In front of the United Methodist Building, a tall Italian Renaissance edifice next to the Supreme Court, fans of the Catholic nuns protesting Paul Ryan's budget are crouched under shady trees coloring in the bubble letters on their handmade signs. The nuns have just completed a nine state bus tour across the Midwest, visiting schools and charities that could be affected by cuts in the House passed budget, and the signs are meant to welcome them home.

Just last week the sidewalks around the court were so packed that health care law supporters and agonistes had to walk in the street. This will be a slow week in Washington, with Congress is in recess, the cognoscenti and their hangers on in Aspen and everyone else fleeing for the Fourth of July, but there's still a crowd...