FORMER President Barack Obama addresses the DNC.

On the same night that Vice President Kamala Harris was officially chosen as the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee, former president Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama gave rousing speeches that the crowd at United Center in Chicago responded to with roars of approval.

After the ceremonial roll call that confirmed what was already known, the famous former First Couple laid out their cases for Harris and against former president Donald Trump, the Republican nominee.

“America, hope is making a comeback,” said Michelle. Her husband said, “I am feeling hopeful – because this convention has always been pretty good to kids with funny names who believe in a country where everything is possible.”

Turning to criticisms of the GOP nominee, Michelle said, “If we bankrupt a business or choke in a crisis, we don’t get a second, third or fourth chance. If things don’t go our way, we don’t have the luxury of whining or cheating others to get further ahead.”

In addition to the Obamas’ speeches, Harris appeared via video from Milwaukee, where she was holding a rally in the same arena where Republicans nominated Trump.

Biden’s strategy to deter China

A secret nuclear strategy plan to deter China’s growing atomic arsenal has been approved by President Joe Biden.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN

The New York Times is reporting that the document, called “Nuclear Employment Guidance” also aims to get the U.S. prepared to deal with potential nuclear attacks from China, Russia and North Korea.

Details of the strategy are highly-classified, but are response to concerns that China is developing improved ties with Russia, North Korea and possibly Iran.  One estimate taken from an October 2022 crisis, suggested that the use of nuclear forces might reach as high as 50 percent.

Putin pays visit to Chechnya

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin (Shutterstock).

In the midst of Ukraine’s surprising and successful thrust into the western part of his nation, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday made an unscheduled visit to the republic of Chechnya, part of the Russian Federation.

Putin was met by Chechnya’s leader Ramdan Kadyrov, then visited a special forces academy named after Putin. Fighters there undergo training before being deployed to Ukraine.

Putin called them “invincible.”

Chechen fighters are on both sides of that conflict, some of them backing Ukraine after their own struggle for independence from Russia failed. Others participated in Russia’s incursion.

Weather: A cooling off period

It’s been hot in our West Orange County area, but cooler days are coming. Wednesday’s daytime high will reach 85 with an overnight low of 66. Thursday will cool to 79 (64) and again on Friday to 77 (62), rising again to 78 (61) on Saturday. Partly cloudy skies will continue into the weekend.