  I wish this was the start of some funny pervert joke, but this is Time Magazine quoting a guest of President Bush in reference to urlLink Bush's personal spoil of the illegal Iraq war, Saddam Hussein's unloaded pistol. I sleep comfortably at night knowing that with no clear exit strategy and that the rest of the world has very few good things to say about the U.S., that our Commander in Thief gets to play with a captured enemy firearm and show it to visitors. How very presidential of him. Well, at least it's not in urlLink Saddam's hands anymore (talk about someone who was able to shave but not get a cup of coffee). I am happy that the gun is unloaded. Primarily, because I simply don't trust the current administration with anything approaching an operational weapon. While I wish this was an isolated case, it does seem indicative of the right wing's collective fascination with violence (unfortunately shared by many on the left as well). A president playing with an unloaded pistol of the enemy is not something I look for in an electable candidate. I have to wonder if Bush has a more pronounced than usual smirk on his face when he shows the gun to people. I wonder if he lets his guests touch the pistol and how he handles it around them. Does he prostrate himself somewhat and hand the gun out with the handle pointing at the guests, or does he assume the mantle of power and authority by showing off the gun barrel first, forcing the guests to politely look done the menacing yet functionally impotent barrel made of Soviet steel (or it could be urlLink American for that matter). Or does Bush assume a neutral position, handling the gun with the barrel pointed in a sideways direction? Does Bush handle and play with the gun when no one else is around, does he fantasize about shooting someone with it, and if so, whom?
Does Bush point it at objects in the Oval Office or any of the portraits, and if so, what objects and portraits? Does Bush ever show it to guests while making jokes about Iraq or about the impotence of Saddam (the gun was unloaded)? Does Bush ever point it at a subordinate when angrily lecturing, or rest his hand on it when plotting policy, ever point it in anger, or point it at himself?
While these questions are most likely meaningless and quite imflammatory otherwise, if answered, such questions would reveal more about the current administration than all the current scandals, invocations of God, and the disregard for the rule of law and our Bill of Rights combined. While I am against many forms of gun control and believe the Second Amendment does give the right to Americans to own, maintain, and operate firearms - such questions as these and the way people seem to play with weaponry or models of weaponry and how such objects are used to convey power is enough to make me never want to own or touch a gun in my life.
I know that such an attitude of mine may be fallacious and that such relationships between guns and power are social constructs, but I'd be happier knowing that the most telling object legacy about our president would not be a gun, but rather an imported cigar. I do miss the days of sex scandals and the Republican Operatives looking on in awe as Clinton explains the mechanics of giving and receiving good oral sex.
That aside, I wonder if Bush has shown it to Charlton Heston and if Charlton has made any more dumb racist remarks? Sure, I support the second amendment, but only if it means that other people besides criminals and NRA-members can protect themselves. For the lighter and humorous side of commentary which pokes fun at Bush, check out urlLink Bushoncrack . Make sure to scroll down to see the Howard (Che) Dean pic. 
