Monday, September 15, 2003

From the Sublime to the Ridiculous

You know, that whole little snit that Bush had with the French would have almost been funny, if it weren’t so criminally stupid. Not to mention pissing off most of Europe in the process. Now, it seems that Bu$h is about to go, hat in hand, to beg for financial support and troops to clean up after his ill-advised adventure in Iraq. It’d serve him right if our former allies turn their collective backs on him and it costs him the 2004 election. Here’s hoping…

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Just to show you how stupid Congress has been, it seems that they’ve realized the error of their ways. The following article is an example. Wow, they’re really starting to tackle some substantive issues here. Forget about the icecaps melting and hurricanes caused by global warming, the deficit spiralling out of control and ever-increasing numbers of people sliding into unemployment with no safety net; it’s time to move onto things like Constitutional amendments against flag-burning and for school prayer. Yeah, they better pray…
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- Bob Woods

Lawmaker Wants to Put ‘French’ Back in Fries 
Monday, September 15, 2003 3:12 p.m. ET
http://www.wired.com

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - To get international help to rebuild Iraq, Congress may have to eat some French fries and French toast, according to Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee.

Saying it is time to put aside differences with France, the Texas Democrat circulated a letter on Monday urging the House of Representatives to put back the word “French” back in fries and toast on House cafeteria and dining hall menus.

Lawmakers ordered them renamed “Freedom” fries and “Freedom” toast last spring, reflecting anger at France for its opposition to the U.S.-led war to topple Saddam Hussein as Iraq’s president.

But times have changed, Jackson Lee said, and now the Washington is trying to get France and other members of the United Nations to contribute money and troops to help stabilize Iraq and rebuild its devastated infrastructure.

“President Bush is now urging that all parties put aside ‘past bickering,”’ she said in her letter. “A symbolic start to that effort” would be reinstating foods on the House menus “with their traditional ‘American’ names—French toast and French fries.”

Rep. Bob Ney, head of the House Administration Committee, ordered the changes in March. The Ohio Republican took the action at the suggestion of Rep. Walter Jones, a North Carolina Republican.