IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE BULLSH*T


Two more blips of life on the media telemetry screen, showing that the journalism profession has not yet succumbed to Britney NicoleBrown Lohan Syndrome. First is last week's report in the
Los Angeles Times that, since it ain't good news how much actual electricity is now getting (or not getting) to end users in Baghdad, that State Department officials who track the "progress" there for Congress - how DARE they demand oversight -are simply no longer going to include the stat in their weekly reporting.


"Nothing is being hidden. There is no ulterior motive," said David Foley, the department's Middle East spokesman. "We are continuing to provide detailed information and have been completely transparent."

The State Department's new method shows that the national electricity supply is 4% lower than a year ago, according to the July 11 report.


See, 4% down isn't bad - - unless you were only getting 5 to 6 a day anyway in Baghdad, or 11 hours a day in the rest of the country. Ya know, its sort of like watching a baseball game where the home team, sick of being spanked or embarrassed, decides to darken the scoreboard part that shoes runs and hits. Its a feel good move that requires no actual improvement, and it soothes the anxieties of the delusional members of your team's declining fan base. Yeah, I know, the media never talks about the Louisianans who didn't drown, right?

The second story comes from AP today, and yep, you guessed it, the Iraqi Parliament is packing up the family truckster - sure hope for their sakes its a tankster, and blowing out of Baghdodge for the whole month of August. No major enactments, no decisions on the "vital" legislation the Bush administration wants, just skating out. Hey GI's, sleep well in that triple digit heat!!!
You gotta love this line from the story in particular:

The parliament is due to reconvene on September 4, just two weeks before the top U.S. general in Iraq, General David Petraeus, and Washington's envoy to Baghdad, Ryan Crocker, are due to report to Congress on the success of U.S. President George W. Bush's new Iraq strategy and make recommendations.

Why does that disappearing in the heat make LOST think of TV infomercials. Yeah YEAH, that's it. Its Brilliant! The Iraqi Government is not doing nothing or abandoning their leadership role. They've simply adopted the Ron Popeil Method. Just Set it, and forget it!

And who in the Bush White House has standing to raise a stink? Certainly not the guy who crushed the record for Vacation days in office for a two term president in year five of his tenure.