After Bush's mini-poodle, Australian PM John Howard--Blair was busy talking to the cops--tried out the Republican stab-in-the-back theory on him, Barack responded as follows:

Obama, campaigning in Iowa, told reporters Sunday he's flattered that one of Bush's allies "started attacking me the day after I announced (his presidential run) -- I take that as a compliment."

The Democratic presidential hopeful said if the Australian prime minister was "ginned up to fight the good fight in Iraq," he needs to send another 20,000 Australians to the war.

"Otherwise, it's just a bunch of empty rhetoric," Obama said.

Barack hits back right away. Good.

"Empty rhetoric" from war supporters? Say it isn't so! Read more…

Might even help. To "convert" after all means, if nothing else, to get a new perspective on things. Per the AP, via Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Militant cleric Abu Bakar Bashir... called on Bush and [Australian Prime Minister John] Howard to convert to Islam, saying it was "the only way to save their souls."

I think that may be asking a bit much of even the most omnipotent of deities, but hey, nothing we mere mortals have tried has worked. Read more…