Let's see. Take some fish, put them in a barrel - what have you got? The McBush campaign!

Years ago, there was a satirical program on BBC called "Spitting Image". The folks who made it finally gave up. Why? Because there was no way they could come up with situations ridiculous enough to match those that the royal family were actually living through. Well, evidently John McBush has decided that the best way to send humourists the world over into retirement is to follow that model.

Let's see. First, there's this quote: "He had his first face-to-face interview with her on Thursday and offered her the job moments later." That's from a story in the New York Times. This one's from the ever-popular "Republican close to the campaign": "“They didn’t seriously consider her until four or five days from the time she was picked, before she was asked, maybe the Thursday or Friday before,” said a Republican close to the campaign. “This was really kind of rushed at the end, because John didn’t get what he wanted. He wanted to do Joe or Ridge.”" Wow! He's sure the guy I'd vote for! Careful planning! Forethought! Wisdom!

Let's face it, can't you hear John screaming, "Bring me a woman, goddamn it!"? Although, not for the purposes you might think, obviously.

As for the Republican party in general (and their favourite pit-bull, Rockin' Rush), how come none of them is screaming about the daughter? Surely, under their strict moral code, she's a slut? A whore? A spawn of Satan? I mean, isn't that what Rumpled Rush would have been howling over the airways had Bristol (as in "board"?) been "Chelsea"?

How dim is this family, anyway? How does a 17-year-old not understand birth control here in the early 21st century? The pill? Condoms? Or, that favourite Republican method....ABSTINENCE?!? Come on - where's that good old Republican outrage? That good old Republican moral fibre?

Gees - talk about "No Child Left Behind"!

And, let's face it, you've got to love that the Republican presidential nominee's choice of a running mate was a member of an Alaskan secessionist party up until a few years ago: "...that she was a member for two years in the 1990s of the Alaska Independence Party, which has at times sought a vote on whether the state should secede..." Fantastic! A dimwit and (come on, Rush, I know you'd be busting at the seams to say this had she been Obama's running mate) a traitor!

Is anyone really seriously considering voting for these people? I mean, reeeeeeaaaaalllllly?

So, is Bary going to open the door to the vice-presidency for Hills? Wouldn't you love to be able to listen in on those discussions? Eeyikes. She pretty much tried to kill him during the campaign. And, she showed herself to be, um, less than, oh - ethical? - calling him "elitist" over remarks that, if anyone actually read them, were clearly not. And accusing Democrats who favoured Bary of doing so out of sexism (Hint to Hills - don't call the people you're trying to get to support you stupid.). On the other hand, half the Democrats in the States wanted her as their candidate. Picking her for VP would pretty much force those folks to vote for Bary. Kind of a conundrum, isn't it?

On the other hand, voting for McBush has just gotten harder, even for die-hard Republicans, I would think. After all, aren't these the people who hate government "interference" in any form? Are they really going to be enthused about a candidate who's keen on tapping their phones?

By the way, all credit to Maureen Dowd for the "McBush" moniker.

On the "bad news" front, looks like I'm going to have to close my secret Swiss bank account. Can't wait to see how this one plays out.

Last, but not least (at least, not if you're a photographer), there's this little item. Now, get out there and get snapping! If you don't, the terrorists will have won!

I took this photo a looooonnnnngggggg time ago (yep, gettin' to the bottom of the barrel here, too), but, wouldn't you know, it's suddenly relevant. Every day, in every way, it's just becoming more and more obvious that Hilly really, really, really needs to just go home and chill out. Let's face it, would you pick a person who'd commit a gaffe like this for a running mate? Someone who'd slip up this badly in charge of some delicate negotiation? I don't know about you, but I'm beginning to understand what sank the hopes of universal health care for American citizens during the Clinton administration.

And, on the lighter side of terminal (literally) stupidity, we have this story. Surely a nominee for the 2008 Darwin awards, don't you think?

Ah, at last I can stop relying on Dumbya for stupidity and get my supply locally. Well, from Ottawa, at least. Not exactly "local" for someone who lives on the west coast, but... Yep, Smirkin' Steve and His Sons of the Stupid have decided to persecute the already persecuted. To pick on the lowest of the low, the junkies. Canada is about to "get tough on drugs". Oh, boy. And, on the off chance that you missed this little extra bit of moronic irony, who's announcing our new national intent to pick on the sick? Our justice minister, Bouncing Bob Nicholson? Nope. How about our minister for foreign affairs, the ever-popular Pusillanimous Pete Mackay, who might at least have the excuse of kow-towing to Dumbya? Nope. Come on, think. This is the Ref..., er, Canadian Al....., oops, the Conservative party, remember? So, who would you least expect to announce a crackdown on some of Canada's most unfortunate, least healthy citizens? Yep - our health minister, Tony (The Enforcer) Clement. "How dare these people be sick on my watch?!? How dare these people pick an addiction not sanctioned by billions of dollars of advertising (and kickbacks to, um....well, you know who) from the alcohol and tobacco industries? I'll show these swine!" Go, Tony, go. I mean it. As far away from here as you can possibly get. Please. I'll buy your ticket. Just name a destination and promise never to come back.

It's just so humiliating to think that this guy is helping ru(i)n my country.