Brad DeLong and Steve Benen betray their sad involvement in the Reality Based Community…

The Washington Monthly: REDEFINING FAILURE…. Frances Fragos Townsend, assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, was on CNN yesterday discussing the war in Iraq, Saddam’s pending execution, and the Middle East, but CNN White House correspondent Ed Henry had the temerity to ask about the terrorist behind 9/11.

Officials from this White House are known for some bizarre comments, but Townsend’s response has to go in the Hall of Fame. (via)

HENRY: You know, going back to September 2001, the president said, dead or alive, we’re going to get him. Still don’t have him. I know you are saying there’s successes on the war on terror, and there have been. That’s a failure.

TOWNSEND: Well, I’m not sure — it’s a success that hasn’t occurred yet. I don’t know that I view that as a failure.

A "success that hasn’t occurred yet"? By that logic, practically nothing could ever be characterized as failure. Indeed, I’m not sure why the Bush gang hasn’t thought of this sooner.

"Budget deficits are just surpluses that haven’t occurred yet."

"Global warming is just global cooling that hasn’t occurred yet."

"Stagnant wages are just raises that haven’t occurred yet."

"The civil war in Iraq is just peace that hasn’t occurred yet."

It’d be amusing if it weren’t so sad.

My lottery Jackpot is a fortune that just hasn’t occurred yet.  It’s big too.  Huge.  I could pay off the national debt with it.