[yooper]

A sense of humor is solely held by humans. It is what sets us apart from all animals; no dog, pig, or chicken ever told a joke.

And you're wrong about questionable topics being unpresidential. Many historical scholars have made note of Abraham Licoln's penchant for telling jokes, and some of them were quite bawdy for their time. Humor and the theater were Lincoln's main means of temporarily escaping from the horror he was living. That attempt to escape ultimately got him killed. In seeking humor, Lincoln was attempting to blow off steam. That's what the correspondent's dinner is about. All American's need to laugh on a regular basis, including the President. If what Laura Bush did was wrong, why was her husband, a good and moral man, busting a gut at her remarks?

Warren G. Harding once stated that it was a good thing he wasn't born a girl, "because I never could say no."

I agree with your premise that there is a line of dignity which an administration should never cross.

Laura Bush didn't cross it.

[Cobra64]

Well done in responding to Farmer18th. Though I'm not convinced that he/she would ever understand. He/she must lead an extremely lonely and boring life. What a shame that people can't smile at themselves when being harpooned with small barbs. All of my friends joke, kid, insult each other all the time. It is called FUN And it keeps the mind sharp.

IMOHO

[farmer18th]

A sense of humor is solely held by humans.

Humor isn't on trial here. Pandering, degrading humor is. If suggesting a visual of the vice president's wife tipping a male stripper doesn't cross the line of dignity, very little ever could.