The Meter -- Past Interference

You back for more? OK.

Steny "100 Hour Man" Hoyer: 3. Wow. That five-day work-week thing lasted, well, not one week.

"[Q.] On the Tuesday schedule, I have had one Member come up to me during our discussion and wanted me to ask if there is any possibility that 3 to 4 votes could slip closer to 5 just because of a number of travel concerns that Members have, particularly west coast members.

"Mr. HOYER. We could try. But let me say in all fairness, our original intent was to meet and have votes at 6:30 on Monday. There is a very important event happening Monday night, particularly for those who live in Ohio and Florida."

Good. The business of the nation takes a back seat to a damn football game. And a contrived one too, so as to avoid the logical conclusion of an honest-to-God playoff system and to make the guys in the cream-colored coats happy.

The White House: 2. Cue the barf bags. The President will give his address at 2100 (ET) on Wednesday. What, pray tell, will he do the next day? Tony Snow--hit me, brother!

"Scheduling announcement: The President will travel to Fort Benning, Georgia, on Thursday. He'll visit with troops and make a statement to the press. We'll give you more details as they become available.

"With that, I'll take questions. Terry."

Actually, it's Tom, but thanks. Does the President think this photo-op is going to actually do anything to help his position? Or is it just to boost his ego?

"MR. SNOW: I don't know; ask me in four years -- or maybe two years. What you're asking is -- you're asking a look-back question, rather than a look-forward question --

"Q No, I'm asking you a look-forward question.

"MR. SNOW: Well, but a look-forward question is the President believes it's important to address the situation in Iraq in a manner that he thinks is going to be effective, that's going to make this country, our country, more secure in the war on terror, by addressing violence and uncertainty in the central front in the war on terror. Make no mistake, Iraq is it. Therefore, rather than saying, well, this is the last big speech -- this is the President's proposal for moving forward in a way that he believes is going to be conducive to producing the results."

Reason No. 47 Why Corporatespeak Sucks....

[Snip from press conference real, but taken wildly out of context. Which makes the match-up really freakin' scary.]