At least the spokes-weasels are articulate

Now that Karl Rove is slinking out of the policy sphere (never mind what he was doing there in the first place) to concentrate on working his dark magic on the midterm elections, and now that Scott McClellan has stepped down as presidential spokesman and obfuscator extraordinaire, does this mean the Bushisms are going to start flowing unfettered once again?

Take a look at this gem taken from a downright snappy little New York Times article on the president's "defense of the defense secretary" that has become a public ritual these days in response to calls by several retired generals for Donald Rumsfeld to resign:

"I'm the decider, and I decide what's best," Mr. Bush said in the Rose Garden. "And what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the secretary of defense."

Well, now if that ain't the most rock solid rationale for judgment ever put forth by an elected official, I don't know what is.

Can't you just see W. arguing with some staffer (hypothetically of course, as his circle is practically engineered to be free from even the smallest germ of potential dissent), stomping his feet on his happy little sunburst rug in the Oval Office and sputtering, "Why? I'll tell you why, son - because I'm The Decider! And y'all better respect it!"

Indeed, that's almost as professional as some of the reasons Bush and other officials are hinting at being behind McClellan's resignation:

More recently, Mr. McClellan was yelled at, during a briefing, by an NBC correspondent, David Gregory, who was frustrated by how little information was being made available after Vice President Dick Cheney shot a hunting partner. Mr. Gregory later apologized to Mr. McClellan.

"I don't know whether or not the press corps realizes this, but his is a challenging assignment dealing with you all on a regular basis," Mr. Bush said today.

Oh, well, gee, sorry about that – what could reporters be thinking, exercising that silly constitutional right to a free press and attempting to inform the public about what its stonewalled leaders are doing in this supposed democracy?

Obviously if in the process they're causing your poor little press secretary even the slightest angst, he shouldn't just suck it up and grow a pair – the reporters should just leave you to govern from your insulated, non-reality-based monarchy and tell the people whatever you want, if you want.

We certainly can't have anyone's feelings being hurt over something so inconsequential as upholding basic principles of democratic accountability.