Bush`s Information Minister....America`s own Baghdad Bob.

[democrank]

I wish someone would design a Tony al-Sahhaf bobblehead doll so I could dress up my car`s rear window. From the neck down I`d like a uniformed Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf (aka Baghdad Bob) but from the neck up I want a Tony Snow head. I`m figuring I could do an impressive patriotic display back there with a few miniature flags and some colorful leis....red, white and blue ones so I can help spread The Message. Mix and match for freedom.

Trying to follow our Information Minister`s word game path certainly has its pitfalls. While I`m trapped in "stay the course" I find out Minister Snow has already turned the corner into some new constant, flexible motion. Since this new flexibility killed nearly 100 soldiers in October, I`m a step ahead awaiting a brand new phrase. In the meantime, I`ll try to work out the difference between "dunk in water" and waterboarding. Not trying to be picky, but I think there`s a difference between lighting a candle in my living room and setting my neighbor`s house on fire. Just like there`s a difference between writing a sexually explicit novel and stalking young male pages.

Seems we`ve become accustomed to sound bites, either from the media trying to fill a twenty-second gap or from a briefing room podium awash in catchy words. That`s how we came to mistrust windsurfers, smash bottles of Heinz Ketchup, question Max Cleland`s patriotism, crush Dixie Chicks CDs and hide dead soldiers` caskets. It`s how we put Saddam`s head on Osama`s body. It`s how we substituted one snaphot of an "engaged" president peering out an airplane window for a close up of people screaming for help on a brige.

Words do matter. That`s why on November 7th I`m going to pick up my pencil and remember "Bring it on."