...The Mutter Museum. Being a bit squeamish, I've managed to avoid visiting.

My daughter and her family gave me a Bushisms desk calendar this year. My son-in-law wanted to last year, but my daughter talked him down. This year he insisted. After I'd read 4 or 5 or 6 of them aloud, often preceded by ohmigod, she said that was why she had resisted before. It would be too painful. But now that a countdown is in order...

I was astonished by how many of the Bushisms I actually remembered.

Glenn, how fitting that Sheilagh Murray ranked first in your list (so far) with three, count 'em three, memorable quotes from the past year. And, I am not surprised at all by how well I remember any of these...

...but I received a copy of the George W. Bushisms desk calendar (The Accidental Wit and Wisdom of Our 43rd President), and I may not be able to restrain myself adequately.

For example, from Jan 8, 2008, when there will be 378 days left:

"I want to remind you all that in order to fight and win the war, it requires an expenditure of money that is commiserate with keeping a promise to our troops to make sure that they're well-paid, well-trained, well-equipped."
-- GWB, Washington, DC; December 15, 2003.

For once he unwittingly chose a word well. Accidental wisdom, indeed.

...in reaction to serious topics, especially Iraq. An excerpt:

Given 2008's inevitably ramped-up analysis of the Bush Legacy by the very serious traditional media, there's one aspect of the president which, staggeringly though not surprisingly, won't be covered. In fact, it's never been covered to my knowledge. The traditional media has never really challenged the president on his grotesquely inappropriate reactions to serious issues -- especially Iraq.

His uncomfortably ridiculous smirks and smiles illustrate his inadequacies as a leader: his fugacious attitude; his vacant stature; and, most strikingly, his apparent inability to grasp the reality of his decisions. It's all right there on the screen -- underlined by those tiny baby teeth.

So as a reminder to the traditional media, I'd like to present the Most Inappropriate Bush War Smirk of 2007. But first, some runners up.

You can see them, if your stomach and soul are willing, by clicking here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-cesca/the-most-inappropriate-bu_b_78357.html

We were just discussing Bhutto's assassination at home this morning, and came to similar conclusions (but via speculation) and then you more or less confirmed them.

And my bladder thanks you for carrying all the water on the gender issues. ;~)

You've said it all; I've nothing to add.

(Dirigo, FYI... no offense was taken here, either.)

But I feel there is a need to have a compendium of quotes by all pertinent orators/authors from which to read and weep.

I've been thinking about your idea, and at first it does seem daunting. However, perhaps you could enlist the aid of some of the prominent bloggers and their readers/commenters, and ask them to submit (with tags and supporting URLs) their suggestions.

Then, using the tags to sort out the topics, you could come up with something searchable. Some kind of online relational database, rather than a book?

Or, even simpler, the submissions could all become part of a separate blog, which could then be updated as needed. Most likely, updates will be necessary, and that's more easily accomplished electronically, than in print. I notice that lots of blogs are searchable by topic or tag.

re: Documentation of the Democratic Demise

[...] Oh - and with YouTube, poscasts and other multimedia, the possibilities of the rich sewage soup are endless.

You're right... and I hadn't even let my mind go that far. Yet. Thanks, maybe I will see if I can find any more interest.

Best wishes from this corner, too, for some good news (and soon!) from your friends.

I did skim a few pages here and there. It was necessary.

I might have preferred the wine, but I can't drink enough of it to have the desired effect. Homemade soup and a "fake" grilled cheese sandwich earlier, some butterscotch candy, salted nuts, and I just finished some hot cocoa. And a couple of Fig Newmans. We all have to get our substances where we can... please don't judge me too harshly. Just hoist one for me when you get a chance.

Yep. Fig Newmans.

Like these: http://www.newmansownorganics.com/food_fignewmans.html#
(the wheat free/dairy free ones)

They're not far off from the real thing.

...with lots of alarming video footage.

Thanks to everyone for their links and insights today.

I think they might be okay with the pom martini...

Figs and pomegranates. Two classical fruits. They belong together.

[and no trans fats!] ;~)

Asim Bhutto had a short interview during one of the BBC segments, which appears to be (justifiably) devoted only to Bhutto tonight.

I don't know if that's the cousin you knew, Pedinska, but he made similar remarks about her sacrificing her life for democracy.

I wasn't asking you for his name... just telling you the name of the cousin I saw being interviewed.

I haven't found a video link with his interview yet, but here's a link with excerpts of transcripts that I found while searching for his name on BBC Worldwide:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7162025.stm

Pedinska... If you click on the main video, it brings up another screen that also includes two related videos. Click on the one about her role in politics.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/video_and_audio/default.stm

Posting the actual link is more difficult than just emailing it.