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LOW KEY BIRTHDAY: The Highway Patrol turns 80 this year and it may be a good year for a quiet celebration. Another misconduct allegation involving sex has been exposed and the patrol is not having a lot of success reversing a culture in which some troopers expected on-duty escapades as an unofficial fringe benefit. Patrol leaders asked employees to try to knock it off in honor of the patrol's anniversary.

CONS BEATING PROS: Republicans dug in on their opposition to Democratic health care reforms with U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick saying that a Democrat health care system might not have caught her breast cancer in time. Sen. Richard Burr said the plan would just shift the cost of the health care system to taxpayers. On the other side, Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan isn't ready to pick a reform plan, although she's sure one is needed.

WE'RE SAVED: A television advertisement funded by a conservative group catalogues corruption scandals involving Democrats. The group proclaims that it's here to rescue America from "radical socialism." A 30-second spot will probably just about do it.

IN OTHER NEWS: President Bill Clinton wasn't rattled by Sen. Jesse Helms inflammatory statements. Sen. Joe Lieberman is watering down an energy bill in an effort to get Republicans, including Burr, on board. State Rep. Ty Harrell has resigned his seat over questions about his campaign finance reports.

FAYETTEVILLE—Paul William Bucha will introduce Barack Obama.

The Vietnam veteran and Congressional Medal of Honor winner told Dome he would give a short introductory speech at today's event.

"If I don't change my mind," he joked.

Bucha has been an outspoken critic of the Iraq war. In 2004, he was on the board of advisors for Operation Truth, a 501(c)4 group that criticized President George W. Bush's handling of the war.

He also spoke out about attacks on 2004 Democratic nominee John Kerry, particularly his Purple Heart. 

In 2006, he introduced anti-war Democrat Ned Lamont at an event in his home state of Connecticut. (Lamont won the Democratic nomination, but lost to Sen. Joe Lieberman, who re-registered as an independent.)

Perhaps it's not surprising that Bucha is not on the Clinton team.

In 1992, he was one of a group of veterans who raised questions about Bill Clinton's avoidance of service in the Vietnam war.