Seeing through the glasses darkly

Some reporter asked House Minority Leader, John Boehner, the other day if a part of sunglasses he recently received from Libya's president, Muammar Gaddafi during a recent visit to that country were legal under the gift ban act. 

Most everyone, including the other reporters "chuckled" at the question.

Here's what Boehner experienced while in Libya:

En route to Tripoli, Boehner's plane was diverted to Surt, Gaddafi's hometown on the Gulf of Sidra. Emissaries showed the Ohio Republican a man-made lake in the middle in the desert before shuttling him off on a caravan into the country's barren expanse. On the drive, they encountered Bedouin herders marshalling goats along the road.

Eventually, the caravan headed directly into the desert, where it came upon a big white tent. Boehner was led inside, where he met the colonel. Carpets covered the uneven desert floor. The two sat on white folding chairs and proceeded to have "a very frank discussion."

Gaddafi told Boehner when he offered him the sunglasses, "The desert is not kind to blue eyes."