This "news" is concertedly another slam against Bush's intelligence, and so I won't bother to read your book. Undoubtedly your bias will bleed through the majority of your account of his life. But if the author resold the image to several different magazines for them to illustrate varied stories, why is it troubling to you if Bush does the same thing? I thought that was what your generation was all about...making up your own reality. What about Hillary telling the fable that she was named after Edmund Hillary when that was proven an impossibility? That is a direct lie for her benefit of association, where Bush seems to be mistaken, and could have been told otherwise about the painting. I am weary of all the mud-slinging at Bush, and it seems hypocritical for you to call him on this and ignore more serious matters.

As I remember, PBS made the first mention of Bush's affinity for "A Charge to Keep" in the Frontline episode entitled "The Jesus Factor" (2004). Bush also began his last (and latest) inaugural address by stating, "we have a charge to keep." In response to mcouric's reply: yes, it is a problem that Mr. Bush misrepresents the purpose/ intent of the painting. The artist resold the image, therefore, in essence, he might have given away the assurance that his original intent would be discounted or dismissed; yet the buyer now gets to "write" their own purpose for the work not admirers of the painting. One should not create a story out of wisps of thought that aim to explain a piece of art, literature, or research so as to promote an ideology, religious, or other points of view. Also, as president, Mr. Bush should practice honesty-at least in appearance. However, should anybody be surprised that Mr. Bush "makes up" a story to support his own beliefs? You only need examine any one of his major policies (i.e. Iraq and WMDs).

Bush's "intelligence" is debatable, but his ability to recreate situations and events to conform to his own version of reality is supported by this very instance of his misinterpretation of what the artist intended the painting to represent. Even if someone else told him what s/he thinks the painting represents, doesn't he have enough "intelligence" to check out information he was provided before reiterating and expanding on it? It may seem like a trivial detail, but Bush is the one who has given it the religious significance that it has for him, once again choosing to create his own reality.