Wow, that was a close one, saving President Obama’s credibility
in the pigskin world. A day after he predicted economic recovery
will take years, not months, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team he
endorsed, needed only two minutes to recover their lead and eke
out a win in a heavily regulated Super Bowl. Pittsburgh won even
though standout wide-receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who played for
the losing Arizona Cardinals, declined to switch sides after the
Steelers’ dominated play through the first quarter. There is
honor among pass snatchers.
Today we learn if New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg, a Republican,
will resign from the Senate to become our nation’s and President
Obama’s (notice how he’s always referring his cabinet members of
“my” such and such secretary) Commerce Secretary. Why Gregg would
want to pick up where Gov. Bill Richardson left off is anyone’s
guess. Does he loathe Harry Reid that much? Perhaps the President
has assured him that it will take years, not months, before
Commerce has any business to transact. More likely, it’s another
example of how the Republicans have learned to flex their muscles
as never before. The fewer of them remain in Congress, even as
their minority numbers shrink toward the single digits, the more
imposing and intimidating their political authority becomes.
Despite holding huge and expanding majorities in both houses,
Democrats fear for their legitimacy. When a stimulus bill easily
passes without Republican participation, they regard it as a
major defeat. Their toadies in the media join forces to denounce
and taunt the Republicans for refusing to cooperate. Ignoring
these catcalls and insults to their maternal heritage, the
Republicans emerge ever cleaner and stronger. It’s clear what’s
going on. No junkie likes to inject himself. Better if a handsome
young stranger does the trick. Sorry guys. Compassionate
conservatism moved back to Texas on January 20.
Of course, the entire deal could be jeopardized if New
Hampshire’s Democratic governor appoints a Republican to complete
the final two years of Gregg’s term, thereby setting up the
possibility of a return to the Senate by genuine economic
conservative John Sununu in 2010, meaning growing Republican
numeral strength and consequently declining political prowess.
But let’s not jump the gun and add to the Democrats’
skittishness. It’s hard enough on them not to see any resolution
of the Minnesota recount in a way that would allow the seating of
Al Franken and thereby strengthen the Republicans’ hand still
further.
The Democrats face other pressing problems, above all those
having to do with former Sen. Tom Daschle’s recent charitable
donations to the Internal Revenue Service. In their intensely
competitive world, it’s not every Democrat who can afford to
write out a six-figure check to a worthy cause. Mr. Daschle, who
hopes to sacrifice further by becoming President Obama’s point
man on nationalizing health care, seems to be in the driver’s
seat on this one, even if he’s not actually the driver. But he is
the driving force behind a well-researched plan that would
replace traumatic ambulance services with limousine delivery to
our nation’s hospitals and emergency rooms.
Notice that there hasn’t been much attention paid to the
important post of Drug Czar in the new administration. But that’s
because no naturally qualified candidate had emerged who might
make the nation forget the pioneering work Bill Bennett did in
that post many drug interdictions ago. Thankfully, that
shortcoming has been rectified. Michael Phelps brings hands-on,
mouth-to-source experience, he’s a national hero, and his solid
medal count is certain to win over Republican monetarists of the
Ron Paul persuasion.
One small problem: our fact checking department informs us that
Mr. Obama already has an acting drug czar of sorts, one
Edward Jurith, who is so little known that some presume him
to be working under cover, even though he held the job for 11
months under the second President Bush. Could he be our EOW this
time, for failing to test Sen. Daschle’s driver and Michael
Phelps’s lungs? And not planting drugs on Washington’s remaining
Republicans?
