Toast

All the talk of Judy Miller in the news has me wistful for the good old days of 2002-2003. Downright hungry, in fact for some Freedom Toast.

The cafeteria menus in the three House office buildings changed the name of "french fries" to "freedom fries," in a culinary rebuke of France stemming from anger over the country's refusal to support the U.S. position on Iraq.

Ditto for "french toast," which will be known as "freedom toast."

The name changes were spearheaded by two Republican lawmakers who held a news conference Tuesday to make the name changes official on the menus.

Across the country, some private restaurants have done the same.

"This action today is a small, but symbolic effort to show the strong displeasure of many on Capitol Hill with the actions of our so-called ally, France," said Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, the chairman of the Committee on House Administration.

It's not like this is Napoleonic history or something. This didn't just happen in our lifetime, or our parents' lifetime, it happened about four years ago, while this administration was in power. While a Republican Congress ruled.

It seems like a long time ago. Yet, amazingly, the GOP and its bitter-ender supporters insist on defending the Freedom Toast War. The "party of life" in action.