Demagogue

Poor Prime Minister Balkenende. Just as it's started to be possible for Republicans to disagree with Dubya on occasion, the Dutch PM seems to be having a devil of a time keeping his ministers from criticizing his policies. As I passed along, it was Foreign Minister Bot a few weeks ago questioning the wisdom of the government's support for the war in Iraq. Now it's Government Reform Minister Pechtold saying the government has been fear-mongering regarding terrorism. Both ministers duly flagellated themselves in public and got back into line, but I think it's fair to say that not all's well in the Coalition of the Willing.