Republican thugs target The Onion--selectively

Via The Amazin' Froomkin in The Times:

"It has come to my attention that The Onion is using the presidential seal on its Web site," Grant M. Dixton, associate counsel to the president, wrote to The Onion on Sept. 28.

But it looks like Bush's lawyers are being more than a little, um, selective in what they pay attention to. Read on:

Citing the United States Code, Mr. Dixton wrote that the seal "is not to be used in connection with commercial ventures or products in any way that suggests presidential support or endorsement." Exceptions may be made, he noted, but The Onion had never applied for such an exception.

Gee, would that mean that a blogger with a tip box couldn't use the Presidential seal either? Guess we'd better get our licks in now! 'Cause when we put up the tip box and start raking in the big bucks, people might think Bush was endorsing us!

Another question: Here's the famous photo of Bush fiddling and diddling while New Orleans drown, at a campaign event with country singer Mark Wills. (Hank Williams must be spinning in his grave.) Why, and what's that down on the guitar body, under Bush's elbow? It looks like... Why, the Presidential seal!

Well, and lookee here! Here's another copy of the Presidential seal, right on the site the marketing weasels put together for Wills. Looks like a commercial venture to me!

So why would Bush's lawyers go after The Onion and not Mark Wills? Curious, very curious.