[sinkspur]

Apparently. Martinez has an omelette on his face.

Before writing a memo, every congressional staffer should ask himself/herself: what will this look like on the front page of the Washington Post and what affect will it have on my boss?

[SuziQ]

Every Senator should look at EVERY paper given to him by a staff member, so that this kind of 'mistake' doesn't happen again. If he'd looked at all his papers, and didn't like this one, he could have made sure it wasn't in the stack on his desk ready to hand to anyone.

That being said, Tom Harkin should have, once having seen what the document said, and that it had clearly been written for the Repubs., given it back to Martinez with the simple comment "I don't think you meant to give this to me." That he didn't do that makes me wonder about Sen. Harkin in this matter.

[ConservativeLawyer]

Before writing a memo, every congressional staffer should ask himself/herself: what will this look like on the front page of the Washington Post and what affect will it have on my boss?

Excellent advice, Sinkspur.

Its like I tell my clients, before they write that memo or letter, imagine what it will look like blown up on a big posterboard on a stand in front of a jury.

[beyond the sea]

Before writing a memo, every congressional staffer should ask himself/herself: what will this look like on the front page of the Washington Post and what affect will it have on my boss?

Right on. This was incredibly stupid and crass.

[Smartaleck]

"Before writing a memo, every congressional staffer should ask himself/herself: what will this look like on the front page of the Washington Post and what affect will it have on my boss?"

I've always asked myself and told others to ask....if you do this, what will you say when Rather and the 60 minute crew show up? What will it sound like?

In a word THINK!