(2004-01-03) -- Just days after crocodile hunter Steve Irwin, shocked fans by dangling his infant son near the jaws of a hungry crocodile, reports from the White House indicate President George Bush may attempt a similar stunt with his proposed 2005 federal budget.

"Bush thinks he can keep feeding the crocodile with one hand, while protecting what Republicans hold dear with the other," said an unnamed economist at the conservative Heritage Foundation. "The new budget won't contain any real reductions to the feeding of insatiable entitlement programs, but the President seems oblivious to the danger of losing the core Republican principle of smaller government."

So far, experts agree, the President has retained conservative support through the projection of strength and boldness in foreign affairs.

"People love watching him struggle with, and capture, dangerous animals," said the Heritage source, "But if you keep feeding a crocodile, you own it and you'll get blamed for whatever it does. Keeping the crock at arms length doesn't always protect the baby."