President Bush supports a strong dollar! At least, so one of his lackeys tells the Los Angeles Times.

Oh, wow. I know I feel better now.

Except that Prez and Co don't, in practice, do much to actually support a strong dollar (outside of talking it up which, if it were a loopy, lip-synching pop star, would probably be sufficient). Actual support of a strong dollar would require a deficit reduction; BushCheney wants to cut taxes, while maintaining, if not increasing, spending. Do the math, it’s pretty basic: more or flat spending + decreased revenue = increased deficits, not reduced ones.

He also wants to fiddle with Social Security (I’m all for fiddling, but at least wait until the fire’s out), which will likely require more federal borrowing and – again – increase, not decrease the deficit, further weakening that strong dollar the Prez likes to play at supporting.