Home Truths

I'll be brief today. It's one of those days on the home front, Bush. The painter. The contractor. The people to sand and refinish the floors. We have to be out of here early in the day. Anyway, listen, I heard you speak some truths yesterday about the Palestinian elections. Good for you. It couldn't have been easy for you, given the uncomfortable fact that you were given what you've been asking for: free elections in the Middle East, on the path to democracy. But the people's overwhelming choice, in this case, was another bunch of radical, gun-wielding warrior types, who could introduce another fundamentalist Muslim state implacably inimical to Israel. Not exactly what you would have chosen. Nor I.

Still, I heard you say it: "There was a peaceful process as the people went to the polls, and that's a positive. But what's also positive is that it's a wake-up call to the leadership. Obviously people were not happy with the status quo. The people are demanding honest government. The people want services."

Ah, yes. Honest government. Services. Quaint notions, these days, in America. I trust, Bush, that you note the irony implicit in your words. I trust you've noted that your own government is being shown less than honest by the day, in its dealings with those lobbyists and corporate chiefs; and far less than open, Bush, with the people it purports to serve. Imagine, if the Democrats controlled the Senate and the House, what thorough investigations might be taking place, what corruption and incompetence might be revealed. But no. The Republican fox, luckily for you, continues to guard the Republican henhouse.

And speaking of services, of course, your adminstration continues to cut them for those who need them most, while it cheerfully hands out the proceeds to the wealthy.

Here's hoping that the American electorate will have the wisdom of the Palestinians, at least in this respect, come the current year's elections. I mean, I'm not asking for armed militants, Bush. It hasn't come to that quite yet. I'm hoping, though, that the voters in this country will start "demanding honest government". That they'll "want services". And see that they're not getting either one from you.