Freedom Fries, redux

So I am listening to the BBC this morning and hear that the U.S. plans to investigate an official at the French company, TOTAL, over dealings with Iran. The BBC news guy -- don't know his name but he looks like the actor Rupert Everett -- says, with a straight face, quote,

"bribing foreign officials has been illegal under U.S. law since 1977."

Wow. Really?

Let's all commend the Security and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice for their steadfast and unbiased anti-corruption initiatives into the dealings of foreign corporations. And let's not forget to applaud the BBC for this stellar example of muckraking journalism.

Sigh.

I am not sure which is worse, readers:

(1) That I am so jaded that I want to re-write that as "bribing foreign officials...public policy since the dawn of government."

(2) That even after the last bring-us-war lies were revealed, the U.S. government still plays its citizens for suckers. I mean, think of the decision on this: "Cool! A Frenchie in Iran! Let's do it!"

(3) That the Rupert look-alike didn't start gagging on air because that was a really fucking foul line to read aloud and call "news."

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Bonus link 14 Apr: If you haven't already discovered the wonders of Mark Fiore's political animation, check out his classic gem on Looting!

What if God was one of us...and had office hours?

From Vicki, this morning's humor: Barack Obama cast as Jesus by a student artist, generating calls to his art school (good and bad) and the candidate actually having to "distance" himself from the artist.

Jesus.

So George W. Bush can claim to be God's avenging angel, but a 24 year old can create derivative art and make the Democratic Party nervous?

I mean, the Obama campaign spokeswoman actually felt compelled to say

...we respect First Amendment rights and don't think the artist was trying to be offensive...

Good lord.

And just in time for the Easter Bunny, same article:

The piece [on Obama] comes amid Catholic outrage in New York that led to an art gallery canceling an exhibit featuring a nude 6-foot-tall, anatomically correct chocolate sculpture of Jesus Christ.

That's outrageous?

I am mounting a public campaign to ask that Holy Father Benedict XVI issue an edict demanding churches cancel their Easter Egg Hunts immediately. No more associating chocolate, bunnies, searches through the grass and good family times with the CRUCIFIXION.

Join my campaign! Please write your request IN LATIN to

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
Apostolic Palace
VATICAN CITY

or via e-mail benedictxvi@vatican.va