Barack’s arriving this afternoon. I should be chasing the experience, but I think I’ll avoid what is sure to be a traffic mess and a very hot wait in the mid-day August sun.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Convention is right around the corner. I’ll miss a welcome bash for media being held on Saturday night. I wish I had known about it when I made my reservations to Denver. And we’re slowly getting some logistical information. Bloggers will have to report every morning to a downtown hotel to pick up that day’s convention credential. I understand the one day at a time approach this is standard security procedure. Government issued ID necessary. State delegates will likely get their credentials at the hotel, which will make things a lot easier for them. It’s too bad that the state bloggers selected to be seated with their state delegates can’t have their credentials delivered in that same batch.

Meanwhile, a conference call among bloggers heading for Denver confirmed that we’re pretty much flying blind. One person suggested that the best plan is to have no plans and just go with the flow. Another suggested that hanging out in the lobby of the delegation’s hotel is the best way to catch up with people. The latest word is that there will be power available on the floor of the convention for bloggers, although I won’t count on it given recent confusing or conflicting information. That means another expense for an extra laptop battery.

The cost of this convention trip is mounting. There’s the air fare, a hotel bill, airport shuttle, a light rail pass, food and drink, and the tab is quickly adding up.

Did I mention the shirts? I ordered several shirts from CafePress.com to wear during the convention week in Denver. Here’s what’s printed on the back, and also appears in mini-version on the front pocket.

I’ve heard from at least one other blogger who has something similar.

Speaking of the elections, did you notice that John Lehman, whose investment firm put up most of the money behind the Hawaii Superferry, is now a top advisor to GOP candidate John McCain and helping to craft a strategy that recalls the days of Richard Nixon. From the Huffington Post:

In fact, McCain’s entire war strategy relies upon Nixonian political logic: Americans will vote for the candidate who won’t countenance defeat not because they’re attached to the country we’re liberating, but because they can’t accept that many American lives may have been lost without purpose.

McCain’s military outlook bears a striking resemblance to Nixon’s via his advisers. McCain claims Henry Kissinger as his most important national security mentor. McCain’s other main national security adviser, John Lehman, served on Kissinger’s staff during the Nixon presidency. McCain and Lehman and the neo-con Schneuemann have embraced Nixon’s belief that if public confidence can be maintained, American military power will compel surrender.

A recent article in The Australian points to Lehman’s frothing at the mouth over the Supreme Court’s decision upholding basic rights for detainees at Guantanamo.

Mr Lehman told The Australian in an exclusive interview that the Supreme Court decision was “insane” and could affect Australian intelligence-sharing too.

He said the effect of the ruling was that the US Government could be forced to disclose evidence shared by foreign intelligence agencies that might have led to a detainees’ capture on the battlefield.

But one senior foreign intelligence source also stressed that while the Supreme Court decision raised legitimate concerns, it was highly unlikely that the US would ever “go down that path”, saying safeguards within the courts process would protect classified information.

But Mr Lehman said it was risking intelligence-gathering efforts and could shut down co-operation with foreign agencies. The alternative was simply to release detainees, something the Bush administration had been forced to contemplate since the Supreme Court ruling.

“All of our partners are now taking a whole reassessment about sharing intelligence with the US, as anyone would,” he said.

With Lehman and the neo-Cons firmly in control of McCain’s national security campaign strategy, the maverick is looking an awful lot like Bush #3.

Back at home, I just noticed that Bancwest, parent company of First Hawaiian Bank, recently made money $352,000 by buying stock in rival Bank of Hawaii when its stock was battered recently and riding it up as the stock price recovered. I guess business rivalries don’t get in the way of money making opportunities.

The class notes tucked away in the alumni magazine from Whitman College recently brought news of another Hawaii student who was part of my freshman class way-back-when.

Lawrence Winter ’69 sold his interest in Rane Corporation, which he cofounded in 1982, and retired in 2003. After a lifelong struggle, he began a transition starting in 2006 to legally become Clare Ruth Winter. Claire dedicates her time to educational writing and suport of nonprofit civil rights and charitable organizations. She is also a charter member of the Washington Transgender Equality Project.

I remember Larry Winter from our first week as freshmen at Whitman in 1965. I recall that he was a talented musician who played a great folk guitar. If I’m not mistaken, he graduated from St. Louis. I hadn’t known him in Hawaii, and we went separate ways at Whitman. But I’m happy that times have changed enough to give him the social space to find his own way.

A recent issue of Library Services Journal featured a focus on the Patsy T. Mink Papers, held by the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress. The collection includes 1530 linear feet of paper files.

The papers of Patsy Mink contain correspondence, memoranda, writings, speeches, notes, interviews, questionnaires, legislative files, testimony, casework, law practice client files, court documents, statements, press releases, appointment books, scheduling files, travel itineraries, campaign files, card files, biographical material, student papers, family papers, scrapbooks, news clippings, printed matter, awards and honors, political ephemera, maps, photographs, and other papers relating chiefly to Mink’s service in the U.S. House of Representatives. Subjects include gender equity, Title IX, Women’s Educational Equity Act, education, women’s rights, welfare, environment, U.S. territories in the Pacific, Asian- American affairs, consumer affairs, civil rights, labor, immigration, health care, Vietnam, and nuclear weapons testing. Also documents Mink’s private law practice in Honolulu; involvement in Hawaii and national Democratic politics; service in Hawaii’s territorial and state legislatures; activities as assistant secretary of state for oceans and international, environmental, and scientific affairs; president of Americans for Democratic Action; and chair of the Honolulu City Council. A finding aid is available in the repository.

But as far as I can tell from an initial round of searching, none of the Mink collection has become available online.

I like this picture of Romeo, one of this Friday’s Felines.

But this week’s photos are heavy on Toby and Annie. I guess they were the one’s around the most when the camera was out.

Just click on the photo for more.