Word Play

...May break my bones. Well, other peoples, maybe. Mine are made of adamantium.

THIS STORY is the headline over at Drudge currently (as I type) and I must say it is a report of mind-numbing stupidity on the behalf of our wonderful Legislature.

Basically, Politico sums up the madness thusly:

"House Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY) has released a helpful, updated primer for members regarding their conduct on the floor and in committees.

Especially useful: The section on how to properly insult the executive branch in the in the chamber.

"Disgrace" and "nitwits" -- okay.

"Liar" or "sexual misconduct" -- ixnay.

Under section 370 of the House Rules and Manual it has been held that a Member could:

• refer to the government as “something hated, something oppressive.”
• refer to the President as “using legislative or judicial pork.”
• refer to a Presidential message as a “disgrace to the country.”
• refer to unnamed officials as “our half-baked nitwits handling foreign affairs.”

Likewise, it has been held that a member could not:

• call the President a “liar.”
• call the President a “hypocrite.”
• describe the President’s veto of a bill as “cowardly.”
• charge that the President has been “intellectually dishonest.”
• refer to the President as “giving aid and comfort to the enemy.”
• refer to alleged “sexual misconduct on the President’s part.”

h/t Marty Kady, who is neither a nitwit nor a liar."

If I were to be surprised by any of this, I would have to trade in my blogger card and go join the circus...because I'd be a clown. I wonder if it is any significance that the House Rules Committee "Chairwoman" has the last name Slaughter.

I wish I could find some irony in the above, but I just can't.