Bush's magnificent deception By Thomas Oliphant

[kpete]

Bush's magnificent deception
By Thomas Oliphant, Globe Columnist | November 15, 2005

According to The Wall Street Journal-NBC News survey last week, 57 percent of the sample believe Bush deliberately misled the country on the way to war, more than 20 points above the numbers asserting he was straight with the country.

In denying the charge, however, it is fascinating that the White House spin machine has avoided giving examples of its nuanced rhetoric on the subject of the alleged threat posed by Iraq at the time in order to make its case to a skeptical public. That's because there aren't any.

Instead, there has been an entertaining chorus of claims that the charge is false but that everybody else did it -- other countries' intelligence services, assorted politicians in this country (especially Democrats). Lacking a defense, Bush's operatives have sought to construct a Potemkin universe of intelligence dupes.

In his speech, Bush took aim at Senator John Kerry, and in a statement, his White House went after Kennedy, who days before had spoken out on the Chalabi visit. It was intriguing how desperately Bush clung to the fiction that Kerry had once been a soul brother.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/11/15/bushs_magnificent_deception/

[Stephanie]

1. The Fictional President

Can someone give Michael Moore a medal?

[MarianJack]

2. I Can't Believe That I'm About To Use THIS Word, Stephanie,...

...but DITTO!

[bballny]

3. Chalabi

Oliphant nails it in his description of Chilabi and it applies to Bush and that is the end justifies the means. In America that i9s not our standard, we actually believe in right and wrong. Bush and the neocons however don't believe in right and wrong just might makes right. I have a good Persian friend(Iranian) and the saying in the mideast for the "arabs" is don't trust your brother. Is there any more apt description of Chilabi.

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. The sad truth is that there is a good chance Bush will be judged

in the history books as "brilliant" or some such outrageous adjective. Why?

Because "brilliant" and courageous Americans will be doing everything they can to make the best of a bad thing! Others will be pulling America's butt out of the fire that this disastrous President has put us in, but unless it's the Democrats who are in control they'll be giving him all of the credit. Just like they gave Reagan.

It's my hope that when the history books are written, they have a true and accurate retelling. But I'm just not so sure it's going to happen that way. :(

[mwb970]

6. I think the plain facts will argue against his "brilliance".

The deficit, the Iraq War, the increase in poverty and uninsured Americans, the decrease in wages, the polls - it's going to be hard to deny all of that. Isn't it?

[Norquist Nemesis]

7. Sure hope so

But that old saying about the winners writing the history books is really gnawing at me.

[tigereye]

8. i don't think he will be called "brilliant"

except in the sense of brilliant at fooling everyone.

[stopbush]

5. * ran against Kerry on a platform that JK was soft on the war

and didn't support *'s war or the troops. They even dragged out those disgusting Purple Heart bandages to mock Kerry's service and wounds in Nam.

Now, * sez that JK fully supported his war and is just as complicit in the disaster as is *.

So, when was * lying? Then or now?