Let's Play the Definition Game!

Remember not so long ago when Jackie (my new name for Blago) was caught in the definition cross-hairs? A pledge wasn't the same thing as a promise, so he wasn't breaking any promises. Okay, but how does vow work into all this nonsense? Is a vow a promise? Or is it closer to a pledge? Why do I care?

This from the SJ-R today, tucked away near the end of the story:

Blagojevich, a Democrat, last year vowed to veto any proposal containing caps but backed off that promise Wednesday morning.

"I'm going to wait and see what happens," he said. "I think it's constructive if we keep working behind the scenes to try to get something done."

(emphasis mine)

Bernard Schoenburg wrote the piece, and I am reading Bernie sees vow and promise as having the same meaning. But I digress. Let's cut to the chase.

If Jackie votes for any type of cap, he's breaking a vow. The same vow Bernie would call a promise. Jackie's mantra for over two years has been all about not breaking his promises.

But he'd have to actually sign into law a measure on caps that both the House and Senate can agree on, which is unlikely. So basically, all Jackie is doing is playing both sides of the argument (knowing he isn't going to have to break a vow/pledge/promise), just like he is doing with the campaign "rock my world" finance reforms he released yesterday. And we all know how well that proposal was received. Just ask Jackie's buddy from the 'hood Representative John Fritchey.

Go Jackie, Go.

HEY! How's that budget thingy coming along?