Non Sequitur of the Day: VPILF Redux

Governor Sarah Palin strikes again, saying that, swear to God, she wouldn't resign as president if the going got tough in terms of ethics inquiries, as she has in Alaska, because the White House's "department of law would. . . automatically throw them out."

No, there is no federal "Department of Law," while there is one in Alaska, so to be fair, perhaps she misspoke, as some of the governor's her wingnut apologists have suggested.

However, in order to misspeak, one must first be able to speak properly, which for Ms. Palin, is seriously in doubt. My favorite from today: "I know I know I know[.]"

Further, it appears that even some of the lady's supporters have given up:

If you don't know what you're saying, how can you argue policy?

My apologies for not being around around lately. Much work to do (thankfully! thank you clients!), end of the semester (had to write the final), and some other projects I'm trying to get off the ground (here's a taste, it's a surprise: http://bit.ly/BDSFI). But my love for words compelled me to discuss the following with you.

To those persons using the word "teabagging" as shorthand for their wingnut-sponsored festivities tomorrow and beyond: if you are unable to hear the national snickering occurring behind your back because of its long-established pop culture meaning, to not even question why, how on earth can you possibly be taken seriously?

If you really do not know the underlying meaning of the word, you can check out the ridiculously crass (yet smartly insightful) Rude Pundit for guidance, or try to catch the inferences in the following:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Detroiters Actually Not Blot on America, Film at 11

Dear America,

Just so you don't think that we Detroiters only sit around and figure out ways to build gas guzzlers and featherbed union members -- as if -- check out this recent roundtable of some local big thinkers talking about Detroit becoming, perhaps, a "city on a hill."

The video is good stuff, even though I can't embed it here.

As to acheiving the theme of the meeting, fingers crossed.

Your host for the event: Craig Fahle of WDET-FM's "Detroit Today."

Adventures in Etymology: Failing at Having Enough Time to Say "Failure"

Apparently, the two syllables of "failure" are just too long and demanding to say completely these days.

"Fail" is now a noun.

Perhaps it has something to do with the "revelations" on reality shows now being called "reveals."

Somewhere, William Safire is rolling around in his grave cubicle.

Ahhh, to Once Have Been Young, Educated and Republican

David Brooks today continued reacquainting himself with academically-supported rationality, bemoaning the post-intellectual ugliness that is Team Moose Mom, and the damage it does to the GOP.

Meanwhile, closer to home, the best of Michigan's old-fashioned effete Georgetown Traverse City retailer Republicans, Gov. Bill Milliken, eased away from his primary endorsement of Gramps.

Too bad we don't have lots of Bill Milliken types in politics public service anymore, regardless of party.

Problem with his party is, you lay with dogs moose, you get up with fleas.

Gramps Confuses Number As Noun

I'm confused, John.

Is Obama "The One?"

Or just "That One?"

Seems erratic.

Either way, my friends, McCain's lost it, in every way that that means.

The McCain Mutiny, continued

When you lose George Will, you have problems with your base.

But when your target voter apparently is Sarah and Tim Six-Pack, George Will is just another wussy, elite intellectual, anyway.

Anti-intellectualism continues to run amok, like when dinosaurs and humans shared the earth.

And, no, amok is not what comes out of your RV's septic tank.

Gramps: Spain is a Punk, and They Don't Serve Poutine, Either, so They Better Dance (OT)

"My friends, when I spent five years as a POW, I didn't have any allies outside of my cell, and certainly no maps."

Perhaps that's why he won't commit to meeting with the president of NATO ally Spain, after he agreed to, notes AmericaBlog.

Perhaps he's just losing lost it.

Based on past history, perhaps it just doesn't matter (from around the 2000 Michigan primary at TVBarn Archives). Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose (for our bilingual ally, Canada):

"So I get a phone call this morning from CBC Radio News. Seems there's this videotape of George W. Bush at a Michigan press conference last week taking a question from a Canadian reporter. The reporter then pointed me to Al Kamen's item in Thursday's Washington Post, which revealed that the "reporter" was actually a cast member on "This Hour Has 22 Minutes," the very funny satirical show on CBC-TV that I wish I could get in the States. "The prime minister of Canada, Jean Poutine," the reporter said, "has said you look like the man who should lead the free world into the 21st century." Bush replied enthusiastically, "Well, I appreciate his strong statement ... He understands I believe in free trade ... that I want to make sure our relations with our most important neighbor to the north of us, the Canadians, is strong." Just one problem: Jean Chretien is the PM in Canada. Kamen gave the governor the benefit of the doubt, suggested maybe Dubya was thinking of Vladimir Putin, the Russian head man. But as several of TV Barn's faithful Canadian readers pointed out today, that's not the joke. "When they referred to the Canadian minister as 'Jean Poutine,' it was hilarious to the show's target audience," writes Lex Kuhne. "Because, as all Canadians know, poutine is a regional Quebecois dish, typically a side, consisting of french fries, brown gravy and cheese curds (or plain cheddar will do in a pinch). So, not only does the bit show Bush for a doofus, but I bet it really made its audience laugh." And anyway, Kamen filed his story before he had a chance to see Bush make a complete nincompoop of himself on "Late Show with David Letterman." I suppose no one these days expects a Republican candidate for president to have complete mastery over current events, any more than he's expected to know how to anticipate those annoying little one-second delays when having a conversation via satellite. On the other hand, as president he'll be expected to have both skills pretty much down pat, so now's as good a time as any for George W. to start."

Gramps & VPILF Aren't Laughing with Chris Matthews, They're Laughig at Him

Boehlert does a fine job at MM, and calls the public yawn over the MSM calling out the candidates -- especially Gramps -- "post-press."

A kissing cousin to post-intellectual, but close enough to raise alarm.

Non Sequitur of the Day: Wall Street Edition.

"Schadenfreude"

When Oliver Stone had Gordon Gekko say, "Greed is good," it was supposed to be ironic! A cautionary tale! He was named after a lizard, for God's sake!

But, then, nothing new: "Wall Street," say hello to "Born In the USA."