Because if it is, I can stop pushing my rationalization skills to the brink. Specifically, I refer to …
- His failure to consult with Dianne Feinstein on the choice of Leon Panetta to head the CIA. Dianne was pissed and the day after (yesterday) announced she wants the Senate to seat Ronald Burris. ((Frankly, I do, too. Blagojevich is still governor, and while Burris appears to be a scruples-less opportunist — common among politicians — the appointment appears legal. The Dems will likely lose the seat later — unless Burris promises not to run and they can get a clean candidate.)) Either the message is don’t frak with Dianne, or Obama asked Dianne to release this message when he called her to apologize “profusely” for the Panetta faux pas, sort of like how he indirectly directed Democrats to lay off Joe Lieberman.
- Bill Richardson … Oh, Bill, I still like you so much, but what’s the deal, dude?! I hope the picture is as rosy as Richardson painted in Sunday’s announcement of his withdrawal as commerce-secretary nominee: It’s the length of the grand-jury investigation and not because the investigation will result in charges that will hamper his nomination.
The Democrats need to get their acts together and stop looking like five-year-olds at a dance recital, off beat and facing different directions.
(This is a short, exasperated, stream-of-consciousness post as I’m on a plane back to New York today … from L.A. sun to sleet and snow and slush.)
