Draft No. 9

What George W. Bush might have said—at least as our columnist jokingly imagines it

By Patti Davis

Newsweek

Updated: 6:21 p.m. ET Jan. 20, 2005

There were 22 drafts of President Bush’s Inaugural Address, according to news reports, the final one being approved as suitable for history’s long and indelible memory. Since every White House has its leaks, moles, spies and secret e-mailers, it was inevitable that an earlier draft—and accompanying commentary—would end up in the wrong hands. Fortunately those hands were mine, and it is my patriotic duty to make this draft public. We are still at this moment a free society, and I think I’m still protected by the First Amendment (though I’m not completely sure about that.)

Anyway, if you never hear from me again it’s because I was taken away in the middle of the night, put into some clandestine place, and am going through rigorous questioning as to where I got this draft. Please delete this link after you read it—you could be next. New Power Players

“My fellow Americans, I stand before you now as the proud winner of another four years. I have a mandate. In plain English, I can do whatever I darn well please.” (Note to Prez: a bit hostile, I think. Can we get the word freedom in as soon as possible?)