Enriched by a week with writers who arrange words in mosaics, instead of throwing them down in anger, I attacked the news with vigor. Found Republicans had spent their time protecting gun makers, enriching energy companies and spreading pork across the land. It reminds me of the time we awoke to discover vandals had chopped [...]

Political poetry is an oxymoron. Poetry has meaning, often at many levels. Politics, today, is just mean, at every level. Reaching my 150th “poem� in this series has stalled this almost 75-year-old mind, so I’ll spend a week at the Iowa Writer’s Conference for inspiration and lubrication. I feel a little guilty, but then I [...]

Republicans say Democrats are “negative� when they oppose, what do they call the President? Bush currently argues against an amendment requiring the military to obey laws; threatens to veto a bill funding effective stem cell research; characterizes a federal shield law for reporters as “bad public policy.� All of these have substantial support from Republicans [...]

Washington DC has trouble with numbers. Bush over-estimates the deficit, takes credit for good management when it’s discovered. The VA budgets medical expense based on a year without a war, has a surprising shortfall. Now we learn the outfield measurements at the ballpark are wrong. Is nothing sacred?

I have no idea why, but CAFTA has become a cause celeb. Bush says it has to pass, but he can’t tell us why. Since he didn’t make the sale he has to buy – vote by vote by vote.

Bush used to disparage leakers as low-levels trying to impress, said he’d fire whoever revealed Plame’s name Now he discovers leaks aren’t so bad – if they come from a faucet he controls. The standard for firing is now crime not slime.

Bush planned to wait to state his Supreme Court choice to cut down on debate, but Rove and Iraq changed that. Tired of tough questions, he stopped seeking a nominee everyone could support, and made a contentious choice. Peaceful confirmation gave way to the urgency of getting buddy Karl off magazine covers and providing a [...]

The EPA hopes to improve its web site and polish its image by hiring public relations consultants. The proposed contracts are expensive because making the evisceration of environmental protection look good will take superb writing talent.

The Bush administration stands accused of helping their favorites win Iraq’s election. They claim those plans were dropped when Congressional leaders objected, and deny providing secret help to any candidates. Of course, Iraqi voters chose between parties.

Schwarzenegger won’t make it as a Republican politician. Caught in a conflict of interest, he caved. Gave up a million a year without delay or a Rovelike account of what he did, and how it really was okay. He’s been slipping in the polls, but after the shock of candor wears away Arnold could recoup [...]

A grove is a peaceful patch of trees, a great place for a picnic. A drove is a crowd of animals or people, often staying away. A Rove is a right arm gone wrong, that should miss the next barbecue.

When unexpected revenue reduced the projected deficit Bush declared his tax cuts successful. This administration has a knack for creating the appearance of good news. The shortfall will be lower than estimated five months ago, but still the third highest ever.

The President roves on the periphery of illegality with thanks to Tim Tuthill

Democrats focusing on Karl Rove is like Florida blaming water, not weather for hurricane damage. The President wanted debate about the reasons for war stopped, so someone tried to silence a critic by identifying a presumably secret CIA agent. It didn’t work, and the inevitable investigation followed. Bush said releasing classified information would cause dismissal. [...]

It’s clear that Karl Rove outed Valerie Plame, and either lied to Scott McClellan, or Scott misled the press core, but did Rove break the law? Who cares? They pushed the issue past the last election, and jailed a reporter who helped sell the Iraq war. But we know Rove won’t be fired. That would [...]

The North Koreans agreed to return to talks again, but this time they set a date. The Chinese say everyone agreed, but Rice’s okay was confirmed anonymously. She won’t announce until tomorrow, but the New York Times needed to promise confidentiality so we could know today about an often delayed meeting scheduled later this month. [...]

Wal-Mart buys products overseas and uses undocumented janitors, but with lawsuits they go first class. They hired Antonin Scalia’s son to defend two whistle-blower cases – the law he enforced at Justice. That gives them a good chance to win in lower court, but if they lose, they can always appeal.

Bush returns from Scotland, a deadbeat with a penchant for research instead of action. Hopes to have another opening for a Supreme Court justice – more fun than Africa or CO2. That can fill the summer and keep attention off Iraq until he finds another way to repel flack.

Bush doesn’t agree with the G8 on much. He acknowledges the warming of the world, but says we need to study the problem. He agrees that Africa needs help, but can’t send taxpayer money to countries with graft. Maybe he could send Halliburton to help. But instead of trying to defend the indefensible, he gets [...]

President Bush ran into a security guard while riding a bike at Gleneagles, and speeding. Fortunately neither was hurt, nor hit very hard. As usual, W didn’t look where he was going.