Jay Leno, "The Tonight Show": "On CNN, they brought in an expert on Iraqi culture, and he said, 'Let me clarify what happened here.' He said, 'In the Arab world, throwing your shoes at someone's head is considered an insult.' Oh, really? As opposed to here in America, where it's a huge compliment."
Comedy writer Jim Barach: "Unemployment claims are at their highest level since 1982. Finally, President Bush is getting his wish of being compared to Ronald Reagan."
Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg: "Bernard Madoff scammed $50 billion from his investors. Shouldn't the first clue have been that his last name is pronounced 'Made Off'?"
Comedy writer Janice Hough on Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich: "For the good old days, when prison inmates wrote letters asking, 'Pardon me, governor?' Now they are more likely to ask, 'Pardon me, weren't you the governor?'"
Michael Feldman, public radio's "Whad'Ya Know?": "Britain says it will be out of Iraq in three months, but they said the same thing about Ireland."
Note from Ken Rasak: This is the final weekly column for Punchlines. I'm grateful to every single person who's ever sent me a joke in the hopes of seeing it in print, since there'd be no column without your generosity. And thanks to everyone who has read Punchlines hoping to get a laugh out of the day's events. I will miss you all.
