Bush & Koizumi visit Graceland

Mark will return to active duty next week, and you won't believe what's grinding his gears this time around. Until then, this is guest blooger John Brodigan signing off with an article that had me stare at my computer blinking...

WASHINGTON - With an in-flight airing of Elvis Presley's greatest hits and an offering of his favored fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches, President Bush brought Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi South Friday to see Graceland.

DVDs of Elvis's movies were available aboard Air Force One, and White House press secretary Tony Snow sported gold-rimmed plastic sunglasses for the flight to Memphis, unarguably Koizumi's highlight of the week.

The Bush-Koizumi tour through the late rock 'n' roll legend's mansion was wrapping up two days of consultations. His visit saw military pomp, the tinkling of crystal at a black-tie dinner and two hours of discussions on Iraq, North Korea, U.S. beef exports and other weighty matters in the Oval Office.

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