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December 19, 2006

Amusing Mud-Slinging at Norquist

It's a highly entertaining spat that never ceases to result in some of the best insults in Washington, and it looks like the ongoing feud between John McCain and Grover Norquist isn't about to end any time soon despite Norquist's claims over the past several months that McCain is secretly trying to make amends. In the latest round, McCain's political advisor, Democrat John Weaver, has taken Norquist to the woodshed for making that claim, and has exhibited a level of enthusiasm that has surprised even his fellow McCain staffers. "I think [Norquist is] just lonely with Jack Abramoff gone to prison," Weaver told the Roll Call newspaper. "I think he's probably just sad and lonely and delusional. . . . Only when he has pimped himself enough with reporters does his name even come up."

That is probably less outrageous than when McCain's staffers accused Norquist of being Abramoff's gay lover, but equally amusing. Clearly, the McCain camp has exhibited exceptional creativity in its ability to hurl insults. I can't think of a single funny line that's come out of the Norquist camp.

If you remember, Norquist claims he wouldn't be in trouble in the Abramoff scandal if not for McCain's grudge against him. It was McCain's investigation that uncovered Norquist's dirty dealings with Abramoff, laundering at least $1.5 million in funds to help Abramoff's clients. So obviously, it's all McCain's fault.

The feud between the two actually began years ago when McCain took up campaign finance reform, which is strongly opposed by Norquist. McCain's staff at the time said the reason Norquist opposed it was because it threatened his profits, which of course we now know is true. So Norquist personally organized the campaign against McCain on behalf of Bush in 1999, and he almost single-handedly ended McCain's presidential aspirations. Norquist's group of allies, who sided with him against McCain, included the NRA and the Christian Coalition, which still had clout at that time.

No doubt about it, the ill-will runs deep on both sides here. I for one am looking forward to many more fistfuls of mud being slung at Norquist in the coming years. He has more than earned it.

Posted by Becky at December 19, 2006 10:21 AM