Poor Michael Silence.  Our favorite blogger — indeed, our perennial choice to win the Pulitzer Prize for Community-Serving Blogging — seems to have lost command of his considerable senses.  Today he praises — egads! — Heath Shuler.

Michael uses this article …

In surprisingly blunt language, U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler complained this week of “a lack of maturity” in the U.S. House.

The North Carolina Democrat accused some of his fellow lawmakers of thinking they’re “Hollywood stars” and said many of them spend more time playing politics than doing what’s best for the country.

“It’s quite embarrassing,” he said. “I mean, I wish all constituents could sit sometimes in the gallery and just see what goes on on the House floor.”

… to make this observation (as conveyed by Instapundit):

Now this is some talk I can get behind. Shuler ought to team up with U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-TN, to bring some sense to both chambers. Isn’t it refreshing when members break ranks. I call that a sanity break.

The problem is, Heath Shuler is the last person who should call others embarrassing.

Consider Shuler’s track record with the word:

• The April 18, 1997 Washington Times:   Shuler threw five interceptions in an embarrassing home loss to Arizona.”
• The August 30, 1995 Virginian-Pilot: Shuler’s 11-of-32, five-interception performance against the Arizona Cardinals at RFK Stadium. That was a 19-16 overtime loss in which 46 of Shuler’s 158 passing yards came on a first-quarter toss to Brian Mitchell. Thirty-one other throws gained an embarrassing 102 yards and earned Shuler a three-week seat on the bench, officially with a sprained ankle.
• October 5, 1994 Philadelphia Daily News: “Redskins are 1-4 and are coming off an embarrassing, 34-7 homefield loss to Dallas in which high-priced rookie quarterback Heath Shuler appeared clueless.”
• September 5, 1994 Washington Post: “One of the more embarrassing plays was the first play of Shuler’s second drive in the second quarter. Left guard Ray Brown and left tackle Jim Lachey pulled, but Seahawks defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy knocked Lachey into Shuler before he could start the play.”

Our dear friend Michael Silence may praise Shuler for crossing lines.  But to folks familiar with Shuler’s history with the Redskins, it’s more like just another interception.

If Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) is quoted in a story talking about Republicans, chances are the word “brand” isn’t far behind.  Today’s paper is no exception:

Davis, who is leaving Congress after this year, said McCain has the advantage of being a well-defined brand in the minds of many voters. And he said there is plenty of time left to burnish it.

We’ve railed many times in the past about Congress’ excessive meddling in and showboating about sports.

Time to rail again, but this time there’s a twist — it literally is on the rail, like a horserace going down to the wire.

Let no more politician complain that the media covers politics like a horse race.  Not after Thursday’s hearing before the House Energy & Commerce Committee’s Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection Subcommittee.  The title: “Breeding, Drugs, and Breakdowns: The State of Thoroughbred Horseracing and the Welfare of the Thoroughbred Racehorse.”

Breeding, drugs, and breakdowns?  Sounds like an Amy Winehouse song.

Consider NPR’s description of the hearing:

Congress begins another hearing on athletics and doping. This one has nothing to do with Barry Bonds or Marion Jones. Steroids are sometimes legal in thoroughbred horseracing and that is something Congress wants to focus on. The House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection holds a hearing today to address questions coming up after the stunning collapse of Triple Crown favorite, Big Brown, two other high-profile horse deaths, the Kentucky Derby runner-up, Eight Belles, and of course, Barbaro.

Questions?  Heck,  I’ve had questions at the track, too, like, “HOW COULD I HAVE BET ON THAT HORSE!?”  Too bad Congress offered no betting tips.

But they did hear this testimony provided by Randy Moss, a horse racing analyst and reporter for ESPN and ABC Sports:

“… thoroughbred racing occupies a unique position in sports - combining tradition, excitement, pageantry, the majesty of one of the world’s most beautiful creatures, and, of course, gambling.”

You might argue that gambling on thoroughbred racing hardly makes it unique in sports anymore.  But putting the poor horses in front of publicity hungry members of Congress?  That’s surely special status.  Hopefully dog racing will be spared a similar investigation.  Although, if you ask me, it sure looked like the participants in the last Westminster Kennel Club show were popping off Quaaludes.

A C-SPAN announcement:

C-SPAN’s live coverage of tomorrow’s House Judiciary Committee hearing with Fmr. White House Press Secretary, Scott McClellan, has been change to 9:30 AM (ET).  You can see live coverage of the hearing on C-SPAN 3 or via the web at: www.c-span.org.  The hearing can also be heard live on C-SPAN radio (90.1 FM).  Pending the Senate Floor schedule, hearing may be moved to C-SPAN 2 if the Senate has finished business for the week.

Interesting item in today’s Washington Post:

Democratic leaders worried about the impeachment obsession of Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) ain’t seen nothing yet.

Kucinich tells us he’s giving the House Judiciary Committee 30 days to act on his resolution proposing 35 articles of impeachment against President Bush before he raises even more hell on the House floor. This time, he says, he’ll go back with perhaps 60 articles of impeachment.

Well, if he’s looking for an article, does this count?  It is, after all, from a major news outlet.

You may not agree with everything the Sierra Club says or does, but at least you gotta admire this testimony today from Athan Manuel Director, Lands Protection Program, Sierra Club, to Ed Markey’s Committee on House Select Energy Independence and Global Warming:

When considering the future of oil, it helps to look at the present. More than ever before, Americans are paying the price a record-breaking $4 a gallon for our dependence on fossil fuels. More than 30 years after the first oil shock of the early 1970’s, America continues to be dependent on fossil fuels like oil, natural gas and coal.

When contemplating that past, as a Greek-American I am reminded of a favorite phrase from Homer - Homer Simpson: “Stupidity got us into the mess, and stupidity will get us out.”

Bravo!  Quoting Homer Simpson just might be the inspiration this Congress needs to improve its approval ratings.

We learn this about Dennis Kucinich:

(The Politico) Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) introduced 35 articles of impeachment against President Bush on Monday night, reading the resolution into the Congressional Record.

Kucinich, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic presidential nomination this year, unveiled a litany of alleged illegal and improper acts by Bush, including war crimes.

In the past, our typical reaction was to scoff at anything Kucinich says or does.  But we’ve since learned to take him seriously, particularly because of the high quality of company he keeps.

Folks like this …

And this …

Congressional corruption: Et tu, Wiggle?

We learn this from the Washington Post:

The chief of staff to a former senior member of the House Appropriations Committee pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to commit fraud, becoming the latest casualty of the scandal centered on disgraced former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

John C. Albaugh admitted to accepting gifts — including tickets to sporting events, concerts by groups such as the Wiggles and a Disney on Ice show — in exchange for helping lobbyists and their clients, according to prosecutors.

The Wiggles?  Disney on Ice?  Having sat through too many of these shows myself, it never occurred to me that either the Wiggles or Disney on Ice could be currency for influencing our legislative branch.  Then again, upon further reflection, attending enough of the shows just might get me to rethink my absolutist support for freedom of speech.

That would probably make me not a Tory but a Whig-gle.

This week’s Weekly Standard parody:

You might have read this in the Post this morning.

But Democratic leaders said they had court precedent and constitutional scholars on their side. “The veto override will have the force of law,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Pelosi added that her original response upon learning of the mistake had been “uncustomarily crude.”

Then you might have wondered — well, what was that response?

For that answer, you’ll have to check out Jim Mills’ sensational blog in The Hill.  Here’s an excerpt:

Mills on the Hill: What was your immediate reaction when you heard this [the snafu]?
Ms. Pelosi: (After a long period of silence with several interesting facial contortions.) Uncustomarily crude.
[Laughter.]
Mills on the Hill: Excellent.
(Later in same news conference)
Mills on the Hill: Madam Speaker?
Ms. Pelosi: You had one already.
Mills on the Hill: That was a retort.
[Laughter.]
Ms. Pelosi: You got the most information of anybody.
[Laughter.]
I was uncharacteristically candid to you.
Mills on the Hill: You could go all the way around the bases and tell us exactly what you said.
Ms. Pelosi: It wasn’t as bad as you think.
[Laughter.]
Mills on the Hill: What was the first letter?

Mills does reveal the word.  We’ll save that surprise so you’ll click on his story.  But let’s just say, might be time to donate to the Committee to Re-elect Antsy Pelosi.