Anyone can be misinformed, or suffer a mental lapse resulting in an incorrect statement. Any of us might be stricken with poor judgment, and take a questionable position on an important matter of state from time to time.
But occasionally prejudice, bad judgment and contorted logic become woven together into a tapestry of wrong-headed thinking. And sometimes the people who issue these statements hold responsible government jobs. Scary.
As an example, here is the entire text of a polymorphously boneheaded statement from Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), with analysis below the fold:
WASHINGTON (January 14, 2011) – Reacting to reports of a major share-swap between BP and the Russian state-owned oil company Rosneft, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) issued the following statement. Rep. Markey, who is the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, called for a thorough analysis of the agreement. If the deal is found to affect the operations of BP America, Rep. Markey says the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a Treasury Department entity tasked with reviewing and acting upon the national security implications of foreign investments, should analyze the deal. In 2009, BP was the top petroleum supplier to the United States military.
“Even following the largest oil spill in U.S. history, and potentially billions of dollars in fines still outstanding, the Russian Bear is apparently bullish about BP. This acquisition will almost certainly complicate the politics of levying and collecting damages from BP following their Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
“BP once stood for British Petroleum. With this deal, it now stands for Bolshoi Petroleum.
“The details of this deal and its impacts on the operations of BP America need to be thoroughly examined. If this agreement affects the national and economic security of the United States then it should be immediately reviewed by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. Additionally, the U.S. State Department should closely monitor this transaction.”
[Bolding in original. Italics mine.]
Source: http://www.redstate.com/vladimir/2011/01/17/rep-ed-markey-d-on-the-bprussia-deal/
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