Kevin Drum:

Conservatives have been lecturing liberals for the past few years about the fact that George Bush will be our president for the next few years whether we like it or not, so for the good of the country we ought to be supporting him instead of gleefully hoping for a failure that just hurts all of us. The stakes are high, war of civilizations, madmen with nuclear bombs, etc. etc.

So if Democrats win control of Congress this year, I expect we’ll see plenty of sober, thoughtful support for Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid from conservatives, right?

p.s.—Drum titles his post, “Just Asking.” Looks like someone’s been reading the Times-Dispatch editorial page under the covers at night!

Good memory, Larry! Er, for the most part. The problem wasn’t that the guy “had a boyfriend.” It was—well, see below, and judge whether the headline, “Sleaze,” was ferocious and angry, or simply apt.

Here’s how that editorial from August, 2004, began:

Jim McGreevey epitomizes the seamy side of politics. He is a ward-heeling hack.
Last week he stunned his state and titillated gossips everywhere when he announced his resignation as governor of New Jersey. In an excellent editorial that focused on his multiple deficiencies, The New York Times noted that McGreevey discussed his homosexuality (and his adultery) but did not tell constituents that he had put the lover in question on the state payroll. The nature of the relationship - whether homosexual or hetereosexual, whether consummated or platonic - is immaterial; the sinecure was wrong. Nor is it the only example of McGreevey’s suspected abuse of gubernatorial powers and perks. Political science textbooks will cite his administration among the more notorious examples of sleaze.

McGreevey timed his formal resignation to (1) deny New Jersey voters an opportunity to select a replacement, thereby (2) ensuring the office will stay in his party’s hands.

Bart says, “Drum titles his post, ‘Just Asking.’ Looks like someone’s been reading the Times-Dispatch editorial page under the covers at night!”

“Weeks End” and “In Brief” too.

But the RT-D editorial title I’ll never forget was published sometime last year, I think: “SLEEZE”

I saw that low-hitting title and imagined the color red. I had to read what it was about. Turned out, it was about some no-name governor of New Jersey!!! (The guy had a boyfriend, or something). Considering the ferocious, angry title, I thought I was going to see an editorial a local crook extorting millions from frail, elderly widows.

Yes...I actually retain what I read.

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