What Roxas specifically said was that a strong peso (which the administration touted as its own achievement) was meaningless to consumers burdened with high prices.

Malacañang’s quick response ignored the senator’s "anecdotal" information about the slow business of the Christmas season, a fact supported by Dennis Arroyo’s (no presidential relation) observation on the "unusual tight-fistedness" of consumers. (The corollary is the rise of the savings rate to 26 percent, which, by the way, is a good sign, although ironically a reaction to hard times.)

In logic, the administration’s counter-argument is a clear example of Argumentum Ad Hominem. It sought to deflect Roxas’ criticism of government economics as a slur on the OFWs, the heroes of our time.

This is not to say that Malacañang’s apologists are ignorant of elementary logic. They just choose to ignore logic in order to make a reply, any reply, to criticism about their ceaseless peddling of Pollyanna.

It’s about time Malacañang realized that its "communication strategy" is very much flawed by sloppy thinking, Dadaist rhetoric, and surrealistic statistics. That’s what comes from a gigantic machinery not unlike the anatomy of a dinosaur: A big body and a small head.

However, to be fair, it may just be the public face of Malacañang and that its private face is lined with worry and the frown of thought. This may become apparent should the opposition heed the President’s summons to the Council of State. There could be a serious discussion of the issues plaguing the nation and the body politic.

The only problem is that the big guns, except possibly for FVR, have not quite made up their minds to attend the Council of State meeting. Sen. Pimentel and Presidents Aquino and Estrada are wary of President Arroyo’s true intentions.

Will a moratorium on Malacañang’s mendacious propaganda help? That could be worth trying.