Bush`s cock-of-the-walk diplomacy.

[democrank]

Look....there are two kinds of people on this planet, those with power and those without. The clock is ticking, the pages are turning, so why waste time diddling around with compromise? Why make concessions when all you have to do is call out tanks and air strikes? It`s said that everyone loves a winner, so just get to the top with overwhelming force and let someone else worry about the smoldering ruins.

Those seeking power simply can not waste time fussing over consequences. If gaining power means claiming the space between a farmer and his water supply, so be it. If it means leveling bridges to prevent the flow of food and medicine, have at it. If it means a bulging of city morgues, oh well. Webster`s dictionary has the words title-holder and underdog for a reason. Watch a road race between a Ford Escort and a Hummer or a city hall meeting between a casino builder and a someone wanting space for a halfway house. Same principle. The dog on top stays on top with collateral damage a given.

Know that old saying about keeping your eye on the prize? If we stick with that program, we can discount that other old saying about little things meaning a lot. The payoff? An inspiring national chant like "Stay the course" drowns out a pesky tidbit about the true age of an Iraqi rape victim. Pretty blue backdrops with FIGHTING FOR YOUR FREEDOM outshine any silly chatter about starving peasants. It`s like one of those crazy soccer matches where all eyes are on the team holding the trophy and not on the people killed in the stampede.

President Bush was on national tv this morning. Major parts of the world are on fire but he managed to get in a few jokes about a roasting pig he plans to eat. Guess that shows he`s not a wussy. Even with flames licking at his ankles he was able to jest with "Andrea" in an international, cock-of-the-walk display of supremacy. He`s the red telephone, nuclear suitcase guy. Numero Uno. Strut master. Chest puffer. I can easily imagine his "Burn, baby, burn" tonight as he`s sampling a piece of fine chocolate perfectly positioned on his pillow. Bomb the olive groves and fire up the torture planes. "To the victor go the spoils."

[lpbk2713]

1. All hat .... no cattle.