This Post is Not a Satire or a Parody

I swear. Every once in a while, I pop on one of the Big Three network newscasts. Friday night, it was the "CBS Evening News" which was devoted entirely to Bob Schieffer's exclusive interview with President Bush, Mr. "Can't Remember Making a Single Mistake." What I heard stunned me. In addition to saying he's glad people are debating about the domestic spying and the legal issues and rights issues, and acknowledging at least somewhat the feeble way Katrina was handled, the President had this exchange with the anchorman:

<< SCHIEFFER: I want to ask you sort of a philosophical question, and that is, Hubert Humphrey once said that the 1964 Civil Rights Act was America's most successful foreign policy initiative because it told people who we were and what we stand for. And I just wonder, when we see some of these horror stories about torture and things that have happened in some of these prisons like Abu Graib, do you worry that maybe we are losing the moral high ground in some way?

PRESIDENT BUSH: There is no question that Abu Graib pictures not only--we were disgraced, and it--it--it--I know it caused a lot of people that want to like us to question whether they should, and equally important it gave the enemy an incredible propaganda tool. No question. That's why it was important for us to investigate, to expose, and to hold people to account so people see there was a consequence for the behavior. The--you know, Hubert Humphrey was right. The actions we take in our own country or elsewhere help define America to others, and that's why it's important for us to constantly remind people that are--we have got a wonderful heart and we are a compassionate nation. >>

I'm not sure which is a bigger shock-- that he shows some signs of admitting that Abu Graib was a mess, (although sure, the party line about it being a few bad apples is still in there) or his saying "Hubert Humphrey was right."

I--I don't know HOW I feel right now. Agreeing with Bush assessment...room starting to spin...