What is a "lie"? What is a "deception"? What is it that the left accuses the Bush White House of doing? Kevin Drum explains the difference here. Now basically, Bush & Co. — technically speaking — don’t lie . . . usually. I’ll let Kevin explain: Let’s take this statement from Dick Cheney on "Meet the Press" last year: "If … Read More
Oh, Yes You DID!
Cheney gets busted in another lie. Transcript, CNBC’s “Capital Report,” June 17, 2004: Gloria Borger: “Well, let’s get to Mohammed Atta for a minute, because you mentioned him as well. You have said in the past that it was quote, “pretty well confirmed.” Vice President Cheney: No, I never said that. BORGER: OK. Vice Pres. CHENEY: Never said that. BORGER: … Read More
Orwellian Memo Discovered
The Washington Post reports about an interesting memo from Republican pollster Frank Luntz. Knowing that how you frame the issues is more important than the issues themselves, Luntz offers Republicans some talking points on phraseology. With voter anxieties about Iraq shadowing this year’s campaign, pollster Frank Luntz has some advice for fellow Republicans: Mind your language. Luntz, according to a … Read More
Cheney Makes Me Sick
Why do many people think that Iraq may have had something to do with 9/11? Cheney provided the answer today. It’s the media’s fault! That’s right. According to Cheney, the anti-Bush liberal media has been making an argument for war against Iraq that the White House never made. THEN, in the same press conference, Cheney goes on to suggest that, … Read More
Bush’s Cheat Sheet
An alert reader of Atrios saw this picture of Bush from yesterday’s cabinet meeting. He captured and blew up Bush’s notes from the meeting (heh heh). Here they are: As best as I can tell, the left hand page says: "Saddam was a threat . . . sworn enemy of U.S. . . . destabilizing force in volatile part of … Read More
Clinton Haters v Bush Haters
Chicago Sun-Times reviewer (and Roger Ebert compadre) Richard Roeper loved "Fahrenheit 9/11" (as did some folks at Fox News, by the way). The response was hundreds of vitriolic e-mails. Richard Roeper responds here, making several astute observations about anti-Bush people vs. anti-Clinton people. The money quote: Folks, do you not see the hypocrisy at work here? This makes about as … Read More
9/11 Commision — “No Credible Evidence” of Iraq-al Qaeda Link
“You can’t distinguish between Al Qaeda and Saddam when you talk about the war on terror”. – George Bush, September 2002 (from here) Speak for yourself, George. The rest of us — those with a brain, intellectual curiosity, and a desire to be scrupulously accurate — can see some pretty important distinctions.
Today’s WH Press Gaggle
Q Can I ask about Vice President Cheney, because yesterday he repeated what is a very controversial claim. He said that Saddam Hussein had long-established ties with al Qaeda. Does the President believe that Saddam Hussein had long-established ties with al Qaeda? MR. McCLELLAN: We certainly talked about the ties with terrorism between the — between the regime that was … Read More
President Obama
Sounds like the leader of some distant "third-world" country, no? Nope. We might be talking about "U.S. President Barack Obama" 20 years from now (or less). The bright new wunderkind of the Democratic Party is getting all kinds of good press, and deservedly so. Starting in November, and until he decides to move onward and upward, you’ll be hearing much … Read More
High Praise Indeed
Question: Who was Bush talking about when he expressed these words today? "As a candidate for any office, . . . he showed incredible energy and great personal appeal. As chief executive, he showed a deep and far-ranging knowledge of public policy, a great compassion for people in need, and the forward-looking spirit that Americans like in a president." "[He] … Read More
Huge Non-endorsement Of Bush
From the Associated Press, as printed here: WASHINGTON — Angered by Bush administration policies they contend endanger national security, 26 retired U.S. diplomats and military officers are urging Americans to vote President Bush out of office in November. The group, which calls itself Diplomats and Military Commanders for Change, does not explicitly endorse Democrat John Kerry for president in its … Read More
Why W Isn’t Reagan – Part III
Again, this one is courtesy of Ron Reagan, Jr. again. His eulogy for his father on June 11 included this shot-across-the-bow of the Bush Administration: Dad was also a deeply, unabashedly religious man. But he never made the fatal mistake of so many politicians, wearing his faith on his sleeve to gain political advantage. True, after he was shot and … Read More
Why W Isn’t Reagan – Part II
"[Reagan] had decades of experience in public life. He was president of his union, he campaigned for presidential candidates, he served two terms as governor of California — and that was not a ceremonial office as it is in Texas. And he had already run for president, against Ford in ’76, nearly unseating the sitting president in his own party. … Read More
Why Is Everyone Calling This Woman A Nazi Bitch?
Her name is Mary L. Walker. You can read about her here. [UPDATE: No, you can’t. They took her down a coupla days after I posted this. But you can read the same interview here] She’s the General Counsel of the U.S. Air Force. A woman devoted to God, she offers such advice: To live your life in that context … Read More
More W and Reagan Comparisons
This time, a stupid one from James K. Glassman at Tech Central Station. Let’s pick it apart, shall we? First, like Reagan, the current president adopted a simple, straightforward program and is resolutely pursuing it: 1) cutting taxes, 2) bringing the fight against terrorism directly to the enemy, 3) building democracy in parts of the world where it has been … Read More