In the interest of pointing out instances of idiocy on both sides of the political aisle, I present House Majority Leader Tom Delay.

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay said yesterday that Republicans have done so well in cutting spending that he declared an "ongoing victory," and said there is simply no fat left to cut in the federal budget.

Mr. DeLay was defending Republicans' choice to borrow money and add to this year's expected $331 billion deficit to pay for Hurricane Katrina relief. Some Republicans have said Congress should make cuts in other areas, but Mr. DeLay said that doesn't seem possible.

"My answer to those that want to offset the spending is sure, bring me the offsets, I'll be glad to do it. But nobody has been able to come up with any yet," the Texas Republican told reporters at his weekly briefing.

Asked if that meant the government was running at peak efficiency, Mr. DeLay said, "Yes, after 11 years of Republican majority we've pared it down pretty good."

What a steaming load of Bolshevik Storytelling. You can almost forgive the House and Senate members for continuing to do business the way they've always done business. It's tough to refuse to play the game of bringing money and projects back to your congressional district when everyone else is doing it. Then, facing re-election, your opponent vows to bring back the bacon pork because you haven't been doing it.

On the other hand, President Bush should've been vetoing a lot of these spending bills. The farm bill was a travesty. The transportation bill was an outrage. Bush doesn't have to stand for re-election, and he's got to put the best interests of the country as a whole -- a balanced budget -- above legislators' pet projects.