I THOUGHT OBAMA WASN’T GOING TO HAVE THIS KIND OF CONFLICT IN HIS ADMINISTRATION? “George Mitchell, President Barack Obama’s special Middle East troubleshooter, was chairman of a law firm that was paid about $8 million representing Dubai’s ruler in connection with a child-trafficking lawsuit. . . . Mitchell, who is traveling in the Middle East this week, may need a waiver from Obama’s new policy on ethics and lobbying, which says government officials must wait two years before working on matters ‘directly and substantially’ related to pre-government employers or clients even if they weren’t registered lobbyists”

Well, it’s probably nothing — but it would be a big deal if Mitchell were a Republican. Meanwhile, here’s some recommended reading for the Obama age. It’s Lanny Davis-approved!