There are thousands of authors that would sell their souls for a positive 500-word New York Times review of their book.  No doubt that many of these authors have groundbreaking books on important issues.  Putting those aside, last Sunday the Times featured a children’s book that blatantly copies the classic Goodnight Moon.  Its purpose is bashing the Bush Administration, natch.  The Times’ Joanne Kaufman writes:

The cover of Goodnight Bush looks almost exactly like Goodnight Moon — green and orange, with an image of a window and fireplace — and uses a similar rhyme scheme. But there the thematic similarities end.

The authors, Erich Origen and Gan Golan, set their story in “a situation room.” There is no bunny snuggling into bed, but rather George W. Bush grinning and wearing a “Mission Accomplished” flight suit. Instead of three little bears sitting on chairs, there are “war profiteers giving three cheers.”

Goodnight Bush’s publisher told the Times, “[T]his had so many brilliant gags. You could spend so much time looking page by page.”

It’s amazing what passes for “brilliant” in leftists’ circles.  These authors must have honed their skills in college by making “Bush is Hitler!” placards.  The authors’ gags include a clock permanently set on 9:11, a copy of the Constitution that’s been written over in crayon, “a tiny scurrying Osama bin Laden” in place of the mouse that runs around throughout Goodnight Moon, and an “Ohio 2004” ballot box burning in the fireplace. 

The text is just as subtle:

Goodnight Constitution. And goodnight evolution.

Goodnight old growth trees. Goodnight detainees.

Obviously, Goodnight Bush is meant for childish liberals rather than children.  Accolades from the media are numerous and nauseating.  The San Francisco Chronicle purrs, “Goodnight Bush stands to become a popular American political parody.” 

Salon.com coos, “Seldom have an administration's failings been set to such a lulling cadence.”  Of course, one would expect Goodnight Clinton to be wrapped in plastic and sold in the back of the store with a “Sexually Explicit Material” warning label (or widely available in America’s public schools).

A blogger for The Village Voice writes, “Cute illustrations abound: a refinery plume, piggy war profiteers, a spilt glass of water with Katrina victims floating in it.  The text is warm and fuzzy — not as fuzzy as Bush's brain but warmer than Cheney's heart.”

In the month between the San Francisco Chronicle and New York Times articles, Goodnight Bush jumped from #507 to #57 as of this week.  Apparently, liberals have an easier time reading a 48-page children’s book because there are dozens and dozens of unsuccessful Bush-bashing books collecting dust. 

There are several “children’s books” parodying the genre and bashing the Bush administration.  Young Dick Cheney (150 pages) boasts that it is “a wickedly funny faux-children’s biography recounts Young Dick Cheney’s youthful lust for guns, oil, and the girl of his dreams.”  Intellectual giant Phil Donahue says it’s “a big hoot.”  Arianna Huffington says the book “pries back the door on our secretive Vice President.”  The only thing more secret is Arianna’s electric bill. Continued...