OBAMA RETURNS - AT 7:34 A.M. ET:  The president has returned from his trip to Europe, Russia and Africa.  The return was quiet, as there wasn't much to report.  There wasn't even a Neville nicety at the airport during which the chief executive could proclaim peace in our time.

During his trip Mr. Obama said he would have fewer summit conferences in the future, a reflection, no doubt, that he's learned that foreign leaders aren't 17-year-old fans shouting, "Yes we can!"  They take their slogans from American feminism:  "Just say no."

One thing that did come out of this adventure abroad was a vague deadline delivered to the Iranians, who are still busy arresting their dissidents and cracking heads:  If we don't see any progress in negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program by September, there'll be...there'll be...consequences.  There might even be anger and cold stares.  A letter might follow.  Maybe a lawsuit in small-claims court.

But the cagey Iranians have now said that they're about to launch a diplomatic initiative, so forget any deadlines.  All they have to do is affix to a press release a little card saying "have chair, will sit," and the diplomatic establishment will claim to see strobe lights at the end of the tunnel. 

In the midst of a surprisingly cool summer - Al Gore has gone into hiding - Mr. Obama cannot look forward to autumn leaves.  Americans will focus once more on politics in the fall, Republicans will presumably have some game plan in place for the 2010 midterms.  Democratic investigations of BUSH (!!) may be starting, and can easily distract from the president's agenda, or even backfire, as articulate Bushies like Dick Cheney and Douglas Feith start firing back with dreaded facts.

The Obamans are feeling the summer doldrums.  There'd better be some visible change we can believe in by fall.

July 13, 2009