of issues, including the Holocaust, terrorism, human rights and U.S. foreign policy, the Fars News Agency reported yesterday.

"The invitation from Ferdowsi University in the northeastern city of Mashhad asked Bush to answer questions from students and professors 'just the same way' that Ahmadinejad took questions 'despite all the insults directed at him.'

"The White House said yesterday that Bush would be willing to travel to Iran, but under different circumstances.

"'President Bush looks forward to traveling to a democratic Iran, an Iran where its leaders allow freedom of speech and assembly for all of its people and an Iran where the leaders mourn the victims of the Holocaust, not call for the destruction of Israel,' National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said."

Me, I'd settle for Bush visiting Columbia University.

The Son-in-Law

Libby Copeland writes in The Washington Post: "Henry Hager, 29, who was engaged to Jenna Bush, 25, in August, hails from a world of good breeding and foregone conclusions. His parents, who live in the West End of Richmond, are staples of their society. Like the Bushes, with their prominent forebears and their best schools, the Hagers are a Good Family, in the old sense of the phrase."

Live Online

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Late Night Humor

Charlie Savage, author of "Takeover: The Return of the Imperial Presidency and the Subversion of American Democracy," was a guest on Comedy Central's Colbert Report last night.

Savage argued that Bush has seized unprecedented powers. Colbert shot back: "But there are checks and balances in our present form of government. The president tries to get as much power as possible. It's up to Congress to check him. If they can't get it up to stop him, that's not his fault!"

And after hearing some of Savage's concerns, Colbert concluded: "Well you say this is bad for America. I say: This is good for America, let's wait a while, see how history judges, and come back during Bush's third term and we'll decide."

Colbert also praised the Senate for its recent overwhelming vote on an anti-Iran amendment from Sens. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.).

"But not everyone supports our troops enough to give them the job security a war with Iran would provide," Colbert said. "People like Sen. Jim Webb, who voted against the amendment, calling it 'Dick Cheney's fondest pipe dream.' Well, that is completely unfair. Everyone knows Dick Cheney's fondest pipe dream is driving a bulldozer into the New York Times while drinking crude oil out of Keith Olbermann's skull."

Cartoon Watch

Mike Luckovich on the proud papas -- and their next monster.