An iPod playlist is a window to the soul. On Monday the New York Times gave us a supposed glimpse of President Bush's soul; as if two presidential campaigns weren't enough.

It obtained a copy of the 250 or so songs the president listens to while riding his bicycle.

The list consists mostly of country music and old 50's and 60's standards. The content isn't as important as what it allows one to say about Bush.

Caitlin Moran of the London times wrote, "No black artists, no gay artists, no world music, only one woman, no genre less than 25 years old and no Beatles." Clearly he's a narrow minded bigot.

Here are some selection tips for current and future presidents trying to manage their music-taste image for an iPod nation.

One needs something old, something new, something black, something blue, something homo, something Bono, a woman, a Beatle and a foreigner not from England.

Start with Tupac Shakur's "Californian Love." President Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger can blast this old school rap classic while rolling through downtown Sacramento in the Governator's hybrid hummer. Nothing says we're here to lay the smack down on budget deficits like, "Now let me welcome everybody to the wild, wild west. A state that's untouchable like Elliot Ness."

For something homo, download Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." Get the entire cabinet together and reenact the video. No one will buy that "he's just a poor boy from a poor family," but Donald Rumsfeld in cape and cowl will strike fear into the hearts of our enemies.

U2's "The Sweetest Thing" will cover the Bono component without controversy. "Layla" counts as something blue.

Throw in German rockers Scorpion's "Wind of Change" in order to channel some old school anti-oppression mojo. During his next visit to Palestine he can serenade Ariel Sharon with, "Take me to the magic of the moment … Where the children of tomorrow dream."

Throw in The Beatles' "Let it Be" and Britney Spears' (famous Bush supporter) "Baby One More Time" and all of the sudden you're a well rounded person.

Music selection as psychotherapy is a fun exercise, but as evidenced by this list, diversity alone can't keep something from being completely homogenized and altogether lame. Just look at President Bush's cabinet.

This viewpoint appeared in The Marquette Tribune on April 14 2005.