Paging Miss Remembering

Quote of the day:

“I simply misremembered it wrong."

- Representative Mark Kirk, attempting to excuse his exaggerated claims of military service

When exactly did "misremember" become a verb? Actually, when did it even become a word? And does this somehow count as a double-negative that actually means that Kirk's efforts to remember incorrectly were still wrong? I'm very confused.

Of course, there's the larger question here: when are politicians going to realize that there is no way to NOT get caught in lies and exaggerations now that every iPod user at campaign events is a potential videographer?

Probably never.

We're Number One! Pssst...just slide the envelope of cash under the door

In the wake of the Rod Blagojevich scandal, all eyes seem to be turning to state corruption in general. Based on an article in the Sunday New York Times' Week in Review section, those of us in the Ocean State can hold our heads up proudly as Little Rhody came up big. In a survey of statehouse reporters nationwide, The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations was voted the #1 most corrupt state in this great nation of ours, just edging out Louisiana. Plus, we still kick butt with the longest name of any of the 50 states! Woo hoo! Go us!

Of course, Rhode Island is only in the middle of the pack when it comes to the actual number of convictions of public officials in the last 10 years, both in total numbers as well as on a per capita basis.

But stay positive, fellow Rhode Islanders! I don't look at this as a failing on our part, merely as evidence that our public officials are better at not getting caught and convicted than less capable politicians in other states.