The Knucklehead of the Day award

Today's winner is Florida State House Representative Adam Hasner. The Republican gets the award for the following.

(CBS4/AP) TALLAHASSEE You might be surprised to find out that the gas stations that are contracted to sell gas at Turnpike Service Plazas are a part of Hugo Chavez's oil empire. After the harsh words he had for the US last week, some state politicians want to change this.

A South Florida lawmaker wants the state to remove Citgo gas stations from Florida's Turnpike.

State Representative Adam Hasner wants to is raising the issue following last week's comments by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez at the United Nations, who said President Bush was "the devil" Citgo is owned by the national oil company of Venezuela.

In a letter to the state Department of Transportation, Hasner asks whether the state can terminate the contracts of Citgo gas stations at toll plazas along the Turnpike.

In his letter, the Delray Beach Republican says a clear message needs to be sent to Chávez that the State of Florida -- quote -- "will not support institutions that seek the destabilization of America."

A spokesman for the Department of Transportation would only say that the agency is reviewing the reques.

So far as boycotts and political moves go, this proposal is just dumb and costly. How is removing Citgo from the Florida turnpike going to change Chavez's behavior? The man is a perpetual knucklehead and a nuisance, but that's all he is.

As to Hasner's proposal, it will accomplish but cost Floridians money. Both at the pump(where Citgo is some of the cheapest gas around) and through taxes because ending the leases on the turnpike will certainly cost money. Hasner's move smells of political grandstanding, make lots of noise and accomplish very little.

Florida State House Representative Adam Hasner is today's knucklehead of the day.

Rick at SOTP shares a similar opinion to my own. A personal boycott is one thing, but so far as political statements, Hasner's overreaction is just dumb.
The Daily Pulp weighs in also.
Linked to- Pursuing Holiness, Bright & Early, Jo's Cafe, TMH's Bacon Bits, Right Wing Nation, Basil's Blog, Cao's Blog, Outside the Beltway, Third World County, Stuck on Stupid,