I need to apologize for the late start today. I got a new phone day before yesterday, and have clearly failed to master its alarm clock function (I did select the alarm tone that plays the first chords of Bo Diddley’s “I’m a Man,” but did not succeed in turning it on). Gotta say it’s strange to have a job where you feel like a total slacker for sleeping until 6:30 a.m., but that’s the price to pay for my glorious California surroundings, eh?

In any event, I think we’re caught up (with some fine help from Blue Girl), so here are some midday treats:

* Speaking of slackers: WaPo’s Richard Cohen, fresh from going nuclear on Harry Reid, backs up Mitt on “cultural differences” claim re Israelis and Palestinians.

* Sandra Fluke to introduce Obama at campaign stop in Denver. Colorado wingnuts will go wild over this one.

* Fact-checker solidarity: WaPo’s Kessler gives Harry Reid four Pinnochios for tax attack on Mitt.

* Rafalca fails to make Olympics dressage finals. So Romneys officially leave London without any laurels for sports or politics.

* “Romney Hood” rolls off tongue a little easier than “ObamneyCare,” wouldn’t you say?

* And in non-political news:

* Amish population in North America expected to reach a million by 2050. Who knew?

Back shortly. But since I’m mentioned it….

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Ed Kilgore is a political columnist for New York and managing editor at the Democratic Strategist website. He was a contributing writer at the Washington Monthly from January 2012 until November 2015, and was the principal contributor to the Political Animal blog.