So after watching the latest TiVo-ing of The Daily Show, I’m both surprised and annoyed to find that Jon Stewart, while still being current, doesn’t have anything new at all, and really hasn’t had anything particularly groundbreaking since, oh… seven years ago when we didn’t elect Bush. Remember the Bush vs Gore debates, the “fuzzy arithmetic” retort to practically every statement Gore issued involving numbers, the fact that we didn’t elect Bush in the first place? I do, and I was 14 at the time. New year, different bullshit.

Yes, it is really sad that it would have been better off taking a public speaking class than 99% of what he actually did, but it is worth that people have this annoying tendency to forget Bush’s greater offense–being a slimy bastard.

Our Viacom-owned news organizations are stuck with mocking Bush’s inability to use his native language while we have a president who is guilty of at least:

• Authorization of a war of aggression without any real premise
• Authorization of the use of torture and abuse in violation of the international humanitarian and human rights law and domestic constitutional and statuary laws.
• Authorization of the transfer of persons held in U.S. custody to foreign countries where torture is known to be practiced.
• Knowing failure to adequately maintain and upgrade the levees directly contributed to the foreseeable loss of life and suffering of many people when Hurricane Katrina struck.
• Distortion of sound science and attempts to suppress medical research studies in HIV prevention when it conflicts with the ideology of the Christian Right.
• Re-instation of the “gag-rule” policy which restricts foreign organizations that receive US funds from using their own, non-U.S., funds to provide legal abortion services or even provide accurate medical counseling or referrals regarding abortion.
• Imposition of Abstinence-Only HIV Prevention Programs: The Bush administration is using its political influence, aid, and funding in the sphere of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment to advance policies and programs that worsen the AIDS pandemic.
• Use of military forces to seize and detain indefinitely without charges U.S. citizens, denying them the right to challenge their detention in U.S. courts.
• Insertion of secret clause in Terrorist Tribunal Act to pardon himself from war crimes

…and many more!

This, perhaps, is why my boyfriend is catching the next plane to Germany right after he wins the lottery.