HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY. QUID PRO QUO IS, THOUGH.

A few days ago we looked at the wit and wisdom of Ken Mehlman, RNC Chairman, who said, in direct opposition to the empirical evidence of his boss's admisnitration, "Hope is not a strategy."

Today we learn what his idea of a strategy is. Favors, really big $16 million favors:

"One exchange of e-mails cited in the report suggests that former Abramoff lobbying team member Tony C. Rudy succeeded in getting Mehlman to press reluctant Justice Department appointees to release millions of dollars in congressionally earmarked funds for a new jail for the Mississippi Choctaw tribe, an Abramoff client. Rudy wrote Abramoff in November 2001 e-mails that Mehlman said he would 'take care of' the funding holdup at Justice after learning from Rudy that the tribe made large donations to the GOP."

So in exchange for political contributions, Mehlman made sure the Choctaw got their $16 million contract. I believe that's called a quid pro quo.

At least that makes more sense as a motive than anything else coming out of the administration.