Three UP; Three Down

THREE UP

For RUSH LIMBAUGH, new GOP Chairman Michael Steele is the gift who keeps on giving. Not since getting caught buying pain pills without a prescription has the bloated bloviator known as El Rushbo received so much attention from the TV news crowd. First, Steele called Limbaugh’s commentary “incendiary” and “ugly;” worse — gasp — Steele declared that he and not the radio talk king was the “de facto leader of the Republican Party.” That bought Limbaugh the kind of TV air time only his salary could afford. Then Steele apologized to his royal Rushness, sending the TV hoardes back for another round of puffery and piffle. Still no word from Steele on whether he wants Rush, or his policies, to fail.
__________________________________

For the time being, legislation sponsored by state Sen. EMMETT HANGER and awaiting only the signature of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has offered no help in the Augusta County reassessment battle. But the bill does provide greater flexibility for supervisors, allowing them to extend the reassessment cycle from four years, as mandated now, to five years or six. It’s too bad Augusta officials apparently are bent on ignoring the option, but give a tip of the hat to Hanger for at least providing the alternative. We hope it’ll be the first step toward restructuring state reassessment law to place a greater emphasis on local control.
__________________________________

Cheers to BJORN LOMBORG. No, he’s not a Swedish tennis star. He’s what The Wall Street Journal describes as a “Danish skeptical environmentalist,” whatever that is. He dared to challenge Al Gore as the ex-Veep made the rounds recently schilling for global warming groupies. Bjorn wanted to debate the merits of spending money to fight carbon emissions. Al demurred, apparently preferring to keep reasonable discussion in a “lock box.”

THREE DOWN

Well, surprise, surprise, the Augusta County reassessment has been certified. It happened Friday, five days before the big showdown Wednesday between angry taxpayers and supervisors and three days earlier than officials told The News Virginian the event would take place. Pastures District Supervisor Tracy Pyles urged the GANG OF SIX, the other half-dozen supervisors, to delay certification until after Wednesday’s supervisors meeting. State law gave Augusta until March 31 to certify. So why the big rush? We’ll see Wednesday, when we expect the Gang to tell petitioners demanding a rollback to 2005 values that the deal’s done and hands are tied. That should go over well.
__________________________________

President Barack Obama has a new neighbor. No, not Bill Clinton. ELIOT SPITZER; in other words, same difference. Remember Spitzer? The ex-New York governor caught with his pants down and his wallet open in pay-for-play trysts with a hooker at a Washington hotel has plunked down $180 million on a 13-story office building in D.C. Hmmm. Investing in commercial real estate at a time like this? Good luck finding renters. Of course, Spitzer’s options are limited. He’s a political untouchable, although his record is just tainted enough he might be able to land an appointment in the Obama administration.
__________________________________

Speaking of Obama appointments, beleaguered Treasury Secretary TIMOTHY GEITHNER has a new problem. Two people he picked for top posts in the Treasury don’t want the jobs. As if the guy didn’t have enough trouble executing his boss’ and his own convoluted economic initiatives, now he can’t find good help. Part of the problem, insiders say, is the Obama administration’s tough hiring rules. Uh, yeah. That guideline about hiring only people who haven’t paid their taxes is a real deal-killer.