6 Down, 2 to Go

I didn't watch King George's address last night - I would rather have had a tooth pulled Jim Frey style. I did read the speech, though, which, I found a little easier to take if you read it imagining someone a bit more pleasant delivering it, say Marge Schott. Anyway, thumbing through it, I was struck anew by the the fact that our president has a very complicated relationship with the truth.

Every year at State of the Union time, a High-Ranking Administration Official leaks to his favorite media stenographers that the President is going to propose a "bold agenda" this year, and they almost always highlight that one "big idea". It's usually the concept that makes us all say, "gee - maybe he's not a complete dick after all!" Typically these proposals are designed to outflank the democrats on some popular issue that they're identified with, and to date, not a one of them has been real.

It all started with his AIDS Initiative, an unprecedented commitment to fighting AIDS in Africa. He was true to his word, if by unprecedented he meant "never before has someone done so little." Then, he bewitched us with hydrogen fuel cell car, which drew applause in the House chamber so thunderous it could only be muffled by the faraway sould of Ed Begley Jr. creaming his jeans. Seen any of those on the interstate? Oh, and who could forget Curious George Goes to Mars. What vision! What leadership! What bullshit.

This morning, our liberal media, seeking to outdo itself as George Bush's fluffer, greeted us with hard hitting commentary like this. While "addicted to oil" is an odd turn of phrase for this coke-addled former oilman, it was tailor made for the front pages of all of the major papers. Could it be, they said? Ken Lay's favorite pen pal is proposing energy independence? Greatest! President! Ever! Oh - wait...never mind...

This administration is so cynical about governing that they don't think it matters whether they follow through on these promises - in fact, they never intend to follow through on them. It's all about image. Compassionate Conservatism has always been more about conservatism than compassion, but "compassionate conservativism" just sounds better than "giving it to you in the shorts", and the media and the American public have given them no reason to believe there will be a price to pay for the duplicity.

So, all of this leads me to wonder what next year's bold initiative will be. I'm open to suggestions; the betting starts...Now.