From a mailing list I’m on comes the following:
President George W. Bush was scheduled to visit an Episcopal church outside Washington as part of his campaign to restore his poll standings.
Bush’s campaign manager made a visit to the Rector of the church, and said to him, “We’ve been getting a lot of bad publicity because of the President’s position on stem cell research, the Iraq war, Katrina and the like.
We’d gladly make a contribution to the church of $100,000 if, during your sermon, you’d say the President is a saint.”
The Rector thought it over for a few moments and finally said, “The church is in desperate need of funds, so I’ll do it.”
Bush showed up for the sermon and the Rector began:
“I’d like to speak to you this morning about our President. George Bush is a liar, a cheat, and a low-intelligence weasel. He took the tragedy of September 11 and used it to frighten and manipulate the American people. He lied about weapons of mass destruction and invaded Iraq for oil and money, causing the deaths of tens of thousands and making the United States the most hated country on earth.
“He appointed cronies to positions of power and influence, leading to widespread death and destruction during Hurricane Katrina. He awarded contracts and tax cuts to his rich friends so that we now have more poverty in this country, and a greater gap between rich and poor, than we’ve had since the Great Depression.
“He instituted illegal wiretaps when getting a warrant from a court would have been a mere administrative detail; he had his henchmen lie to Congress about it, then claimed he is above the law.
“He has headed the most corrupt, bribe-inducing political party since Teapot Dome. The national surplus has turned into a staggering national debt of $7.6 trillion, gas prices are up 85% and vital research into global warming and stem cells is stopped cold because he’s afraid to lose votes from some religious kooks.
“He is the worst example of a Christian I’ve ever known. But compared to Dick Cheney and Karl Rove, George Bush is a saint.”