Bertie Kisses Bush's Ass, Again

It's become a tradition for the Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) to visit the White House on St. Patrick's Day. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who is flying to Washington to meet with US President George W. Bush Friday, is no exception. But the annual kowtowing is seen by republican-minded Irishmen with contempt. They view it as an ass-kissing ritual that shows the Irish government's subserviance to Washington. If anything, Bush should fly to Dublin instead in their minds. But I'm sure he wouldn't be greeted with open arms there, either. The word republican has a completely different meaning in Ireland, of course, and even Texas Repbublicans probably don't want Bush back nowadays.