"A new breeze is blowing," said George W. Bush in his inaugural address to the nation, "and the old bipartisanship must be made new again."

Funny, it smells just like the breeze from 12 years ago. So far, the only old things we've seen dusted off are the Cabinet and the policy agenda. If they smell less than fresh, it's probably because they've spent the past eight years in a forgotten crypt, stewing. Is it a coincidence that an all-star benefit album for a nonprofit wildlife preserve is being planned (think "We are the world, we are the pets," featuring original songs by Brad Pitt, Juliette Lewis and and other actors not known for their original songs) just as the religious right kicks off an uncalled-for comeback tour of the White House? Nope. Only 10 days into the Bush regime, '80s nostalgia is finally hitting its stride.

But even if the president were inclined to represent the will of the people in 2001, how would he know what it is? He is known to be averse to books, television, movies, travel, culture, public policy, work and staying awake for extended periods of time. Indeed, some have wondered what it is exactly that the president does with all his spare time. Could "napping" be a euphemism for "protracted coma"? Are we in fact living in the early days of the van Winkle administration?

Let's see. Bush spent his very first day in office signing an executive order requiring that international groups that receive U.S. funding stop "discussing or performing abortions." He also issued a written statement "encouraging ... anti-abortion demonstrators who marched on Washington to continue to protest" -- because they really need more inducements to violence.

Even Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., was taken aback: "The decision is unwise," he said. "The existing program is a carefully crafted compromise between pro-choice and pro-life groups ... I think the current policy is a sound one."

Oh, well.

Next, Bush created a White House office designed to award federal funding to faith-based charities. Interfaith leaders around the country promptly raised concerns about the harm that could be done to religious ministries if billions of federal dollars intended for existing social services were instead redirected to religious organizations.

"Tax dollars come with strings that will effectively turn religious leaders into government puppets," said the Rev. C. Welton Gaddy, executive director of the Interfaith Alliance, a grass-roots organization dedicated to promoting the positive and healing role of religion in public life. "This multibillion-dollar proposal will not allocate new monies to deal with poverty; instead it will turn our nation's religious leaders into competitors for a limited pool of money."

But will they be cute puppets like that little sock fella? We miss that guy.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Brand inanity

It's always heartening to see people take the time to ponder the effects dangerously regressive policies will have on their daily lives.

According to Mark DiMassimo, president and executive creative director of DiMassimo Brand Advertising in New York, Americans may never look at their Chee-tos the same way again -- or at least not for the next four years.

Brilliant Careers: Sound and Vision Audio and video highlights of our Brilliant Careers profiles