Inside the Beltway. . . and Out

Politicians, lobbyists and PR people spin. We always try to put a good face on everything we're doing.

Spin is different from lying. Lying is saying something you know to be false. Bush knew Iraq had no nuclear capability but he said it anyway. That was a lie. Bush knew Iraq had no weapons of mass distruction but he said it anyway. That was a lie.

Now Bush is saying that the British pullout of its troops from Iraq is a "sign of success."

That is spin.

It is obvious to everyone on the planet that the US is bogged down in a civil war in Iraq and that Bush and Cheney's takeover of Iraq has been a failure. More and more countries -- the so-called "Coalition of the Willing," most of whom were coerced by the US -- are pulling their troops out. Now Great Britain pulls out, and Bush tries to claim it's a good thing.

Spin is used all the time inside the beltway and out. But Bush's latest spin about his war is both ridiculous and sad.

I haven't been able to post for a while. Partly it's the workload, partly it's a bit of a post-election letdown (we have the majority, now what?) and partly it's just that I got out of the habit.

Yes, posting on these blogs is a habit, and a good one to be in. Like exercising. And no, I do not exercise. I used to, but I got out of the habit.

I enjoy blogging, and reading blogs. I'll work to get back in the habit.

Starting today.

No, I haven't been posting lately. Partly out of a post-election let-down. Partly because of an increased workload -- new responsibilities in the office.

But I'll make a resolution to post more in the future.

I'm wrapping up the final loose ends at the office and heading into the weekend. I plan to just hang out and watch college football -- and spend time with the family.

The Tennessee Vols are playing Monday at 11:00 Eastern time in the Outback Bowl. They are favored over Penn State, and it should be a good game. Watch it on ESPN.

It never ceases to amaze me how low Fox News and other Republican organizations can go. The potential for Sen. Johnson being replaced by the Republican governor giving control to the Republicans was so exciting for them, and they couldn't contain themselves -- spreading lies as news, saying the governor could replace the Senator if he were unable to serve for any reason. Just lies.

The success of Sen. Johnson's surgery and the good outlook for his recovery must be very disappointing for the folks at Fox.

Now, I suppose they will again look to Lieberman as their savior. With Sen. Johnson unable to vote for a while, "Independent Democrat" Lieberman will be an even more powerful tool for the Republicans. (Did anyone notice that he joined a Republican delegation to the Middle East this week?)

But enough politics.

The weather this weekend will be beautiful. Get out and enjoy it. I'm going to try to avoid the interstates and crowded malls and hit some Virginia and Maryland backroads.

Riding the Harley is good for my soul -- and helps me keep politics in perspective.

Fox News and, unfortunately, the mainstream media have been falling all over themselves speculating about replacing Senator Johnson, who has undergone successful surgery and is recovering.

Fox News has been spreading the lie that if the Senator is "incapacitated" or "unable to serve in any way" the Republican governor can replace him.

That's just not true.

For the governor to make an appointment, the seat has to be vacant -- and the only way for the seat to be vacant is for the occupant to die, resign or be expelled by the Senate.

And Senators being ill or in the hospital is not unusual. Remember that Senator Biden was out for some eight months when he had brain surgery some years back.

BlogCritics has an excellent opinion piece about the circling vultures.