BARBARA'S TCHATZKAHS

ABSURD!!! And here I thought this was America. CalState system ousts another instructor who objects on religious grounds to a pledge adopted by California in 1952 to root out communists. By Richard C. Paddock When Wendy Gonaver was offered a job teaching American studies at Cal State Fullerton this academic year, she was pleased to be headed back to the classroom to talk about one of her favorite themes: protecting constitutional freedoms. But the day before class was scheduled to begin, her appointment as a lecturer abruptly ended over just the kind of issue that might have figured in her course. She lost the job because she did not sign a loyalty oath swearing to "defend" the U.S. and California constitutions "against all enemies, foreign and domestic." The loyalty oath was added to the state Constitution by voters in 1952 to root out communists in public jobs. Now, 16 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, its main effect is to weed out religious believers...

FUNNY, BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST TRUE. When I was writing and doing comedy there was one truism. No - it wasn't self-deprecation or making fun of others. It was the TRUTH. The truth, when pointed out with all its warts or put up close, under the microscope - is the funniest material you can ever hope to have. Just ask Larry David. That said, Andy Borowitz's piece below is hysterical, because it's almost true: Bush Gives Musharraf Tips on Eliminating Democracy ‘ Benefit From My Experience,’ President Tells Pakistani In what he described as “an emergency mission to help a key ally in the war on terror,” President George W. Bush flew to Islamabad today to give General Pervez Musharraf tips on how to eliminate democracy. Mr. Bush said he scheduled the trip just hours after General Musharraf declared a state of emergency in Pakistan and suspended elections “because when it comes to eliminating democracy, I thought my friend Pervez could benefit from my experience.” Speaking to...