Things are not always what they seem to be
June 18, 2010 (Friday)
British Petroleum will set up a $20 Billion escrow fund to help deal with the damage caused by the oil spill in the Gulf. Representative Joe Barton apologized to the head of BP for what he termed, a “shakedown” of the company by the government. Immediately there was a furious outcry against his apology by Democrats and Republicans alike. Rep. Barton then apologized for his apology.
Reminds me of the Baptist convention years ago when a pastor, during discussion of a motion, made remarks another pastor considered so offensive that he made a motion to strike the remarks of the first pastor from the minutes. The first pastor then addressed the chair to say, “This body can strike my remarks, but you will have to put in the minutes what I didn’t say!”
And that incident reminds me of another convention in which the presiding officer was overheard talking with the parliamentarian, asking, “When the motion is made, how will you rule as parliamentarian?” The parliamentarian is said to have replied, “How do you want me to rule?” Do I see Madame Justice peeking around her blindfold?
All these incidents seem to say that things are not always what they seem. Sometimes we think a decision has been set in stone, but loopholes aplenty abound, and when discovered by those who want to have their way regardless, they are used.
For some reason, these kinds of incidents remind me of a speech I heard years ago, in which the fiery speaker firmly and loudly declared, “Figures don’t lie, but liars figure!”