Career appointees at the Department of Agriculture were stunned last week to receive e-mailed instructions that include Bush administration "talking points" -- saying things such as "President Bush has a clear strategy for victory in Iraq" -- in every speech they give for the department.

Welcome to the "credibility gap." If you haven't figured it out yet, these people are certifiable and belong in a white room, not the White House.

The USDA on Iraq: Everything's Coming Up Rosy