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the zeitgeist checklist: What Washington is talking about.

Zeitgeist Checklist: SOTU, So What?What Washington is talking about this week.

By Michael Grunwald
Posted Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, at 6:59 PM ET

1. Last week: 1 Weeks on list: 31 [SAME]

What We Have Here Is Not a Failure To Communicate
Iraq. After a rash of bombings, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki declares that there will be "no safe place for terrorists in Iraq." It's true: There's no safe place for anyone in Iraq. Meanwhile, President Bush proclaims again that failure in Iraq is unacceptable. Judging from his Vanilla Coke approval ratings, the American people seem to agree.

2. Last week: 2 Weeks on list: 2 [SAME]

The William Hung of American Politics
White House. Bush's State of the Union offers nothing new on Iraq and just a few small-bore domestic-policy nuggets, but more Americans watch the speech than American Idol. Presumably the same Americans who watch NASCAR for the wrecks. The highlight of the address is Baby Bush's plug for Baby Einstein, who apparently invented a self-immolating nuclear bomb to prove he was better than his dad.

3. New This Week [UP ARROW]

Frankly, We Think You're a Bit Scary
Media. In a contentious CNN interview, Vice President Cheney says that the United States has had "enormous successes" in Iraq and rejects Wolf Blitzer's suggestion of administration blunders as "hogwash." He also complained that the media always focus on the negative aspects of Kevin Federline and picked the Redskins to win the Super Bowl. At one point, Cheney furiously objected to Blitzer's prying: "Frankly, I think you're out of line!" Blitzer apologized and promised not to ask again how the VP takes his coffee.

4. Last week: 4 Weeks on list: 12 [SAME]

Was It Something We Said?
2008. Hillary Rodham Clinton says that after consulting with her family, Eleanor Roosevelt, and an eager coalition of late-night hosts, she's in. Sam Brownback, Chris Dodd, and Bill Richardson are in, too. But the Zeitgeist must say a sad farewell to John Kerry, who's dropping out to spend more time with his mirror. Kerry still believes he can be president, even though polls suggest that he's less popular than Mel Gibson at an AIPAC convention. Kerry also believes that his departure would leave the Senate with a pressing shortage of pompous windbags.

5. Last week: 8 Weeks on list: 2 [UP ARROW]

Yes, They'd Have To Be Insane
Crime. The Scooter Libby trial heats up, as the defense accuses Bush administration officials of scapegoating Libby to protect Karl Rove, while the prosecution argues that they'd have to be insane to protect the strategist responsible for Bush's 28 percent approval rating. But the big news is that Libby once met with Tom Cruise about Germany's treatment of Scientologists. Finally, someone crazier than Cheney in the vice president's office!

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Michael Grunwald, a staff reporter for the Washington Post, is the author of The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise.
Illustrations by Vivian Selbo.
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