re: it gets better.....ardent!
The world is facing a severe crisis and this is what passes for debate in the US at the moment. Rest assured they have all your interests at heart. They know where their priorities lie...........
Joining the growing protest against French products, House Administration Committee Chairman Bob Ney, Ohio Republican, changed the House cafeteria menu yesterday to "freedom fries." He also declared "french toast" anathema, too. The toothsome breakfast treat will henceforth be patriotic "freedom toast." We realize it's symbolic," Mr. Ney says of freedom fries and toast. "But I take it seriously. And I'll tell you, a lot of people around the building are taking it serious in the sense of we're sending a message to our troops. "This is not a boycott or a trade action, but we're sending a message to our troops we respect these men and women who stand in harm's way ready to defend us." It's also a message about French policy: "It's nothing against the French people, the French language. This is simply stating the French government is wrong." "Freedom fries" began at Cubbies restaurant in Beaufort, N.C., where owner Neal Rowland announced he was changing the name as a sign of support for U.S. troops, particularly those from the three nearby military installations other options are under consideration. "We're not touching French dressing yet," he says, "but we'll consider it." There's no word yet on whether congressmen who wear shirts with French cuffs will be served their freedom fries. Brendan Daly, spokesman for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, said the effort seems "kind of absurd when the country is facing such difficult times economically and when we're facing war. That's a reflection of what [Republicans] think passes for serious debate." Officials at the French Embassy pointed out that french fries actually originated in Belgium. "We are at a very serious moment dealing with very serious issues and we are not focusing on the name you give to potatoes," said Nathalie Loisau, an embassy For his part, Mr. Ney said he has heard complaints only from "a couple of people with accents." Rep. Jose E. Serrano, New York Democrat, was not amused, dismissing the measure as "petty grandstanding." "Should we ban French wine, Belgian waffles or Russian dressing?" he asked in a statement. "If Mexico votes no, should Mexican restaurants ... also be banned, and should the taco salad buffet at the House cafeterias be shuttered?"
