George,

I made an interesting discovery while shopping in Cha-Cha's the other day: obviously, I am not alone in my feelings about George W. Bush.

The store has a bin of rubber "pet chew toys" -- you know, the kind that poodles lick daintily while golden retrievers tear them apart in a matter of minutes -- of Saddam Hussein and George Bush. I noticed that the Saddam toys were on sale: $3.50, down from $12.00.

The Bush chew toys, however, were NOT on sale; they were still $12. I asked the salesperson what gives...why chewy Dubya wasn't on sale too. She said something to the effect that nobody cares about the Saddam toy, but the destined-to-be-chewed-up Bush sells like the proverbial hotcakes.

Now if that doesn't just say it all.

Jenny Mead (electronic mail, July 12, 2004)

Editor's Note: The latest arrival to Political Pet Toys is Senator John Kerry. No word on whether it has reached Cha-Cha's. However, I myself am partial to "Smush Bush" See picture above.