Today's edition of quick hits:
* Syria: "More than 100,000 Syrians fled their country last month, a sudden acceleration of the exodus prompted by 18 months of conflict, the United Nations said Tuesday."
* Eurozone: "Two years after eurozone began its downward financial spiral, the European Central Bank is about to unveil a widely-anticipated plan to pump more money into the system to stem a wider collapse. But the plan, similar to the massive bond-buying undertaken by U.S. central bankers four years ago, may be too little, too late."
* President Obama campaigned in Norfolk, Va., today, making his last appearance before the start of the Democratic National Convention. He told supporters today his goal is to not let his daughters see him cry when Michelle Obama speaks to the convention tonight.
* Incidentally, Democratic Party Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz officially gaveled the Democratic National Convention into action this afternoon in Charlotte. It's a three-day event.
* Afghanistan: "At least 25 mourners were killed when a suicide bomber struck a funeral on Tuesday in eastern Afghanistan, Afghan officials said."
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/05/world/asia/bomber-kills-at-least-20-at-afghan-funeral.html?ref=world
* Discouraging ISM figures: "Manufacturing shrank at its sharpest clip in more than three years in August, the third month of contraction in a row, and firms hired the fewest workers since late 2009, a survey on Tuesday showed."
* Asked by a Colorado reporters what grade he would give his first-term performance on the economy, Obama replied, "I would say incomplete," which is probably a smart answer.
* Keep an eye on this one: "A former Navy SEAL's insider account of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden contains classified information, the Pentagon said Tuesday, and the admiral who heads the Naval Special Warfare Command said details in the book may provide enemies with dangerous insight into secretive U.S. operations."
* Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) has become the latest in a long line of Republican lawmakers to suggest Medicare is unconstitutional. Voters unsure which party is committed to protecting the program should probably take note.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
