Eating is an extension of politics by other means.

My grandparents happily bought Jaffa oranges because they respected Israel, they admired the way the Israelis “made the desert bloom”, and because the oranges taste great. I want to buy olive oil from Palestinian farmers in Gaza or the West Bank. It would feel a little like civil disobedience. I'll admit to a little ambivalence, however. They might increase product recognition by labeling the oil “72 virgins” instead of “extra virgin”.

Too many micromanagers

The Bush Leaguers say that the Congress shouldn't micromanage the war by placing conditions on the appropriations bills funding the war. Sure, spending is a blunt instrument for regulating behavior, as any parent can attest, but it's better than ignoring the problem. And the Congress could not do worse than the Bush League. The Administration claims to leave the conduct of the war to the Generals, then systematically purges those Generals who disagree with them. And they've been deeply involved in tactics, often seeking political gain or cover. When the Blackwater contractors were killed and mutilated by crowds in Fallujah, the administration responded by ordering the Marines to take the city. When the fighting proved bloody and slow, the administration ordered a halt to the offensive, before reaching it's objectives. That failure necessitated “Second Fallujah”, another bloody battle, which was delayed until immediately after the 2004 elections. That's major league micro-mis-management. We need a new manager.

I pledge not to watch

Heaven help us, PBS is having a pledge drive. Why not make one show featuring female Celts who, between energetic song and dance numbers, dispense informative and heart-warming anecdotes about how polar bears are inspired to get out of debt. I'd pay not to watch it. Ok, ok, I'd probably peek, since they're so darn fetching.

History repeats itself, muttering.

• Watergate had Deep Throat. All we get is deep vein thrombosis.
• They got “we have a cancer on the presidency”. We get “there’s a clot in the Vice President’s leg”.
• They had plumbers to stop leaks. We get a leaky "Scooter".
• They got “All the President’s Men”. We get Humpty-W-Dumpty for another 2 years.

…sigh…

Robbing Peter and Cheating Paul

Bush is traveling to Latin America next week and he's bringing as a gift the services of a U.S. Navy hospital ship. "You have a friend in the United States," he said, "we care about your plight."

What about the plight of the members of the US armed services, whom Bush promised 7 years ago that "help is on the way"? I suggest they sail that hospital ship up the Potomac and dock it in the Tidal Basin, across the mall from the White House, to care for the wounded warriors who need help now more than ever.