Hmmm, do you need to check with staff to know how many houses you own? Because that's precisely the answer John McCain gave a reporter.

This would be an uh-oh, send-the-staff-into-overtime moment in so many ways.

First, if you don't know how many houses you own -- one might be the answer for many Americans, none for others -- then perhaps you're not quite as in touch with the electorate as you thought you were. Bill Clinton didn't even own a house when he ran for president.

Two, responding to that question by saying "I'll have to check with my staff" is also somewhat out of touch.

Most of us don't have staff, unless we want to include children (debatable as helpers) or a dog that cleans the floor. 

It's four, reports the Politico.  No, it's seven, Newsweek states. Check out this search of properties on the Mother Jones website: http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2008/08/9324_john_mccain_houses_properties_addresses.html

Which makes it understandable by McCain didn't want to give reporters any straight talk.

This, by the way, is the man who recently defined rich as someone who has $5 million.

Obama's Pennsylvania campaign team sent volunteers today to Philadelphia's Love Park to ask citizens if they know how many homes they own. (Hmm, might get a higher number a few blocks south and west in Rittenhouse Square.)

Sure, you could look at this as Pennsylvania's Indictment Summer where almost every other week a city or state legislator, or a staff member or several, face state or federal charges for less-than-legal business.

But, hey, at least our mayor isn't spending this August night in the hoosegow.

This fate belongs solely to Detroit's embattled mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.

Kilpatrick, who is married, is fighting perjury and other felony charges, some stemming from alleged fibs told about text messages to his former chief of staff and paramour. The subject of those messages ranged from the dismissal of a whistle-blower, the heart of the perjury and felony charges, to their emotional and physical affection for one another to the latest developments on American Idol.

Facing trial and per terms of his bond, Kilpatrick was instructed not to leave the Michigan..

Which he did on July 23.

Actually, he left the country.

For the exotic shores of Windsor, Ontario across the Detroit River.

It was official business, Kilpatrick explained, having to do with selling Detroit's part of the tunnel between the two neighboring cities. He apologized, apparently believing this would spare him further penalities from the court, going so far as to bring his young sons to court so they could see their father admit he was wrong.

It was an emergeny, Kilpatrick's lawyer argued.

"Who was dying?" Michigan District Judge Ronald Giles asked.

"The City of Detroit was sick," Kilpatrick's lawyer argued.

The judge did not care.

"If it was not Kwame Kilpatrick sitting in that seat — if it was John Six-Pack sitting in the seat — what would I do?”  Giles asked. “And the answer is simple.”

Kilpatrick's lawyers immediately appealed the ruling to a circuit judge.

Who is scheduled to hear the case Friday morning.

Which is how Detroit's mayor has come to secure lodging tonight in the Wayne County jail.

The Olympics begin Friday, 8/8/08 at precisely 8:08 p.m., promising as much politics and athletic competition.

Which means these are the dog days of American politics.

In other words, the stupid season has official begun.

John McCain drags Paris Hilton into his anti-Obama "celebrity" ads, ignoring the fact that her parents are contributors to the Arizona Republican's campaign.

So Paris is burning. And Paris strikes back, thanks to the funnyordie.com.

No word as to whether Britney, the other celebrity listed with Obama, plans to launch her own campaign/blog video but this would be hard to top.