Roy Blunt: Kissin' Babies And Makin' Friends
Let me reiterate, in between snickers mind you, that we still endorse and support John Shadegg for the GOP leadership position in the House. (HT: Instapundit.)
And that link opens up Red State which has an excellent post up about the reaction of Roy Blunt to bloggers, especially the guys at Q and O. Dale had a simple question which was does he or his staff bother to read blogs? The answer is an obvious "no."
Blunt spokeswoman Jessica Boulanger wound up a trademark fast pitch and let loose on the blogger, warning, "Dale Franks should get the soothing balm ready and beware: Fire ants attach themselves to a person by biting with their jaws, then pivoting their heads and stinging from their abdomens in a circular pattern at multiple sites. They tend to attack and sting in great numbers — just like bloggers."
Ouch. That comes from Roll Call (no link; subscription required). But as we're scratching our backsides on that stinging rebuke, we discover that even spokespeople need help. This from Yahoo Health regarding fire ants.
"A fire ant attaches itself to a person by biting with its jaws, then pivoting its head and stinging from its abdomen in a circular pattern at multiple sites."
Woo-Hoo! Helluva zinger there, sister. Were you the spokesman for any Democrats, lately because you're batting a thousand on this press brief. Not only is it patently unwise to take swipes at the citizen journalists of the nation--and it's equally stupid to single one out--but in such an important race involving one's employer, you're not exactly making friends with this sort of statement. Krempasky--the guy who posted at Red State--is having a seizure over the idiocy of this woman. Meanwhile, Dale sat back, and sharpened his claws.
*sigh*
First, a minor point. Whenever you're trying to make a witty little comment, please don't force people to go through half a semester of entomology before getting to the punch line. I mean, I would never try to write a strained analogy like, "Ants swarm on every piece of offal, detritus, and carrion they can find. They literally cover it with their body, rip off the largest shreds they can carry, and scurry back to their holes to consume it—just like congressmen swarm on the pelf offered by lobbyists." Sure, it's true, but it's just not an artful bit of phrasing.
Brevity, my dear, is the soul of wit.
The second point is that the content of the reply is just asinine. You, know, the whole point of the "lick fire ants off a stick" line was because it would be an unpleasant experience that would require the application of a soothing unguent. It's not like I made the comment under the mistaken impression that ant-licking would be a mildly pleasant gustatory experience heightened by the unique, slightly citrusy flavor and crunchy texture of the Hymenopterae in question.
I gotta wonder how many hours Ms. Boulanger had to spend on Encarta crafting her masterful response.
The third, and larger point, though, is that there is what is called the "Rule of Holes". The Rule of Holes is simple. When you're in a hole, stop digging. What possible purpose could it serve to make a comment to a reporter that keeps this controversy alive. All she had to say was, "Well, even though we disagree, we believe having bloggers involved helps create a lively public debate, and that's good for the country, and we welcome it." That it. Say that and the controversy dies.
Tell a reporter something like Ms. Boulanger did, and the reporter is gonna do, well, pretty much what they're doing now, which is trying to get in touch with bloggers for their response to Ms. Boulanger. That's what reporters do. They poke things with a stick until something happens. I can only assume that Ms. Boulanger, being a DC insider, knows this, and, for some reason wants to keep the controversy alive.
OK, I'll play.
So, as we all get a laugh out of this retort from Dale--well-founded mind you--the update brings the ultimate punchline in a "gotcha" moment that should have Ms. Boulanger looking much like a deer in the headlights.
It's as if they're intentionally trying to make our case for us. The spokesperson for Rep. Blunt who criticizes Dale—and bloggers in general—is Jessica Boulanger. Which is curious, because...
Jessica Boulanger is a former aide to. . .wait for it. . .Tom DeLay!
She's married to Todd Boulanger who is. . .wait for it. . .a lobbyist!
Todd Boulanger was a member of. . .wait for it. . .Team Abramoff!
She's making the case that Roy Blunt is the best choice to lead the GOP past the era of Tom DeLay and Jack Abramoff? Wonderful.
Checkmate, little girl. Now go back to the sandbox with the rest of the children, and let the adults deal with this. Your golden boy doesn't have a chance.
Publius II
Let me reiterate, in between snickers mind you, that we still endorse and support John Shadegg for the GOP leadership position in the House. (HT: Instapundit.)
And that link opens up Red State which has an excellent post up about the reaction of Roy Blunt to bloggers, especially the guys at Q and O. Dale had a simple question which was does he or his staff bother to read blogs? The answer is an obvious "no."
Blunt spokeswoman Jessica Boulanger wound up a trademark fast pitch and let loose on the blogger, warning, "Dale Franks should get the soothing balm ready and beware: Fire ants attach themselves to a person by biting with their jaws, then pivoting their heads and stinging from their abdomens in a circular pattern at multiple sites. They tend to attack and sting in great numbers — just like bloggers."
Ouch. That comes from Roll Call (no link; subscription required). But as we're scratching our backsides on that stinging rebuke, we discover that even spokespeople need help. This from Yahoo Health regarding fire ants.
"A fire ant attaches itself to a person by biting with its jaws, then pivoting its head and stinging from its abdomen in a circular pattern at multiple sites."
Woo-Hoo! Helluva zinger there, sister. Were you the spokesman for any Democrats, lately because you're batting a thousand on this press brief. Not only is it patently unwise to take swipes at the citizen journalists of the nation--and it's equally stupid to single one out--but in such an important race involving one's employer, you're not exactly making friends with this sort of statement. Krempasky--the guy who posted at Red State--is having a seizure over the idiocy of this woman. Meanwhile, Dale sat back, and sharpened his claws.
*sigh*
First, a minor point. Whenever you're trying to make a witty little comment, please don't force people to go through half a semester of entomology before getting to the punch line. I mean, I would never try to write a strained analogy like, "Ants swarm on every piece of offal, detritus, and carrion they can find. They literally cover it with their body, rip off the largest shreds they can carry, and scurry back to their holes to consume it—just like congressmen swarm on the pelf offered by lobbyists." Sure, it's true, but it's just not an artful bit of phrasing.
Brevity, my dear, is the soul of wit.
The second point is that the content of the reply is just asinine. You, know, the whole point of the "lick fire ants off a stick" line was because it would be an unpleasant experience that would require the application of a soothing unguent. It's not like I made the comment under the mistaken impression that ant-licking would be a mildly pleasant gustatory experience heightened by the unique, slightly citrusy flavor and crunchy texture of the Hymenopterae in question.
I gotta wonder how many hours Ms. Boulanger had to spend on Encarta crafting her masterful response.
The third, and larger point, though, is that there is what is called the "Rule of Holes". The Rule of Holes is simple. When you're in a hole, stop digging. What possible purpose could it serve to make a comment to a reporter that keeps this controversy alive. All she had to say was, "Well, even though we disagree, we believe having bloggers involved helps create a lively public debate, and that's good for the country, and we welcome it." That it. Say that and the controversy dies.
Tell a reporter something like Ms. Boulanger did, and the reporter is gonna do, well, pretty much what they're doing now, which is trying to get in touch with bloggers for their response to Ms. Boulanger. That's what reporters do. They poke things with a stick until something happens. I can only assume that Ms. Boulanger, being a DC insider, knows this, and, for some reason wants to keep the controversy alive.
OK, I'll play.
So, as we all get a laugh out of this retort from Dale--well-founded mind you--the update brings the ultimate punchline in a "gotcha" moment that should have Ms. Boulanger looking much like a deer in the headlights.
It's as if they're intentionally trying to make our case for us. The spokesperson for Rep. Blunt who criticizes Dale—and bloggers in general—is Jessica Boulanger. Which is curious, because...
Jessica Boulanger is a former aide to. . .wait for it. . .Tom DeLay!
She's married to Todd Boulanger who is. . .wait for it. . .a lobbyist!
Todd Boulanger was a member of. . .wait for it. . .Team Abramoff!
She's making the case that Roy Blunt is the best choice to lead the GOP past the era of Tom DeLay and Jack Abramoff? Wonderful.
Checkmate, little girl. Now go back to the sandbox with the rest of the children, and let the adults deal with this. Your golden boy doesn't have a chance.
Publius II
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 7:47 PM
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