An Arresting Image

The other morning I took my puppy Teddy to the local dog run where we met another Teddy, a Mini Goldendoodle whose parents were a 5-pound male Toy Poodle and a 65-pound female Golden Retriever. Talk about punching above your weight! I kept picturing this mating scene, first from the perspective of the poodle, humping away happily and not quite believing his luck, determined to hang on as long as possible before being thrown off. Then I saw it from the perspective of the retriever, at first curious and even charmed by the naive rascal atop her; next somewhat irritated; then, when she grasped the seriousness of the business at hand, infuriated; and, finally, resigned to the indignity and hoping it would soon be over. Now replay the same scene, substituting Karl Rove as the breeder, George W. as the poodle, and the American people as the retriever, and it all comes clear. Just remain calm — it will soon be over.