It's the hypocrisy, stupid.

The sight of a rattled Laura Bush covered in a black scarf after touring the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem gave this clipmonkey some hope that President Bush and company would recognize some of the turmoil that they've wrought in the Middle East and finally take an even-handed look at the region.

But no, within hours of her stressful visit to some of the world's ancient holy sites, the First Lady traveled to Egypt where she endorsed the half-assed democracy plan hatched by that country's long-standing autocrat Hosni Mubarak. Check out this political debate between Mubarak supporters and opposition groups seeking to participate in national elections.

In other Middle East news, the death penalty has been resurrected in the 51st state. I guess if it's good enough for Texas, it must be good enough for Iraq.