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Romney’s enthusiasm for the job: There was a moment during the presidential campaign that offered an unusual clue to the inner thoughts of Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann. Late in the presidential campaign, Ann Romney told reporters one day that this would be her husband’s last attempt to become president. On Oct. 18, in the heat of the campaign, Ann Romney said, in essence, if Romney doesn’t win this time, he won’t run again.  Her comments were noticed, but not that much. This week, Romney son, Tagg, went a step further regarding the fire in the belly. He says his dad wanted to be president less than anyone he had met. Hadn’t heard that before.

Armed guards in schools: Reaction continues to the NRA’s proposal for armed officers in the nation’s schools. Presidential candidate and retiring Rep. Ron Paul says, How about no?  But, did you also know that a school system in New Jersey was already planning to hire armed guards for its schools. Piers Morgan had some strong comments on gun control, which led to a petition for his deportation.

The Huffington Post presidential vacation slide show: President Obama and his family are vacationing this week in Hawaii. He stands at the ready to return to Washington, D.C., to meet with whomever is willing to help settle the whole fiscal cliff problem. But, while he is golfing or body surfing or whatever he is doing, The Huffington Post offers a great slide show of presidents on vacation. Good, clean fun. Such trips are expensive, too.  Update: Obama is heading back tonight.

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UPDATED: Adding Paul Ryan marathon explanation.

Convention-to-convention comparison: How did Michelle Obama do defending/representing her husband last night?  Did she rev up Democratic enthusiasm, as advertised?

Ann Romney spoke on behalf of Mitt Romney last week. The First Lady had her turn last night.  She delivered a very personal and powerful speech and got strong reviews. This may sound sexist — and I certainly don’t mean it that way — but who did a better job of promoting their husband, Ann Romney or Michelle Obama?

Lying about running time: Quick, what was your best 10K running time? Lowest golf score? Size of a fish you caught? Well, Vice-Presidential candidate Paul Ryan told a tale the other day that has the running/political world abuzz. He told a radio audience that he ran a sub-3, as in, a-less-than-3-hour marathon years ago. “Runner’s World” magazine says, “No he didn’t.” It was slightly more than four hours.

What gives? Do all politicians lie? Do lots of people, shall we say, fib, about golf scores or the size of a fish they caught? One Facebook poster who ran a marathon many years ago said he remembers the seconds in his fastest marathon time, because it is not something people forget — ever.

Ryan gave this response to the Toledo News Now,  and it’s all about the back:

“I hurt my back when I was in my mid-20s, so I had to stop running. So obviously, my perception of races and times was off,” Ryan said. “I thought that (under three hours) was an ordinary time until my brother showed me a three-hour marathon is, you know, crazy fast. It’s just the fact that I did it 22 years ago.”

Top three toss up states: Washington, New Hampshire and Montana. These three states have governors’ races that are all considered tossups by Politico. So, if you have no idea who is going to win the Washington governor’s race between Republican Rob McKenna and Democrat Jay Inslee, join the crowd. The race is really, really close, so far. In fact, on Politico’s list of tossup governors’ races, Washington ranks first. It has been this way for several months.

The Everett Herald says if the charter-school initiative, 1240, passes in November, Washington could become a leader in nontraditional public education.

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