The weirdest bit of news today is that the Bush White House has released the names of those who will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Among them: retired Gen. Peter Pace, AIDS researcher Anthony Fauci, Judge Laurence Silberman, the late Rep. Tom Lantos…and…

Donna Shalala? Bill Clinton’s Secretary of Health and Human Services? Who, as president of three universities, did and has done absolutely nothing to reverse the slide of her institutions into mediocrity and political correctness? The White House press release describes her as “one of our Nation’s most distinguished educators and public officials.  She has worked tirelessly to ensure that all Americans can enjoy lives of hope, promise, and dignity.”

Shalala did agree to serve on a Bush commission to protect the “wounded warriors” home from Iraq, so perhaps her service on the commission is what endeared her to him. A quick database search can’t easily find a nasty Shalala quote about Bush, so maybe beggars can’t be choosers; she has been polite about him and therefore gets a medal.

There’s a story here. Maybe we’ll find out what it is in the next day or two.