washingtonpost.com - Washington Sketch by Dana Milbank (washingtonpost.com)

Dana Milbank's Washington Sketch looks at the political scene in the White House, Congress and throughout the nation's capital.

Congress, its support at 14 percent in the latest Gallup poll, is having some self-esteem issues. Yesterday, lawmakers happened upon a novel solution.

Don't ask, don't tell. And, whatever you do, don't ask Elaine Donnelly to tell you what she thinks about gays in the military.

The generals were nervous.

John McCain's pastors have gone to ground.

The rehabilitation of John David Ashcroft has been a wonder to behold.

It was another day of turmoil in the capital. The Federal Reserve chairman again tried to reassure jittery markets. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said he wanted more troops in Afghanistan to put down the growing insurgency. And just before 4 p.m., President Bush stepped onto the South Lawn for what he called a "historic" moment.

For months, if not years, congressional Democrats had craved the chance to pounce on Doug Feith, the former No. 3 at the Pentagon and the brains behind the Iraq WMD claims, torture policy and other great adventures.

Dana Milbank is away. Washington Sketch will resume when he returns.

Dana Milbank is away. Washington Sketch will resume when he returns.

ST. PAUL, Minn., Sept. 4

ST. PAUL, Minn., Sept. 1 Hurricane Gustav made landfall on the Louisiana coast about 10:30 a.m. Monday. Hurricane Bristol made landfall in Minnesota at 11:43 a.m.

DENVER, Aug. 28 It was a ceremony fit for the gods.

GOLDEN, Colo., Aug. 27 Deep divisions, bad feelings. Tensions that threaten to boil over during this week's gathering in Colorado.

DENVER, Aug. 26 At noon on Tuesday, two young men walked onto the podium at the Democratic National Convention carrying four women's suit jackets -- red, orange, light blue and teal -- and holding each one up to the lights to see which would look best in the hall.

DENVER, Aug. 25 Most political conventions begin with the fall of the gavel. The 2008 Democratic convention began in the "downward dog" position.

ST. PAUL, Minn., Sept. 1 Hurricane Gustav made landfall on the Louisiana coast about 10:30 a.m. Monday. Hurricane Bristol made landfall in Minnesota at 11:43 a.m.

DENVER, Aug. 28 It was a ceremony fit for the gods.

GOLDEN, Colo., Aug. 27 Deep divisions, bad feelings. Tensions that threaten to boil over during this week's gathering in Colorado.

DENVER, Aug. 26 At noon on Tuesday, two young men walked onto the podium at the Democratic National Convention carrying four women's suit jackets -- red, orange, light blue and teal -- and holding each one up to the lights to see which would look best in the hall.

DENVER, Aug. 25 Most political conventions begin with the fall of the gavel. The 2008 Democratic convention began in the "downward dog" position.