The Hits Keep Coming

Look, I hate broken records as much as the next guy, so I guess I should apologize if I'm turning into one. But I can't help it. Every single day provides another piece of whacky news from Washington DC. What's the old saw? "Where's the outrage?" I guess it left with President Bush, because these days no one seems too creeped out by the strange stories emanating from the capital of the USA.

Next up, the WSJ quoting Attorney General Eric Holder, vis-a-vis closing down Gitmo. Where will the prisoners go upon release? Beats him. Maybe the moon, or maybe your neighbourhood. Read on:

Attorney General Eric Holder said some detainees being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, may end up being released in the U.S. as the Obama administration works with foreign allies to resettle some of the prisoners...

For "people who can be released there are a variety of options that we have and among them is the possibility is that we would release them into this country," Mr. Holder said. "That process is ongoing and we've not made any determinations or made any requests of anybody at this point."

Long pause. Deep breath. "Say what?"

The White House's idea of governing seems to be the Eternal Floating of Things. They float out cabinet appointments to see how they play. When the appointee is discovered to have a shady past, they tell them to resign (except for the Treasury Secretary, who was appointed anyway). They float out money saving techniques like telling wounded vets to find their own insurance. When Jon Stewart (!) snipes them for it, they back off. Now they're floating the idea of releasing enemy combatants (my fault - according to the White House, they're now called something else, but I can't remember what) into the streets of America.

Throwing things against the wall to see if they stick is a good idea when cooking pasta. In politics, it's stupid.

I often develop a smirk when I hear people use the word "experts." Think about it for a second. Let's say you, Mr. or Ms. Regular Joe Blow, somehow got into the Oval Office. You were on a tour, but suddenly you're in a meeting between the president and his advisers. One of them says, "Where should we send the Gitmo prisoners?" And somebody else says, "How about into the country? Let's tell the Wall Street Journal."

Your advice would be...what?