The Knucklehead of the Day award

Today's winner is the New York Times editorial page. They get it for the following editorial which talks about how second Presidential terms seem to be full of controversy and or scandals. You won't get an argument out of me that there been poor decisions and policy made. The Times concentrates on two recent news stories. Zacarias Moussaoui and Claude Allen.

This page opposes the death penalty, so we're not going to be upset if federal prosecutors fail to execute Zacarias Moussaoui on conspiracy charges related to Sept. 11, and have to settle for sending him to jail for life. But it's unnerving that the setback for the prosecution was due to the incredible misbehavior of one of the government lawyers, a member of the Transportation Security Administration. The lawyer, Carla Martin, violated a court order and drew down the wrath of the presiding judge by attempting to coach via e-mail some witnesses expected to testify — in a manner that a first-year law student should have known was a very, very bad idea. It may be irrelevant that Ms. Martin's main job is as an aviation security expert, but it doesn't make us feel any better.

Minor flare-ups of bad news are also much more disturbing when they remind us of the administration's history of rewarding party loyalists and campaign workers with jobs that are far above their level of competence. Claude Allen, who recently resigned as the president's domestic policy adviser, was arrested in a bizarre case involving a scheme to collect refunds from stores for merchandise he had never purchased, from a home theater system to an item worth only $2.50. The allegations about Mr. Allen might have been classified as a sad tale of a White House official who fell victim to pressure or overwork, had it not been for the fact that the Bush administration had also nominated him for a seat on the United States Court of Appeals despite a résumé that's exceedingly thin on legal experience.

Excuse me NYT, the TSA lawyer up. What is the connection to Bush? He isn't responsible for Carla Martin's misdeeds.

As for Allen, that's his personal life. Plus he doesn't work for Bush anymore. There is also the issue of whether this was Claude Allen or his brother Floyd. The Times is rushing to judgment and again Mr. Allen's behavior is in no way a reflection on the Bush administration.

The worst part of the editorial though is a potshot they take near its end.

The administration seems determined to cut off legitimate court scrutiny, and the Republicans who dominate the House and Senate generally intervene only to change the rules so Mr. Bush can do whatever he wants. (If the current Congress had been called on to intervene in the case of Mr. Allen, it would probably have tried to legalize shoplifting.)

Does anyone at the Times truly believe the last comment? Its so absurd, it sounds like something a Palm Beach Post editorial would say. Just wait the Post will be writing the same in a few days.

For writing an absurdly funny and incoherent editorial, The New York Times editorial page is today's Knucklehead of the day.

Hat tip- Outside the Beltway
Open Post- Don Surber, Bright & Early, Basil's Blog, Jo's Cafe, TMH's Bacon Bits, Adam's Blog, Right Wing Nation,