Deconstructing Dubya - "... to keep a balanced life."

The president's incredibly callous comments regarding Cindy Sheehan have been noted, but for those who haven't heard...

Bush said he is aware of the anti-war sentiments of Cindy Sheehan and others who have joined her protest near the Bush ranch.

"But whether it be here or in Washington or anywhere else, there's somebody who has got something to say to the president, that's part of the job," Bush said on the ranch. "And I think it's important for me to be thoughtful and sensitive to those who have got something to say."

"But," he added, "I think it's also important for me to go on with my life, to keep a balanced life."

The comments came prior to a bike ride on the ranch with journalists and aides.

The "go on with my life" snippet has been appropriately savaged by commentators, but in order to savor the full flavor of this man's crassness, you have consider also the dependent clause that led into it.

What Bush said is,

"And I think it's important for me to be thoughtful and sensitive to those who have got something to say, but I think it's also important for me to go on with my life, to keep a balanced life."

Bush did not say that he is sensitive to the thoughts and feelings of those who oppose the war. He acknowledged that such things could be considered important as long as they get in the way of his ability to live a "balanced life."

In other words, sure, I guess it's important to care about what Cindy Sheehan has to say, but I don't. I gotta look out for number one. There's the quick and the dead. Casey Sheehan wasn't quick enough to get out of serving like I was, so he's dead. Tough noogies. Now, watch this bike ride.