Unforeseen Contingencies

As this poor Iowa pig swims for its life* in the recent floods, our two presidential candidates are revealing hidden political genius.

Senators Obama and McCain have both managed to find ways to blame each other for the Midwest flooding. Obama managed to take a particularly cheap shot with "I know that Sen. McCain felt as strongly as I did, feeling enormous sympathy for the victims of the recent flooding. I'm sure they appreciated the sentiment, but they probably would have appreciated it even more if Sen. McCain hadn't opposed legislation to fund levees and flood control programs, which he considers pork."

The McCain campaign, in turn, pointed out that McCain had in fact sponsored an amendment to the water projects bill that would have actually allocated the funds involved to levee construction, instead of to such things as beach restoration, conservation projects in the Florida Everglades, and similar, umm, pork. Obama voted against the amendment, which was defeated.

As it happens, neither man need feel guilty about having caused the flood. The water projects bill itself was passed, over George W.’s veto, and thus the Federal government eliminated flooding in the Midwest forever.

In his little talk, Obama went on to promise increased spending on, well, just about everything; and also proposed a new federal bureaucrat to help reduce red tape. So I think it’s clear that Obama has won this round of the "Excellence in Politics" game...pork, pork, and more pork, plus more government to help reduce the problems of too much government. McCain will really have to work to top this. (I’m sure he’s up to it, he has experience!)



* Note: the piglet in the photo is actually not escaping the Iowa floods; it is a competitor in the swim race at the annual International Pig Olympics in Moscow. Правда! Had I realized Russia had a Sport-Pig Federation, I would never have left!