Bush as George Washington

The cliché about people gone over the edge used to be thinking they were Napoleon. George Bush, who never falters in his patriotism, is convinced he’s George Washington.

The delusional attempt to impersonate a great military commander is understandable in those who feel overwhelmed by stress and impotent to deal with it.

Yesterday Bush told a huge hangarful of Air National Guard members: “Our first Independence Day celebration took place in a midst of a war--a bloody and difficult struggle that would not end for six more years before America finally secured her freedom.

“Like those early patriots, you’re fighting a new and unprecedented war--pledging your lives and honor to defend our freedom and way of life.”

The President did not wear the dress-up flight suit of the “Mission Accomplished” speech on the aircraft carrier so no one had the heart to tell him that Iraq is not colonial America, the al Qaeda folks are not Redcoats and he is not Washington crossing the Delaware--not until January 2009 when the proper attire may be a straightjacket.