Barbara Bush Gets Heart

Like the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz, Barbara Bush was seriously lacking a heart. However, she got one recently, contributed by a pig, in an operation in Houston.

Although much of the evidence of her lifelong heartless behavior was hidden by the Bush family, she famously exhibited it during the ordeal suffered by New Orleans refugees who were forced to take shelter in Houston post-Katrina. After touring refugee centers in Houston, particularly the Astrodome, Dame Barbara said (paraphrasing), "So many of the people here were underprivileged anyway, so this is working very well for them." Ah, yes, if only a monumentally destructive hurricane could have wiped out their homes earlier . . . perhaps their lives could have been so much better sooner!

Pigs have been noted for having hearts somewhat similar to the humans who raise them lovingly, then slaughter them for meat. Pigs are intelligent, but despite their intelligence, they tend to trust the humans who are responsible for their demise. One wonders if Dame Barbara now shares these traits with her porcine cousins. But, of course, when you are a member of the American ruling class, you don't have to worry about befalling the same fate as the smart, trusting pig.

Still, it is yet to be seen if Dame Barbara will have the "heart" to eat pork during the 2009 holiday season. Oink, oink.