Traveling Man: President Obama told the BBC that ISIS cannot be defeated during his last months in office and that it would be a mistake to send in ground troops.

Obama said, “In order for us to solve the long-term problems in Syria, a military solution alone – and certainly us deploying ground troops – is not going to bring that about.”

The President is in Germany today to promote the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. Thousands of protesters turned out in Hanover. A lot of trade unions, environmentalists, and consumer protection groups are against the trade pact.

Veep: With the Democratic nomination looking nearly certain for Hillary Clinton, the NY Times reports that she’s looking at a list of 15-20 potential candidates.

One possibility is Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, even though she has not endorsed Clinton’s candidacy. Warren presents the question of whether voters in the general election can handle an all female ticket.

Not only will the Veep have to work well with Hillary, but also get along with the probable shadow president, Bill Clinton. Among other names in play are Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, both former governors of Virginia; Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, who’s a bit more liberal that Hillary; former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, who is black; and President Obama’s labor secretary Thomas E. Perez, who would bring the Hispanic vote.

Justice Delayed: Former Republican House Majority Leader Tom Delay is one of 41 people who wrote letters to the court in support of former Speaker Dennis Hastert, who’s about to be sentenced and possibly sent to prison. Delay wrote, “We all have our flaws, but Dennis Hastert has very few.”

Hastert has been convicted of illegally hiding payments to cover up the sexual abuse of a man who was a student back when Hastert was a high school wrestling coach. Prosecutors say he molested and abused at least four boys.

Delay goes on in his letter, “He is a good man that loves the Lord. He doesn’t deserve what he is going through.”

Tom Delay resigned from Congress in a money-laundering scandal.

World: The death toll in Ecuador’s massive coastal earthquake has risen to 646 with another 130 people are still missing. It’s getting to the end of the time during which anyone could survive in the rubble, but 113 people have been pulled out alive.

The Obit Page: The popular Congolese music star Papa Wemba, 66, collapsed and died on stage during a performance in Ivory Coast. His troupe of dancers kept moving, unaware of what was happening. Wemba was known for his “rumba rock” and he inspired a cult following of men who spent fortunes on designer clothes.

Waiting for Godot: Former presidential candidate Marco Rubio told Univision he has no interest in being vice president, should he be asked. Rubio is not running for re-election to the Senate, so he’s out in January. He said, “I haven’t thought about aspirations for the future. I like politics, I like serving the public, and we’ll see if God offers us another opportunity in the future.”

Who is “we” and what if God is a Democrat?

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