Article Surfing Archive

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki made his first visit to Washington, where he met with President Bush, who noted that, despite the Prime Minister's efforts to shave every day, he has a persistently dark and generally unelectable stubble.

Mr. Maliki admitted the difficulty and agreed that he would make every effort to buy a new shaver.

In a later address to both Houses of Congress, the Prime Minister, when pressed by various members of the Senate about his real position in regard to his stubbornly resistant facial hair, assured them, 'I have every intention of achieving a clean shave, but, let me tell you, with a tough beard like mine, it's a real challenge.'

Later, talk devolved into what brand of shaver he should buy, with the disagreement raging over what would be the best way to tackle the explosive growth of his beard.

Republicans were generally in favor of a Remington, with Bill Frist stating, 'I think you'll like the straight edge. It's an admittedly conservative shape but quite effective. I've used it for years.' He then held his face forward for al-Maliki to rub his hand over his cheek and verify the closeness of his shave, and Maliki could not help but give him a good-natured slap of congratulations for hairy achievement.

Meanwhile, Democrats came down decidedly for Norelco.

Senator Joseph Lieberman noted, 'I like the three heads and the circular motion. I think they go well with my own mental processes.'