So that's what the kids are calling "retirement" these days

Powerline really is the gift that keeps on giving. Today the Rocketman defend one his fav's, James Watt under the ironic headline of Lies and the Lying Liberals Who Tell Them:

Thanks to Jim Watt for pointing out today's article to us. Mr. Watt is a kindly gentleman who was enjoying a well-deserved retirement from public life, when he was dragged back into the political fray, against his will, by virtue of being relentlessly libelled by Bill Moyers and other liberals. It's good to see that, having been forced to participate once more in public debate, he is defending himself with the skill and determination that, decades ago, he brought to his years of public service.

I'll agree with the "well-deserved retirement" part:

In a press conference on 21 September 1983, made the following comment about his staff: "I have a black, a woman, two Jews and a cripple. And we have talent." He resigned eighteen days later.

Oh. And speaking of lying:

On 2 January 1996, Washington lobbyist and former US Secretary of the Interior James Watt pleaded guilty to withholding documents and information from a grand jury in 1990. In exchange for his guilty plea, 18 felony perjury charges against him were dropped. Watt had intentionally concealed documents which had been subpoenaed during a grand jury investigation into the Reagan-era HUD scandal. He received five years' probation, 500 hours of community service, and a $5,000 fine.

Granted he didn't perjure himself about something as reprehensible as, say, a blowjob. No, it was all about money and influence peddling:

Before the plea bargain, Watt had been charged with felony counts of perjury and making false statements to cover up his work as a consultant seeking federal aid from HUD after he left government in 1983.

...so that's okay, good Christian that he is.