Say g'night, George ...

Don't you hate it when you see something you can't make sense of? When you hear something you can't make head nor tale of? Doesn't it frustrate you when you can't figure out 'the angle'? Because, as everyone knows, there always is an angle.

Take, for example, Laura Bush's stand-up comic, routine at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner. Much as I hate to admit it, I found her very funny; funny in the ha, ha, sense. At the same time though, funny in the strange sense.

What the heck was the real reason behind her hilarious 'let's all laugh at my husband, George, the President,' routine? I know there was a reason; there's always a reason where the Bushes are concerned. But, try as I may, I've not yet been able to come up with the answer -- so I'd just love to hear anyone else's views.

Incidentally, for those who missed 'the show,' here's a slice of the BBC's relevant report:

* Presidents normally deliver a humorous speech at the dinner but as soon as George W Bush set off on an old joke, his wife stood up to interrupt him.

Mrs Bush bemoaned his early bedtimes, saying she was often left watching TV show Desperate Housewives. She said: "If you want to end tyranny, you're going to have to stay up later."

President Bush had begun a joke at the 91st correspondents dinner in Washington when his wife quickly rose to say: "Not that old joke - not again.

"I've been attending these dinners for years and just quietly sitting there. Well, I've got a few things I want to say for a change," she said to great applause.

Then, in no particular order, followed these beauties:

People think [Barbara Bush] is a sweet, grandmotherly... type - she's actually more like Don Corleone

She went on to tell the audience of journalists, politicians and celebrities: "Nine o'clock and Mr Excitement here is in bed and I am watching Desperate Housewives - with [vice-president's wife] Lynne Cheney. Ladies and gentlemen, I am a desperate housewife."

Mrs Bush poked fun at her husband's riotous youth, saying: "I was a librarian that spent 12 hours a day in the library. Yet somehow I met George."

The First Lady said her husband's ranching skills had come on since he bought their plot in Crawford, Texas. "He's learned a lot about ranching since that first year, when he tried to milk the horse. What's worse, it was a male horse," she said.

Mrs Bush also joked about her mother-in-law, Barbara Bush: "People think she's a sweet, grandmotherly... type. She's actually more like [Mafia character] Don Corleone."

Hmmm. Okay, so maybe there is no deep, hidden significance. Maybe there's nothing more sinister to it all, than hubby's just 'had it' with speeches. Maybe he's gradually grown as sick of the sound of his own stupid voice, as the rest of us have. Maybe from now on, Laura's set to do all his talking. Maybe the mess he just made of his latest press conference has finally convinced him, that what millions have been saying for a long time, is true; he should simply shut his big mouth.

Or, and this, I admit, is just an outside chance -- maybe he's finally found his true vocation. Maybe he's set to give his long time partner, Dirty Dick, the old heave ho -- and hit the road with Laura's new laugh-a-minute act -- playing her straight man.

STOP PRESS: I've just heard this. One Brit wit's already come up with the first gag.

Q./ What's the difference between Laura Bush and George Bush?

A./ When people laugh at Laura, it's because she meant them to.

Full relevant BBC piece here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4503609.stm