On Dots And Templates
Mark Steyn, one of the truly great opinion writers, has (yet another) out of the park home run. To Connect The Dots, You Have To See The Dots. The whole thing is a must read. One point he makes, though, exactly explains the problem:
Template A (note to editors: to be used after every terrorist atrocity): "Angry family members, experts and opposition politicians demand to know why complacent government didn't connect the dots."
Template B (note to editors: to be used in the run-up to the next terrorist atrocity): "Shocking new report leaked to New York Times for Pulitzer Prize Leak Of The Year Award nomination reveals that paranoid government officials are trying to connect the dots! See pages 3,4,6,7,8, 13-37."
If there was ever a clearer illustration of the phrase 'damned if you do, damned if you don't', I have never seen it. There is literally no way the administration can not get criticized at this point. Criticism of the administration essentially has become a "have you stopped beating your wife" mentality.
And that's not good for the country. Not good at all.
By jpe, Monday, 15 May , 2006 @ 9:55 am
There is literally no way the administration can not get criticized at this point.
I understand the political efficacy of playing dumb, but you’re just being silly. The administration just has to follow the law. Is that so difficult?