(2003-12-05) -- In an effort to unify the nation behind a "great goal," President George Bush in his State of the Union speech next month will challenge Congress to fund his plan to feed all of America's hungry children on the moon by 2009.

A working draft of the speech has the President saying, "I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing all of America's hungry children on the moon and feeding them three square meals a day from the bountiful harvest of the lunar soil."

Karl Rove, the president's political advisor, crafted the "synergistic iniative as the ultimate election year ploy," according to an unnamed senior White House official.

"Democrats can't vote against feeding hungry children," said the official. "Republicans will get credit for creating another huge new entitlement, plus we get to go back to the moon. Talk about compassionate conservatism! It's the best of John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson all rolled into one."