ARUGULA, ESSENCE-SAPPING SALAD GREEN OF THE ANTICHRIST

Just because I know right-wingers can't resist talking about Barack Obama's arugula reference on the campaign trail a couple of months ago (here's a recent example, "It's Not Race, It's Arugula" by Noemie Emery, in the Weekly Standard, which, admittedly, is only glancingly about the salad green), I just want to point out that the virile, boot-wearing, purity-of-essence-preserving cowboy in the White House has actually eaten arugula ... and lived.

On November 9, 2007, the White House menu for a dinner honoring Angela Merkel included Citrus and Arugula Salad. On May 7, 2007, the menu for a dinner honoring Queen Elizabeth included Arugula, Savannah Mustard and Mint Romaine. On February 25, 2007, at a White House dinner in honor of state and territorial governors, a Salad of Cherry, Sylvetta Arugula and Frisee was served. (Yes! Frisee, too!) And on April 11, 2005, Scott McClellan recounted the menu for a lunch at Bush's ranch attended by the president and Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon:

And if you want the menu -- here, I'll just give you the menu for the lunch. They had arugula and blood orange salad, pecan-smoked beef tenderloin -- which was very good -- grilled asparagus and roasted seasonal vegetables, some homemade peach sorbet, and then topped it off with some brownies.

Yes, it's true: George W. Bush had arugula in his own house.

It is my understanding that he is still a biological male, Republican, and heterosexual.