But if you need us, we'll be by the pool.

You deserve a break today this month:

QUESTION: Is the Iraqi government and the Iraqi parliament taking the month of August off?

MR. SNOW: Probably, yes. Just not --

Q: They're taking the entire month of August off, before the September deadline?

MR. SNOW: It looks like they may, yes. Just like the U.S. Congress is.

Q: Have you tried to talk them out of that?

MR. SNOW: You know, it's 130 degrees in Baghdad in August, I'll pass on your recommendation.

But here's the best part of the exchange (emphasis added):

"I'm just -- I'm not in a position at this point to try to gainsay what the Iraqis are doing. We are working with them and trying to help them succeed. They have a vested interest also in doing this and doing it right, ..."

Um ... no, Tony, they don't have a vested interest in doing this right because no one is putting any pressure on them to do it right:

July 14 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush rejected demands from lawmakers in his own political party to develop contingency plans for the Iraq war, including a withdrawal of U.S. troops.

So no worries, Tony ... if something exciting happens in Iraq over the month of August, I'm sure those vacationing lawmakers will want to hear all about it. You can give them a call -- they'll be in the third cabana from the end.

THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW. And over at TPM, Steve Benen points out how, only a couple months ago, U.S. lawmakers -- including numerous Republicans -- were livid over the idea of a month-long vacation for Iraqi politicians.

The GOP members of that Coalition of the Outraged will, of course, have had a sudden change of heart. Call it a hunch.