"FIRST YOU SAY YOU DO...

AND THEN YOU DON'T.
THEN YOU SAY YOU WILL, AND THEN YOU WONT.
YOU'RE UNDECIDED NOW, SO WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?"

Lines from a great old song that could apply to none other than Antonis Samaras, no. 1 in the opinion polls (and in you hearts) for the next Prime Minister of Greece.  Over the weekend, when all the Greeks signed up for the austerity plan, Mr. Samaras was right there.  Yesterday, he intimated that while he's five square behind the plan, by the time he gets to be Prime Minister he probably wont be.  WELL!  Once the boys and girls in Brussels got wind of that, the supposed meeting of tomorrow that was to approve the Greek weekend actions was suspended and demands were issued that all of the possible future Prime Ministers were to present signed, written assurances that they would support the plan no matter what their state in life.  Stock markets tanked as did the Euro and a hush fell over the negotiations.

BUT WAIT!  At the eleventh hour today it was announced that Mr. Samaras had rethought his position and was now apparently willing to issue such assurances.  Was this a, "Sorry, guys, I was just kidding" moment?  We shall see.  Markets in New York reversed themselves as did the Euro in late trading, and a smile spread across the faces of the talking heads.  On such moments does the future of a continent depend.

This is turning into one of the most unimaginable farces conceived by man.  Does anyone in their right mind believe that Greece has any intention of abiding by their agreement even if it could with Athens burning before the very eyes of the politicians?  And yet I am told on good authority that there has been very little real thinking that has been done as to what the next steps will be in the event that this proposed agreement becomes undone.  I suppose I should not be surprised but even given the monumental stupidity of what has already transpired, but I am.  The singular focus of bailing out the banks has, it appears, shuttered all portals to reality.  Written assurances, indeed.  I hope the paper on which they are written has been paid for that is their true worth.

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And speaking of true worth, The Leader put forth his budget yesterday in a meaningless setting before a meaningless group of community college students who were unaware that they were extras in a farce.  The New York Times, duty bound to support the message, did so in the leading article in a manner as if to say, "You know what we are going to say so here it is."  I'm at a loss.  Fortunately, I am a believer and I believe that is was for times like this that God made Wiskey.  I'm off to worship a bit.