Sometimes, Only the Most Direct Description Will Serve

In these days of slightly heightened political acrimony, we bloggers are too quick to bandy about phrases like “lying weasel” to describe politicians. Not only does the comparison blacken the reputation of weasels everywhere, but it’s often not necessary when far more flowery terms like “prevaricating poltroon” are out there for the using.

However, there are times when the plain simple power of the phrase is the best to describe some Democrat whose desire to remain in office far outraces his grasp of reality. Such is the case with Congressman Gerry Connoly (D-VA) who testily defended his vote for the Vote Buying Act Stimulus Bill with the old, and long-debunked canard that “[e]very economist, including [some] Republican economists” gave it the double thumbs-up.

David Boaz, writing at the Cato Institute’s blog, smacks Connoly’s big honking fib around a while. The most decisive part of the smackdown comes at the end, when Boaz points out that it would be almost impossible for him not to know the truth. Several national media outlets, including the preferred newspaper of Capitol Hill, reported on the rather contentious debate, which included economists on both sides of the issue. Indeed, Cato itself published an advertisement in opposition to the deficit-exploding act of Keynesian folly backed publicly by several hundred economists.

So, sorry weasels, but I’m afraid that “lying weasel” is really the best phrase to use for the soon-to-be-former Congressman from Virginia.

Other Posts of Interest:

• Congress to Hold Hearings on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac…Two Weeks After the Election
• The Stimulus Bill Must Die by Morning
• Washington: Where David Axelrod Remains Silent and the Sheep are Still Scared

Tags: 2010 Election, Democrats, Economic Stimulus

Category: Our New Democratic Overlords