May I Have Yet Another Envelope, Please ...

Although it is very difficult, I have to finally make a decision and select one - just one - person from the huge crowd of worthies clamoring for the dishonor of being named Ass Clown of the Week.

Our previous recipient, named on June 24th, was House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, who - based on his disgraceful performance in a non-supporting role - was also a strong candidate for a second award. But the competition this week was extraordinarily strong, and although it was very difficult to pick a single dishonoree, I am forced to conclude that the third recipient of the Ass Clown of the Week Award goes to Grover Norquist.

Mr Norquist, the head of a group called Americans for Tax Reform, has never been elected to a national office, and yet he has managed to maintain a stranglehold on efforts to address all aspects of the current budget crisis by his ironclad insistence on dogmatic purity on the part of all those members of Congress who have signed his "no new taxes" pledge. If the United States Congress remains in total gridlock, the nation is driven to default on its debts, and Republicans continue to insist that negotiate means do exactly what I say or else, it will be largely thanks to this unelected gadfly who revels in the power he exerts over members of Congress who are more concerned about kissing the backsides of their hysterical bases than on helping Real People and keeping a strong and economically secure America.

Mr Norquist, congratulations. Hang this award on the wall of your library along with your collection of fawning references to yourself. If the economy finally goes all the way down the toilet, we'll know who to blame.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

P.S. - Take another look at the photo of Mr Norquist above, then go back and read this post. Coincidence?

B.