Bush doesn't read your email: The White House has implemented a new email system that makes it more difficult to send a letter to president@whitehouse.gov. Now you have to fill out some forms indicating the issue at hand and whether or not you support the prez. It seems pretty stupid to me, but not as stupid as anyone who thinks they were having a courriel one-to-one with W.

Mr. Matzzie, the A.F.L.-C.I.O. organizer, discovered the new White House e-mail system when he started a campaign to protest the administration's proposals to change the way overtime pay is to be calculated.

He said he particularly disliked being forced to specify whether he was offering a "supporting comment" or a "differing opinion" to President Bush.

"Can't I just say something or ask a question?" he said.

Yeah, you can ask a question, but don't think your question is going any further than the most junior of White House interns. Matthew Hoy has a good take:

No longer do interns or paid-staffers have to read every single screed or fan mail. Now they immediately know that the e-mail is about "Issue A" and the writer "Opposes/Supports" the president's view and they can send out "Canned Response #38."

And the guy in the Star Wars chatroom with the George W. handle?

Hmmmm?