No time for dinner with Sarkozys, but time to stroll to a restaurant with Michelle

Oy, once you start prevaricating, it's really hard to keep your stories straight. Yesterday The One and Michelle were too busy to go to dinner with the Sarkozys (he scolded the press for thinking there is a problem) but not too busy to go to dinner by themselves, 200 yards away from where the Sarkozys stay. Hm. Hm. 

"I have a very tough schedule and I would love nothing more than to have a leisurely week in Paris, stroll down the Seine, take my wife out to a nice meal, have a picnic inLuxembourg Gardens," Obama said, pointing out that he was caught up in dealing with the pressing financial crisis at home.

"Those days are over for the moment," Obama said, but promised to spend more time in France when he is an ex-president.

"I think it's very important to understand that good friends don't worry about the symbols and the conventions and the protocols," Obama said.