Circus Acts

No, I'm not talking about The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeeze, or lion tamers or acrobats...I'm talking about your government.

The latest acts to take the center ring are these:

- President Obama committed a "rare breach of political etiquette" in his State of the Union address when he criticized the Supreme Court's recent decision removing most restrictions on corporate financing of political campaigns...while the Supremes were sitting a few feet away in the audience, trying to look suitably grave and impartial.

- When the President expressed his disappointment with the decision, Justice Samuel Alito, a member of the court's conservative majority, was shown on camera clearly mouthing the words, "not true."

Of course, it fails to beat the low standard of political courtesy set by Representative Joe Wilson, who famously shouted "You lie!" at the president during a speech a few months back, but it's still depressing.

A political blogger has noted that Justice John Paul Stevens, the longest-serving current member of the Supreme Court, never attends State of the Union addresses because he believes "...it involves the justices in a 'political circus' that can damage a justice's image of impartiality."

It's clear that the facade of judicial impartiality is just that, and a new standard for political hypocrisy has been set. And the circus goes on...

At least in the circus, the clowns all smile at each other.

Have a good day. Tomorrow is Cartoon Saturday...you know you need it.

More thoughts then.

Bilbo