"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function." -- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Based on Mr. Fitzgerald's criterion, here's all I can say: our leaders and the talking heads of the right wing (Robert Novak uppermost among them) must be nothing short of utter geniuses. The only quibble I have -- I'm NOT QUITE SURE you can say that Dubya and his acolytes can be said to be FUNCTIONING all that well...

Details, details -- they're walking and talking, maybe that's all you need to be "functioning."

You do have to hand it to this crowd, though. As I pointed out months ago in another posting here, one of the recurring themes in science fiction stories is the destruction of an evil super-computer by telling it, "Everything I say is a lie."

Then the human hero simply steps back and watches the poor electronic device short out over the completely perfect illogic of that statement. Dubya and friends have no trouble at all bringing this hoary literary device to life with their own brand of perfect illogic. I'm truly glad MY brain resists total collapse due to the ongoing flood of insanity from this administration!

I can't claim to be the first to make such a prediction, but I've read this nowhere else before now -- so let me go on the record right now. Dubya will try his best to link two people currently in the news with his "New Way Forward" in Iraq during the upcoming State of the Union address.

Early in his speech, when recognizing people sitting in the gallery of the House of Representatives, he will introduce Wesley Autrey, the New York subway hero, who will be seated with Laura Bush. The laudable self-sacrifice of Mr. Autrey, who put himself in mortal danger to save another man who'd fallen onto an active subway track, will be held up as a shining model for all of us, and as a justification for escalating involvement in Iraq. ("It's the American way, risking personal harm to save another. So it has been, and so it shall continue to be for Americans, here and abroad.")

Dubya will stretch the analogy to include the recently departed Gerald Ford, who never aspired to the White House before being chosen as Spiro Agnew's replacement as Nixon's vice president. ("Pres. Ford knew that pardoning former Pres. Nixon was the right thing to do, and ultimately sacrificed his own chance to be elected president by that act. Again, the truly American and patriotic thing to do -- sacrificing self for country! Our brave members of the armed forces are prepared to do this every day of their lives.")

Utterly shameless, and utterly predictable. I'll be the most shocked person in this country if Dubya does NOT play this gambit.

Headline that OUGHT to be running right now:

"American Voters Acknowledge Mistaken Support for Bush in 2000 and 2004"

In the immortal words of Nancy Reagan, we should all JUST SAY NO to this presidential impostor. At long last, JUST SAY NO.

An increased level of troops is, and always was, the wrong solution to the wrong problem.

No one has ever been able to demonstrate in any factual way that anyone or anything in Iraq was, or is, a military threat to this country or its interests. How, then, could the increased use of U.S. military forces be the solution to whatever problems DO exist in Iraq?

It's akin to administering intensive chemotherapy or radical surgery to someone suffering from a boil. Sure, that boil needs to be lanced; sure, it COULD potentially lead to a life-threatening condition -- but ONLY if appropriate, timely treatment is not applied.

Dr. Bush is guilty of malpractice. His diagnosis was, and is, utterly wrong. The patient is now on life support, and the prognosis is highly uncertain. However, at least one thing IS certain: This doctor is a quack who cannot be trusted to diagnose and prescribe treatment.

He needs to be pulled off the case completely, and brought up on malpractice charges. His misfeasance and malfeasance continue to meet just about any level of proof needed to support impeachment and removal from office.

Where in the world is Karen Hughes these days? I thought this prominent long-time Bush advisor/adherent/sycophant was charged with improving our image and contacts in the Arab world!

Is she drawing a salary? (And what IS that salary?) Is she sitting in a White House office, paralyzed with fear of actually setting foot in a hostile Arab country? Or is she engaging in intensive "shuttle diplomacy," moving Condi Rice's proverbial "heaven and earth" to improve things in Iraq and throughout the Middle East?

Inquiring minds WANT TO KNOW! Where, oh where, is Karen Hughes, and what is she up to?