"The only students to raise their hands were Ignat and his two brothers, Yermolai and Stephan. After a stony silence, he recalled, they were sent outside, without their coats, to meditate on the error of their ways underneath the lowered flag. Vermont in November was hardly Siberia, but there was frost on the ground, and they spent an hour shivering and exercising to stay warm. Still, Ignat said, their political exile was a relief from sitting in the auditorium listening to the party line."

THE WAY IT IS

That would be the Virginia-born singer and pianist Bruce Hornsby serenading Michelle Obama at a campaign fundraiser at the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk on Wednesday.

The event is being hosted by Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine and his wife, Anne Holton. Mr. Kaine has been mentioned as a possible running mate for Democrat Barack Obama.

DECLARING WAR

No, Army Gen. Wesley Clark has not come out of retirement, but he's sounding like he has in expressing his support of Democratic candidates, including Barack Obama for president.

"We know Karl Rove and his shadowy army of outside groups have no plan to surrender. They're planning to roll out a rapid-fire barrage of 'swift-boat' style attacks against all of our Democratic candidates," he warns.