Eugene David<br>...The One-Minute Pundit

Posted 8:14 PM by Gene

The Oakland Tribune tells truth to power, or old used books, anyway:

We think it's time for Congress to heed the warning of George Orwell.

To that end, we're asking for your help: Mail us or drop off your tattered copies of "1984." When we get 537 of them, we'll send them to every member of the House of Representatives and Senate and to President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.

Feel free to inscribe the book with a note, reminding these fine people that we Americans take the threat to our liberties seriously. Remind Congress that it makes no sense to fight a war for democracy in a foreign land while allowing our democratic principles to erode at home.

This is precisely the sort of stupid gag that WOULD appeal to ROMY. So let us guess what happens: if the Trib gets enough copies to send to all the victims -- IF -- most likely each copy would go to a mailroom clerk, who'd then give it to an intern, who'd ask of a supervisor, "What should I do with this book?" who'd answer, "Must have come from some street person. Give it to the Salvation Army -- or chuck it in the trash."

We suspect a DC thrift shop or two will soon see a sudden puzzling build up of dog-eared, highlighted, doodled copies of 1984.