The presser acting Chief of Staff Mulvaney gave today concerning the ongoing scandal vis-a-vis the quid pro quo of aid to Ukraine in exchange for dirt on the Bidens was certainly an interesting affair. He actually admits that there was a coercive element to the decision to withhold aid pending Ukrainian cooperation…and then tries to immediately walk it back and deny the quid pro quo.
The first thing I thought of watching that clumsy statement unfold was this classic scene from “Animal House” which seems perfectly in line with the customary actions of the current occupants of the frat house on Pennsylvania Avenue:
Otter: Point of parliamentary procedure!
Hoover: Don’t screw around, they’re serious this time!
Otter: Take it easy, I’m pre-law.
Boon: I thought you were pre-med.
Otter: What’s the difference?
Otter: Ladies and gentlemen, I’ll be brief. The issue here is not whether we broke a few rules, or took a few liberties with our female party guests – we did. [winks at Dean Wormer] But you can’t hold a whole fraternity responsible for the behavior of a few, sick twisted individuals. For if you do, then shouldn’t we blame the whole fraternity system? And if the whole fraternity system is guilty, then isn’t this an indictment of our educational institutions in general? I put it to you, Greg – isn’t this an indictment of our entire American society? Well, you can do whatever you want to us, but I for one am not going to stand here and listen to you badmouth the United States of America. Gentlemen!
[Leads the Deltas out of the hearing, all humming the Star-Spangled Banner]
Greg: Order!
Dean Wormer: You’ve done it this time buster! No more Delta! I’m calling the national office! I’m going to revoke your charter! And if you wiseguys do one more thing, one more, I’m going to kick you out of college! No more fun of any kind!