THE COMPETENCE WATCH – AT 4:47 P.M. ET:  Another Cabinet officer demonstrates that ability was the only standard the Obamans used when carefully selecting their highest-level nominees:

WASHINGTON (CBS) — Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood now says he misspoke when telling owners of recalled Toyotas to stop driving then.

Pray, how does one "misspeak" when employing the words, "Stop driving them"?  Is there a variation on that?

Instead, LaHood says take them to dealerships to get them repaired.

Oh, that's close.  Yes, of course.  When one says, "Stop driving them" one may well actually mean, "Take them to Bruno's Toyota."  Who are we to question cultural interpretation? 

LaHood told reporters it was "obviously a misstatement" when he told a House panel earlier Wednesday that he would advise owners not to drive recalled vehicles. The remark came during testimony to the Appropriations subcommittee on transportation.

"What I said in there, or what I thought I said was, 'if you own one of these cars, or if you're in doubt, take it to the dealer,'" LaHood said.

He's only the secretary of transportation.  Thank the Lord he isn't an air controller.  "United Eight, uh, turn way left until the sun is kinda in your eyes a bit.  Hold at a pretty high altitude.  Stay awhile."

February 3, 2010