Tabloid update: "Laura Calls Off Divorce!"

We promised to keep you up to date on the supermarket tabloid reports of the president's crumbling marriage, and in keeping with that pledge, we now bring you the highlights from this week's Globe.

The tabloid says Laura has called off the divorce after George agreed to all her demands. According to the Globe, the first lady demanded an end to "all talk of him and Condi" and to be "the only woman in his life." Mrs. Bush is also said to have demanded an escape from "the cookie-cutter image she's been forced into," and "a more visible role in the marriage and his administration."

The Globe gushes, "Her new power and prestige extends even to foreign policy, where with a concentrated zeal she has kept the pressure on crackpot potentates and criminal juntas and usurped the power formerly wielded by her love rival Rice!"

You gotta love this stuff.

America Wants to Know is a little skeptical that the first couple's marital troubles are behind them. Did you notice the romantic dinner the Bushes enjoyed this week as they celebrated their 30th anniversary? Formal attire, beautiful gowns, lobster bisque and lamb, a hundred and thirty-five guests -- oh, wait, that was the dinner for the president of France.

He's just gotten divorced, you know. He came to the White House alone. He kissed Laura's hand, and then her cheek, and then her other cheek.



And that was it for public displays of affection at the White House this week. The first couple's thirtieth wedding anniversary on Monday went by without even a mention on the White House web site.

That's not how it's generally done in politics. Wedding anniversaries are an opportunity to release nice pictures and little news items about romantic gifts in an attempt to goose the president's approval rating with people who find that kind of thing reassuring.

Not a word.

That marriage is so over.


Copyright 2007

Editor's note: You might be interested in the earlier tabloid updates, Laura's secret divorce diary" and "Bush marital turmoil."

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