Much Ado?

Yesterday, I debunked the Collins camp's claim that an investigation of Iraq war spending was sought only by a single partisan Democrat. And I questioned their assertion that Collins had more important things to deal with.

But that second point--that Collins was busy tackling more important issues--is open to two different interpretations.

I took the Collins campaign to be arguing that the junior senator was so busy pursuing important oversight projects that she just couldn't find time to squeeze in a look at Iraq war spending.

But the other possibility (and perhaps a more natural reading of the remarks) is that Collins' schedule had nothing to do with it--she simply didn't see anything about Iraq war spending worth investigating.

After all, as Gerald notes, she still isn't calling for hearings.

But surely, below-standard kevlar helmets could bear a little more scrutiny. Surely, the pricing formula behind Halliburton's $45 cans of soda is ripe for a bit more probing.

And certainly, the Senate ought to be exploring why, even now, equipment contractors that repeatedly flunk inspections get rewarded with new business from the government.

Apparently, Collins disagrees. But I'd sure like to hear her explain why.