Ahhh, these are troubled days, aren't they?

Two posts below I linked to a piece on RNC Chief Ken Mehlman knocking out a State Department appointee on behalf of his friend Jack Abramoff. In the post I said Mehlman "killed" the appointment.

Now comes TPM Reader AP suggesting that, given that the Abramoff saga does involved at least one actual murder, that I be more careful with my usage.

Wrote AP ...

Given that the current GOP scandalous web extends to real, non-metaphorical murders in Florida, I think I would be reluctant to post that Mehlman "killed" a State Dept. appointment. I understand that you didn't say he killed the appointee, but I did do a double take, and it'd be nice to keep enough bredth in the language to accurately convey the full range of GOP misconduct.

So just to be clear, in case there was any confusion, Mehlman did not actually kill the appointee Allen Stayman on Abramoff's behalf or anyone else's. He merely derailed the appointment, leaving Stayman, presumably, none the worse for wear in physical terms.

Hope this clarifies things.