Odds and Ends

Bush is giving Abramoff money to the American Heart Association--maybe Dick's ticker is on his mind--but he's keeping the $94,000 Jack merely solicited from others. How, um, charitable.

Geez, wtf does he need campaign cash for...unless he's hoping to avoid indictment by virture of holding office once his term expires (oh, wait--can't he use campaign funds for legal defense? Hmmm...).

Robert Fisk reminds us of a Shrub quote that's ludicrous even by Team Bush standards:

It's not so long ago, I recall, that Bush explained to us that all the Arabs would one day wish to have the freedoms of Iraq. I cannot think of an Arab today who would wish to contemplate such ill fortune, not least because of the increasingly sectarian nature of the authorities, elected though they are.

And John Murtha, D-PA, receipient of two Purple Hearts (i.e., three more hearts than Big Time), one Bronze Star, and basically the careerist Pentagon voice on Capitol Hill, has this advice for anyone thinking of joining the military these days:

Don't.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement from a distinguished veteran. But the Armed Forces still have Mr. Five Deferments and Part-time-TANG-in-Chief to extol the benefits of military service...