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Sheryl Crow is up now. Damn, that woman is cool. Oops, that was not the Ustream we wanted...

will.i.am and John Legend doing the "Yes We Can" song live at the convention. Here's the original video for you.

PROGRESS WITH POLYWELL FUSION: A report from Alan Boyle. Faster, please....

OBAMA TO TELL NATION: 'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH'.... I received an advance copy of excerpts -- not the whole text -- from tonight's speech from Barack Obama, and not surprisingly, it looks very strong. Most notably, after characterizing this election as...

Obama is said to be in a rhetorical pickle. If he talks a language of hope and inspiration, it's too general and ethereal. On the other hand, if he get too specific, he sounds like a policy wonk. And if he goes for McCain's throat, the pundits have been warning that he will evoke the dreaded specter of the Angry Black Man. To this observer, these formulations, repeated over and over by the usual talking heads, are so much baloney. At various times and in various speeches, Obama has come out with superb rhetorical flights that demonstrate his understanding of the situation of America's stressed working families, and he has done well at connecting their plight to the Bush administration's disastrous policies. He just hasn't done it quite consistently enough. But if you can imagine what it feels like to be Barack Obama after the last three nights, he must be feeling pretty pumped. What he needs is just a bit more of what Joe Biden did last night, speaking personally of what American families worry about around kitchen tables; and a little more of what John Kerry did, in shaming John McCain the senator versus John McCain the candidate, the latter being hopelessly out of touch with what working Americans face. The first nights of the convention teed it up for Barack, in multiple and reinforcing ways, my favorite being the introduction to America of Michelle Obama, accurately presenting the Obama family as a much better rendition of the American dream and American work and family values then the rather awkward family story of the John McCain and his beer- heiress current wife. The Biden family only provides reinforcement. If expectations have been lowered by media blarney, so much the better. There will be shock and awe when he hits it out of that ballpark tonight. And, senator, it's okay to a be a little partisan. This is an election after all. And at his best, Obama has beautifully combined uplift, detail, partisanship, and connection to regular people. To pick just one example, from one of his very best speeches, his commencement address at Knox College three years ago, portions of which have found their way into other speeches: How does America find its way in this new, global economy? What will our place in history be? Like so much of the American story, once again, we face a choice. Once again, there are those who believe that there isn't much we can do about this as a nation. That the best idea is to give everyone one big refund on their government--divvy it up by individual portions, in the form of tax breaks, hand it out, and encourage everyone to use their share to go buy their own health care, their own retirement plan, their own child care, their own education, and so on. In Washington, they call this the Ownership Society. But in our past there has been another term for it--Social Darwinism--every man or woman for him or herself. It's a tempting idea, because it doesn't require much thought or ingenuity. It allows us to say that those whose health care or tuition may rise faster than they can afford--tough luck. It allows us to say to the Maytag workers who have lost their job--life isn't fair. It let's us say to the child who was born into poverty--pull yourself up by your bootstraps. And it is especially tempting because each of us believes we will always be the winner in life's lottery, that we're the one who will be the next Donald Trump, or at least we won't be the chump who Donald Trump says: "You're fired!" But there is a problem. It won't work. It ignores our history. It ignores the fact that it's been government research and investment that made the railways possible and the internet possible. It's been the creation of a massive middle class, through decent wages and benefits and public schools that allowed us all to prosper. Our economic dependence depended on individual initiative. It depended on a belief in the free market; but it has also depended on our sense of mutual regard for each other, the idea that everybody has a stake in the country, that we're all in it together and everybody's got a shot at opportunity. That's what's produced our unrivaled political stability. And so if we do nothing in the face of globalization, more people will continue to lose their health care. Fewer kids will be able to afford the diploma you're about to receive. More companies like United Airlines won't be able to provide pensions for their employees. And those Maytag workers will be joined in the unemployment line by any worker whose skills can be bought and sold on the global market. Expect even better tonight. For more Huffington Post coverage of the Democratic National Convention, visit our Politics @ the DNC page, our Democratic Convention Big News Page, and our HuffPost bloggers' Twitter feed, live from Denver. More on Democratic Convention

As Barack Obama steps onto the stage at the Invesco Field stadium in front of 76,000 people he can be sure that Republicans, still unconvinced Hillary Clinton supporters, conservative media, independent voters and all those who still believe him to be an unpatriotic Muslim with a strange name will be listening intently for anything which can be used as a reason to criticize him. Obama has a task on his hands tonight. Michelle Obama, Hillary and Bill Clinton, Joe Biden and others have all done a great job of setting the stage for Barack this week. They have talked with conviction and persuasion about his family and his marriage, his American values, his readiness to lead and the strength of his policies when compared to McCain's. The Convention has been great success so far, but the true measure of its success will be its impact on the above-mentioned people. Whilst Obama's camp has apparently said that they expect no real bounce from the Convention, there is no doubt that they hope it will favourably influence the hard-to-reach voters in his direction. By the end of tonight, will the 28% of Hillary Clinton supporters who have said they'd rather vote for McCain be fully committed to supporting Obama? Will the still undecided voters be persuaded that he is their man? Will those who have had their doubts about who he is and his ability to relate to their values acknowledge that, bar the superficial differences, this man is as American as they come? Will the Republicans still be successful in calling him an elitist figure who is nothing more than a Paris Hilton type airhead? Tonight Obama must do a few things: 1) He must go way beyond the abstract and rhetoric and bring himself firmly back down to earth, by talking not only about hope and change but specifically addressing key concerns -- the economy, rising gas prices, foreclosures, the job market -- and putting his policies right out in front. This speech must be particularly substantive. 2) He must set out, in no uncertain terms, why he is better than McCain. McCain is still seen by most voters as the more experienced candidate, particularly when it comes to issues such as national security and that has to change. 3) He must be strong and harsh in his criticism of the Republicans. So far, Obama has been very kind towards the Republicans, but he must show them tonight that they can't mess with him. Obama is a great orator, and judging by reports discussing previews of his speech, he will do all of the above and more. On the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" Speech, tonight is an historic and significant moment. Tonight Obama must get it right. More on Democratic Convention

It's Thursday afternoon and Democrats in Denver are as quiet as an army on the eve of battle. It's partly exhaustion. A political convention is no country for old men, but just 14% of delegates are under 36, meaning 14% at most are of an age to party hearty, as in truth nearly everyone here has done since the moment their planes touched down. The quiet also comes from knowing in a few hours your champion faces a critical test. A month ago, Democrats who'd said there was no way to lose this election began thinking they'd somehow managed to find one. A week in Denver has restored some confidence. Spirits started lifting the minute Ted Kennedy walked on stage. Since Teddy, we've heard fine speeches by Michelle Obama and Joe Biden and double barreled barn burners by the Clintons. Still, a Thursday Gallup poll has the race tied; other polls give Obama a slim edge. Barack is a gifted orator. Director Spike Lee told CNN he doesn't worry about how Obama will do tonight, because he knows that, like a great athlete, he'll rise to the occasion. I hope he's right, but Babe Ruth never had this much riding on just one at bat. Everybody knows Obama can paint portraits. Tonight he must also draw a blueprint. It's hard doing both at once. He also needs to connect intimately with the American people; hard to do while painting a portrait and drawing a blueprint and even harder while looking out on a live audience of 75,000 from a set that makes 'Aida' look like 'Our Town'. Of all Obama's tasks, drawing the blueprint may be the one that gets most in the way of the others. A drumbeat has been taken up not only by Republicans and the press but by many Democrats. Its message is that Obama's message is too vague. The pressure is on for him to dispel all this criticism tonight in this toughest of venues. I agree with the critique of Obama and would apply it as well to most Democrats of this generation. But there's a double standard in this campaign regarding so called substance and it's time someone got called out on it. Seen John McCain's web site? It has less issue content than a high school sophomore's MySpace page. McCain once blithely confided he knows nothing about economics. Every day he proves he wasn't kidding. On some of the biggest issues -- take education -- McCain has almost nothing to say. When he does speak out, it is to say almost nothing. Let's just look at one example, health care. McCain's entire health care program is a tax credit to people who purchase their own. To help finance it he'd make those getting coverage at work pay taxes on it. For millions of Americans it would be a financial calamity. Coming with no real cost containment and with his new tax cuts for the wealthy it would be a calamity for the U.S. Treasury as well. No one seriously presses McCain on any of this. At the same time pressure is on Obama to spell out every detail of proposals already far more developed than any of McCain's. It's time for the press and all of us to take stock and hold the two campaigns to one standard. In the speech of his life, Obama need not risk losing the silken thread of his rhetoric in the numbing detail of his policies. If he's looking for an example there is none better than the one set last night by the Big Dog himself, Bill Clinton. I once helped write speeches for Clinton but as I've said before it was like handing sheet music to a jazz musician. Clinton can turn a stadium into a living room in a matter of minutes. No one's better at distilling complex issues into clear choices. It's hard to be a party of change, let alone a leader of a genuine transformation. New truths take longer than old lies to explain. You don't do it with complexity or abstraction. You simplify. You need to stake out your major positions, not annotate your every program Tonight, Barack Obama faces as tough a challenge as any speaker ever dreamed of facing. If he meets it, let no one get away with pretending he didn't. More on Democratic Convention

A more common variety of rodent: More on Democratic Convention

DENVER--Today's meeting of the Democratic Women's Caucus featured a surprise guest: Michelle Obama. The potential first lady is making a concerted effort, it seems, to reach out to the different women's constituency groups in the Democratic party, including those closely allied with Hillary Clinton. (Earlier this week, Michelle Obama spoke to a gathering sponsored by Emily's List, the organization that bundles donations to fund pro-choice candidates.) In today's remarks, Ms. Obama offered Hillary Clinton some major props, saying, "Thanks to her, my husband is a better candidate." The ballroom full of women echoed with cheers and applause. "Thanks to her," Michelle Obama continued, "his campaign is a better campaign. And thanks to her, my daughters -- and all of our daughters -- have the freedom to dream bigger dreams..." Michelle Obama went on to list the causes dear to the hearts of caucus-goers: health care, equal pay, reproductive rights. She spoke rather poignantly of the tensions of being a mother who works outside the home, saying she often feels she short-changing her daughters when she's at work or on the campaign trail, and feels she's giving the job and the campaign short shrift when she focuses on her girls. "We all known that guilt," she said, "and I know I can get an 'amen' on that." The audience shouted back, "Amen." Her remarks ended in an appeal to the party's women activists to redouble their efforts on behalf of the Obama campaign. Predicting the upcoming election to be "a tight contest," Michelle Obama told a roomful of admirers, "Women are going to make the difference in this campaign...I am going to need you every step of the way." Earlier today, I reported this for The Media Consortium: Crossposted from The Consortium Report, a project of The Media Consortium For more Huffington Post coverage from the Democratic National Convention, visit our Politics @ the DNC page, our Democratic Convention Big News Page, and our HuffPost bloggers' Twitter feed, live from Denver. More on Michelle Obama

Doce Vida Fitness Inc. embraces the Kyosei credo -- a 'spirit of cooperation' in which individuals and organizations live and work together for the common good. We recognize that each employee and strategic partner is vital to the company's success, and that their loyalty and motivation are the means by which we will succeed. We understand that human imagination is our only unlimited resource, and we hope to catalyze that potential by being fair, honest and responsible in all our dealings. Our mission is much like what the DNC is hoping to inspire -- the spirit of cooperation to work together for the common good. Doce Vida partners with like-minded businesses, such as the Huffington Post, and is a proud sponsor of the HuffPost Oasis. We have donated our Sauipe Shorts and a variety of tops to the Oasis so visitors can change into ultra-soft, moisture wicking workout attire to enjoy yoga to de-stress and remain balanced. Check out Doce Vida's collection online: www.docevidafitness.com Our Fabric Loves Your Body

Obamamania is everywhere! Street vendors are out in force, hawking every imaginable souvenir you would ever want to bring home from this convention. By far though, the major purchase trends are t-shirts and buttons. Today everyone is festooned in their Obama tee's and badges, so I looked for people who were wearing their political flair particularly well. More on Democratic Convention

Labor Day traditionally marks the start of the election season. This year is certainly no different, but the stakes are much higher than they've been in a long time. The economy is in trouble, unemployment is high, bankruptcies are up, and families are finding their budgets crimped by rising gas, food and utility costs. The media reports that even college students are turning to food stamps to make ends meet and sky-rocketing food prices are forcing more and more people to rely on charity food pantries to feed their families. It's true that the economic indicators paint a gloomy picture, yet workers have much to be proud of and even to celebrate. Although largely unheralded and unseen, most workers contribute to their workplaces and communities. AFSCME members in particular can take pride in doing the work that makes America happen. Every day, in towns, cities, suburbs and exurbs across our nation, AFSCME members are driving school buses, working in hospitals, caring for children, staffing 911 call centers, fixing bridges and roads, repairing tunnels, providing food stamps and other emergency assistance to families, and doing many other jobs that protect and strengthen communities. Our nation's economy has faltered during these last eight years and from time to time, so have our spirits. But we have an opportunity to regain what we've lost. We all are ready for change. And what's more, we are ready to create it. In 2006, union workers voted for change in overwhelming numbers, taking back the U.S. Congress and putting worker-friendly governors and state legislators in office across the country. This year, we're going to do everything we can to build on that success. We need a new President who will stand with workers. We need a president who supports public services and the workers who provide them, and opposes the privatization of public service jobs. We need a president who will work to protect Social Security, not privatize it. We need a President who will sign the Employee Free Choice Act so that workers can join unions to negotiate for better wages and benefits, not one who opposes efforts of workers to organize. We need a President who will work to enact quality, affordable health care for all Americans, not one who supports taxing employee health benefits. This year, the choice for working families is clear. Although we can't hit the rewind button and undo the last eight years, we can move forward by electing a new president who will be a champion for working families. With this election, we can restart our economy and regain workers' rights. We can restore food safety and environmental protection laws. We can create good jobs and revive public services and people's faith in them. And we can end the war in Iraq that's robbed our nation -- and families -- of too many working men and women, and is costing us $12 billion a month. Now's the time for us to reclaim America -- and to reclaim the values that built America's middle class. Now's the time for us to elect candidates who truly value workers and understand the needs of the nation's working families. More on Economy

I have been watching the Democratic National Convention in Denver on television for the past three nights and have found myself completely renewed and excited about politics in America. The last time I was this excited was in 1992 when I was working for the Women's Campaign Fund in Washington D.C. helping more women to get elected into office and supporting Bill Clinton into Presidency. At that time - Washington, and in effect our country -- was a place of hope and possibility. Sixteen years later I feel we are at that doorstep once again. Although I found myself getting teary in many parts of Michelle's, Hillary's, Bill's and Joe's speeches, in all honesty the most exciting part for me - the one where I felt most moved by an exhilarating feeling of "AT LAST!" -- is when each speaker talked about finally bringing our country to a point where women receive equal pay! As a preschool teacher for many years, I was in a job that was heavily represented by women who were underpaid. As a full-time employee in a New York school renowned for its early childhood education, I was making just over $20,000 at the start in 1999 and topped out at just under $30,000. On this salary I was trying to live in New York City as a single woman and pay back graduate school loans to a private college that tallied toward $60,000. I chose that school because it ranks among the top in early childhood education. I wanted the best education to help me be the best teacher. The school, Bank Street College of Education, gave me an outstanding education - but unfortunately I did not last in the preschool classroom. I wanted the best for the children, but also wanted the best for myself. I wanted a life where I did not have to worry about how I was going to pay my rent, pay my bills, pay for the continuing education that I know as a individual committed to personal growth would be wanting as time moved on. I left my job as a preschool teacher just one year ago and started my own company, Lotus Blossom Style. Starting this company was my way to continue to give voice to the messages that I put out in the classroom -- peace, collaboration, creative expression, and a rightful respect for every individual - and at least have a fighting chance as an entrepreneur (in many ways the American Dream) to move beyond the underpaid status of an early childhood educator. Just over a year ago, right before I started the company, it dawned on me that maybe we have been in a patriarchal paradigm for too long and that this paradigm was what was throwing ourselves, our environment, our country and our world out of balance. I wondered if war could be decreased if we started to identify and give more time, space, and money to issues that have traditionally been considered more the feminine domain - healthcare, education and family values. I thought about what would happen if more and more women were in power and leadership positions and we turned to a time where women and men were respected and rewarded equally in the workplace. What would this look like? Michelle, Hillary, Joe, Bill and Obama have restarted my clock of hope. I believe in their ability to walk us forward as leaders into a time where women and men can renew their self-respect and respect for one other as we rebuild our country in partnership, collaboration and unity. Although Hillary, who was and still is a sign of hope and inspiration for many women, is not our Presidential Candidate - can we walk forward believing that we are at the dawn of a new era where many good possibilities are waiting for us? More on Michelle Obama

By Kelly Nuxoll and Dawn Teo Thursday, August 28th, 2008 3:16 PM Just arrived at the bloggers area and plugged in. Took us about 30 minutes to go straight up 4 floors. Bloggers area is in the press box. First of all, one of the elevators is "reserved" and another elevator has been roped off for a private Dem Convention Committee Party (they roped off the party just in front of the elevators instead of behind them and wouldnt let us just get on the elevator). About half of the area that was originally designated for bloggers during the walk thru has been sharked by other media, and so we have to be rotated out in 30 minute increments. I took the last available seat, and now a line is forming for seats. There are phones at the desks, bu we do not know what they are for. My seat is actually marked with both "Associated Press" and "DNC" -- no idea why. This is a very testosterone filled room. Only 3 women (including Kelly and Dawn) out of about 45 bloggers. Things are quiet right now. Some are just in here to get out of the heat, others are actually blogging. Everywhere in Invesco, the people are incredibly excited and happy to be here. Even when things are going wrong, people are jovial and laugh it off. As we were walking up the ramp to the press elevator, we had a great view of the line for the public ticket holders. It snaked back and forth across the 1/4 parking lot and then across some kind of overpass or bridge in the distance. The part we can see appears to be about a mile and a half long. Now, it appears that the seats we were instructed to take (we have purple passes) are not open to the press, but there are NO open seats anywhere else. We may have to watch from the hallway! This is most definitely the most poorly run convention I've ever attended, and my expectations for organization and professionalism at this event are pretty low, so we'll see. Who was it that said, "I don't belong to an organized party, I'm a Democrat."? 2:45 PM Dawn and I are here at Invesco Field, home of the Denver Broncos and, more importantly, site of Barack Obama's speech tonight. (See the Onion headline: Will Barack Obama Overcome His Debilitating Fear of Public Speaking in Time for his Big Event?") It's a beautiful, blue sunny day in Denver, and at 1:45pm--only forty-five minutes after the security check points opened--the stadium is already about an eighth full. The line for ticket holders stretched at least three-quarters of a mile out the gates by the time I came screeching in. Surprisingly, I didn't get punched in the face as I race-walked alongside the spectators, depending as much on my hurried air of entitlement as my press pass to get me through. Dawn, who was invited to ride on the CBS press bus (a worrying fact, since she had zero credentials--they just scooped her up), was waiting for me outside the press entrance, and we achieved a seamless lateral pass of the press badge. Lesson one, two, and three of the DNC convention: It's good to have cred. Although there are rumors this is a logistical nightmare, we've seen no evidence of it so far. A couple spectators we chatted with on the way in said they had parked and entered in less than an hour. Inside the corridors, it smells like popcorn and feels like a football game the hometown team is pretty sure it's going to win. For the moment, Dawn and I are sitting at the 50 yard line about two dozen seats from the field. The press are seated among the "honored guests" - special people, but not special enough to have suites. The band is warming up, and somebody just hauled two dozen American flags onto the sage. Camera crews are setting up, and somebody's selling Coke for $4. On the screen are fantastic Obama-campaign videos showing people from the primaries and conventions. Despite the blazing sun, and the knowledge that we are at T-7 until the Nominee (who at last gets to drop the "presumptive") speaks, Dawn and I are giddy with caffeine, dehydration, and the thrill of what feels like the Superbowl of politics. More on Democratic Convention

My colleague at Culture11.com, James Poulos has news. A well-placed source has confirmed that Mitt Romney no longer understands himself to be in consideration for the Republican nomination for Vice President. When asked where he'll be tomorrow, Romney revealed that he planned to be in Massachusetts. When pressed for a clarification -- as to whether that remark constituted an artful prevarication -- Romney declared that it did not. Further, one of Romney's senior advisors has verified.... More on John McCain

On Wednesday evening, some 100 US veterans gathered outside the Democratic convention to read a letter demanding "three points of unity": an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, full benefits and health care for all returning veterans, and reparations to the people of Iraq. The veterans were joined by between some 3,000 peaceful protesters, and Ron Kovic, the famous handicapped veteran whose life was depicted in Born on the 4th of July. The convention in Denver has seen relatively small numbers of protesters amidst an army of heavily armored police. The veterans asked for a representative of the Obama's staff to listen to the letter, and said they wouldn't move until one arrived. Police hovered above them in cherry pickers, and threatened to use tear gas if the protest didn't disperse. As tensions mounted, the Obama campaign sent word that they would set up a meeting with the veterans. Photographs by Andrea Burns More on Democratic Convention

There's a certain gallows humor about hurricanes. We all joke about them. But let's face it, some people shouldn't make light of killer storms. And one of those people is Karl Rove: "The Republicans can't seem to get a break when it comes to August and when it comes to the weather," said Rove, a FOX News analyst. "I know this is being thought a lot about in Washington and at the White House and discussed and I suspect they will monitor it carefully and figure out what to do." Rove, we should remember, was supposedly put in charge of the post-Katrina rebuilding effort. But it was never clear what, if anything, he did on that front. The historical record is still murky, but from the outside it appears he spent the balance of the Katrina aftermath on political positioning, trying to pin blame for the disastrous response on Democrats, and engaged in a politically overdetermined debate on whether to seize control of the Louisiana National Guard from Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco. He and the president had multiple operational levers of the government at their fingertips, but they chose to focus on politics, not substance. And people suffered terribly for it. Which is the whole problem of the Bush administration in a nutshell. Now, on the eve of the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Gustav is churning into the Gulf, a potential threat to what's left of New Orleans and a large swath of the Gulf coast. Millions are prepping for possible evacuations, wondering if they will see their homes intact again. In short: it's not Republicans who are suffering here, but Americans. Rove's quip is just a throwaway line, but it shows where his head is, and has always been, on the matter. www.johnmcquaid.com/blog More on Karl Rove

The Democratic Convention has been thrilling and inspiring. Michelle, Caroline, Hillary, Teddy, Bill, Kerry, Joe... all sublime. And yet, it's been so galling to be constantly reminded that Nancy Pelosi is higher in the line of succession for the presidency than I am. No, no, no, I'm not kidding around here. I read the Constitution like twenty-five times, I spoke to a fairly competent entertainment lawyer and it's true: If the unthinkable happened, the unthinkable would happen. Nancy. Pelosi. Would. Be. President. Before. Me. It's bad enough that Ms. Pelosi would assume the presidency ahead of say, Gloria Allred or Lyle Menendez, but me? What did I do in a previous life to be treated so shabbily? The answer is nothing, because there's no such thing as a previous life. So what did I do in this life to be knocked so far down the line of succession? No idea. Last week, I tucked an exposed label back inside the collar of a friend's shirt... that alone should be put me a minimum of three thousand slots higher on the ladder for the presidency than Ms. Pelosi. Granted, it's reassuring to think that when we were told as children that anyone can become president of the United States, it wasn't just lip service. But you'd think for such a big job, there would be some basic job skill requirements. Speaking ability, a flair for not annoying people, a knack for following through on subpoena power. Hey, I like having a lot of options I'll never exercise as much as the next person, but a subpoena for Karl Rove? I'm hand delivering that one myself and that's a promise, my fellow Americans. On the opening night of the convention, we all saw Ms. Pelosi deliver the feel-neuralgia-speech-of-the-year in a voice best suited for the public reading of divorce papers. The content of her apres-garde speech was so conventional it bordered on subversive. In all her self-absorption, she came up just shy of her realizing how self-absorbed she is. (To be fair, I'm full of myself too but, you know, justifiably so.) And yet, again: she's well ahead of me in the line of succession for the presidency. The fact is, I'm willing to admit she may be superior to me as a comedy writer, maybe she could even dust me off on a basketball court, but no one in their right mind wouldn't rate me the better politician. If any Huffpo-ers in Denver get a moment to bring this up with Barack or Michelle today, I'd really appreciate it. More on Democratic Convention

The cover story in this coming Sunday's New York Times Magazine considers George Bush and what it terms "His Final Days," with his view of his legacy - and John McCain - in the forefront. It's written by Peter Baker, the former Washington Post reporter now with the Times. It opens with a scene from this past May when an uneasy Bush and McCain met for "14 seconds of ritual" on a tarmac for a press photo op. "That was May," Baker writes. "As of late this month, the president and the would-be successor from his own party have not spoken since." Later Baker reveals: "McCain has not called the president for advice." Baker describes this as a "relationship fraught with bitter resentment, grudging respect and mutual dependence." After his appearance next Monday at the GOP convention, Bush "will be ushered out of the spotlight as quickly as possible - if not in 14 seconds, then not all that much longer." Bush aides "seethed" when McCain called conditions in post-Katrina New Orleans "disgraceful" this past April and "grievances nursed by both sides have only grown from there," Baker observes. He describes Bush as feeling he needs McCain to win to validate his legacy, while McCain finds himself "saddled" with Bush baggage. John Weaver, McCain's former chief strategist, tells Baker, "I'm sure McCain is thinking, Is Bush going to beat me twice?" Baker also reveals: "One former Bush aide who spends his days publicly bashing Barack Obama sat down for lunch with me recently and before the appetizers even arrived lamented that the Democrat will probably crush McCain. He ruefully called Obama one of the three three most talented political figures of his lifetime," along with JFK and Reagan. Karl Rove this summer told friends of his "exasperation" with the McCain team's "dysfunctional organization and sclerotic message," as Baker puts it. "And the president himself, according to friends and prominent Republicans, privately rails about what he considers McCain's undisciplined approach to the campaign and grouses about McCain's efforts to distance himself from the administration." More on John McCain

Worth spending a moment to remember: