Last week, we learned about Bush allegedly reading Camus' "The Stranger." Apparently, it's part of a new p.r. campaign to convince us of the
August 22, 2006

Last week, we learned about Bush allegedly reading Camus' "The Stranger." Apparently, it's part of a new p.r. campaign to convince us of the president's new-found appreciation for the printed word.

Maybe it was the influence of his wife, Laura, a former librarian, or his mother, Barbara, a longtime promoter of literacy. Or perhaps he was just eager to dispel his image as an intellectual lightweight. But President Bush now wants it known that he is a man of letters.

In fact, Bush has entered a book-reading competition with Karl Rove, his political adviser. White House aides say the president has read 60 books so far this year (while the brainy Rove, to Bush's competitive delight, has racked up only 50).

The White House released a partial list of the books -- there are some serious texts in there -- and I feel comfortable saying there is absolutely no way on earth the president read all of these books. None.

-- Guest Post by Steve Benen, The Carpetbagger Report

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