Manipulation and Deceit
October 28, 2004
#5 - The Final Countdown: Manipulation and Deceit
Looking for WMD? You won't find them here, since we'll be inspecting President Bush's changing tune on Iraq in Monday's final countdown for War, on Terror and Otherwise. In the meantime, here are some other prime examples of Manipulation and Deceit from the Bush administration: July 2003: In the last . . . [more]
Looking for WMD? You won't find them here, since we'll be inspecting President Bush's changing tune on Iraq in Monday's final countdown for War, on Terror and Otherwise. In the meantime, here are some other prime examples of Manipulation and Deceit from the Bush administration: July 2003: In the last . . . [more]
October 12, 2004
#21 - Preempting His Lies
Checking the Facts, in Advance by Paul Krugman in the New York Times: t's not hard to predict what President Bush, who sounds increasingly desperate, will say tomorrow. Here are eight lies or distortions you'll hear, and the truth about each: Jobs Mr. Bush will talk about the 1.7 million . . . [more]
Checking the Facts, in Advance by Paul Krugman in the New York Times: t's not hard to predict what President Bush, who sounds increasingly desperate, will say tomorrow. Here are eight lies or distortions you'll hear, and the truth about each: Jobs Mr. Bush will talk about the 1.7 million . . . [more]
October 11, 2004
#22 - He's Spinning out of Control
From Bob Herbert's editorial in today's New York Times, "Webs of Illusion": It's understood that incumbents campaigning for re-election will spotlight the good news and downplay the bad. The problem for President Bush, with the election just three weeks away, is that the bad news keeps cascading in and there . . . [more]
From Bob Herbert's editorial in today's New York Times, "Webs of Illusion": It's understood that incumbents campaigning for re-election will spotlight the good news and downplay the bad. The problem for President Bush, with the election just three weeks away, is that the bad news keeps cascading in and there . . . [more]
October 07, 2004
#26 - Flip Flop Hypocrisy
G.W. & Crew's Flip Flop Catalog, courtesy Aaron Eiseman, via Daily Kos. . . . [more]
G.W. & Crew's Flip Flop Catalog, courtesy Aaron Eiseman, via Daily Kos. . . . [more]
October 03, 2004
#30 - Weak Justice
On cnn.com today, "Rice defends Bush's debate comments": Rice said Bush did not misspeak when he said that the network of Pakistan's A.Q. Khan -- the founder of Pakistan's nuclear program who was caught selling secrets on the global black market -- had been "brought to justice." Khan is living . . . [more]
On cnn.com today, "Rice defends Bush's debate comments": Rice said Bush did not misspeak when he said that the network of Pakistan's A.Q. Khan -- the founder of Pakistan's nuclear program who was caught selling secrets on the global black market -- had been "brought to justice." Khan is living . . . [more]
September 25, 2004
#38 - If the Numbers Aren't Favorable, He Just Makes Them Up
Fewer Iraqi security forces will be fully trained by the end of this year than cited by President Bush and it will take until July 2006 to fully train the police force, according to Pentagon documents. With interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi at his side, Bush said on Thursday . . . [more]
Fewer Iraqi security forces will be fully trained by the end of this year than cited by President Bush and it will take until July 2006 to fully train the police force, according to Pentagon documents. With interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi at his side, Bush said on Thursday . . . [more]
September 10, 2004
#53 - We're Still Waiting for Accountability
From today's Washington Post, "A Failed Investigation": A day of congressional hearings yesterday confirmed two glaring gaps in the Bush administration's response to hundreds of cases of prisoner abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan. The first is one of investigation: Major allegations of wrongdoing, including some touching on Defense Secretary Donald . . . [more]
From today's Washington Post, "A Failed Investigation": A day of congressional hearings yesterday confirmed two glaring gaps in the Bush administration's response to hundreds of cases of prisoner abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan. The first is one of investigation: Major allegations of wrongdoing, including some touching on Defense Secretary Donald . . . [more]
September 08, 2004
#55 - Extremist Politics
Apparently, the Bush administration has no record to run on, because today Dick Cheney told Americans that they better duck and cover if John Kerry becomes president: "It's absolutely essential that eight weeks from today, on Nov. 2, we make the right choice, because if we make the wrong choice . . . [more]
Apparently, the Bush administration has no record to run on, because today Dick Cheney told Americans that they better duck and cover if John Kerry becomes president: "It's absolutely essential that eight weeks from today, on Nov. 2, we make the right choice, because if we make the wrong choice . . . [more]
September 04, 2004
#59 - Plausible Deniability, Part II
Research doesn't back your policies? For the Bush administration, the answer is clear: stop collecting the data: The Department of Education is sharply cutting back on the information it collects about charter schools for a periodic report that provides a detailed national profile of public, private and charter schools. Confirmation . . . [more]
Research doesn't back your policies? For the Bush administration, the answer is clear: stop collecting the data: The Department of Education is sharply cutting back on the information it collects about charter schools for a periodic report that provides a detailed national profile of public, private and charter schools. Confirmation . . . [more]
August 30, 2004
#64 - Plausible Deniability, Part I
The Bush 'hear no evil, see no evil' doctrine continues. From Rumsfeld Denies Abuses Occurred at Interrogations in the New York Times: In his first comments on the two major investigative reports issued this week at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Thursday mischaracterized one of their central . . . [more]
The Bush 'hear no evil, see no evil' doctrine continues. From Rumsfeld Denies Abuses Occurred at Interrogations in the New York Times: In his first comments on the two major investigative reports issued this week at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Thursday mischaracterized one of their central . . . [more]
August 26, 2004
#68 – Spreading Bull Doesn't Change the Bear Market
Every American who pays federal income taxes benefited from the Bush tax cuts, and so has our economy. For the last 11 consecutive months we've created jobs -- since last August, about 1.5 million new jobs. Vice President Dick Cheney Remarks by the Vice President at a Victory 2004 Rally . . . [more]
Every American who pays federal income taxes benefited from the Bush tax cuts, and so has our economy. For the last 11 consecutive months we've created jobs -- since last August, about 1.5 million new jobs. Vice President Dick Cheney Remarks by the Vice President at a Victory 2004 Rally . . . [more]
August 24, 2004
#70 - Selective Hearing
From "Do You Hear What I Hear?" by Dana Milbank in the Washington Post: The 2004 presidential campaign sometimes resembles the children's game of "telephone." Here are some quotations as they came out of Democratic nominee John F. Kerry's mouth -- and how President Bush and Vice President Cheney later . . . [more]
From "Do You Hear What I Hear?" by Dana Milbank in the Washington Post: The 2004 presidential campaign sometimes resembles the children's game of "telephone." Here are some quotations as they came out of Democratic nominee John F. Kerry's mouth -- and how President Bush and Vice President Cheney later . . . [more]
August 07, 2004
#87 - Failing to Condemn a Cheap Stunt Conducted on His Behalf
From yesterday's AP wire, via the Chicago Sun-Times, "McCain calls attack on Kerry military record 'cheap stunt'": Republican Sen. John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, called an ad criticizing John Kerry's military service ''dishonest and dishonorable'' and urged the White House on Thursday to condemn it as . . . [more]
From yesterday's AP wire, via the Chicago Sun-Times, "McCain calls attack on Kerry military record 'cheap stunt'": Republican Sen. John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, called an ad criticizing John Kerry's military service ''dishonest and dishonorable'' and urged the White House on Thursday to condemn it as . . . [more]
August 03, 2004
#91 - Fear Alert Level: Chartreuse
It seems that the unusually specific terrorist warning issued by the Bush Administration on Sunday was gleaned from mostly old intelligence -- gathered as far back as 2001 and 2000. According to the New York Times, intelligence and law enforcement officials "reported that they had not yet found concrete evidence . . . [more]
It seems that the unusually specific terrorist warning issued by the Bush Administration on Sunday was gleaned from mostly old intelligence -- gathered as far back as 2001 and 2000. According to the New York Times, intelligence and law enforcement officials "reported that they had not yet found concrete evidence . . . [more]
August 01, 2004
#93 - Economic Shenanigans, Part I
Commerce Department Deletes Recession From Record (see Reuters article here) Conspiracy theorists may now add this one to the books: Months before the November election the Bush Administration covered up the 2001 Recession. That's right. Never happened. Didn't start under Clinton. Did not exist under Bush. Recession? We don't see . . . [more]
Commerce Department Deletes Recession From Record (see Reuters article here) Conspiracy theorists may now add this one to the books: Months before the November election the Bush Administration covered up the 2001 Recession. That's right. Never happened. Didn't start under Clinton. Did not exist under Bush. Recession? We don't see . . . [more]
July 20, 2004
#105 - His Continued Refusal to Admit Mistakes
From yesterday's Press Briefing by Scott McClellan: Q Prime Minister Blair took full personal responsibility for taking his nation into war under falsehoods -- under reasons that have been determined now to be false. Is President Bush also willing to take full, personal responsibility -- MR. McCLELLAN: I think Prime . . . [more]
From yesterday's Press Briefing by Scott McClellan: Q Prime Minister Blair took full personal responsibility for taking his nation into war under falsehoods -- under reasons that have been determined now to be false. Is President Bush also willing to take full, personal responsibility -- MR. McCLELLAN: I think Prime . . . [more]
July 13, 2004
#112 - Repeating a Lie Often Enough
It's not hard to tell when President Bush is really, really serious about getting a particular message out. He repeats it, over and over again. But it's unusual even for him to say the same thing seven times in one short speech. That's what he did yesterday, in Oak Ridge, . . . [more]
It's not hard to tell when President Bush is really, really serious about getting a particular message out. He repeats it, over and over again. But it's unusual even for him to say the same thing seven times in one short speech. That's what he did yesterday, in Oak Ridge, . . . [more]
July 11, 2004
#114 - He Makes It Hard Not to be Paranoid
From yesterday's Seattle Times, via the Washington Post, "Pentagon: some Bush documents destroyed": The accidental destruction of microfilm seven years ago has handicapped Pentagon efforts to turn up records documenting President Bush's service in the Texas Air National Guard during part of 1972, a Defense Department official said in a . . . [more]
From yesterday's Seattle Times, via the Washington Post, "Pentagon: some Bush documents destroyed": The accidental destruction of microfilm seven years ago has handicapped Pentagon efforts to turn up records documenting President Bush's service in the Texas Air National Guard during part of 1972, a Defense Department official said in a . . . [more]
July 08, 2004
#117 - Low Goings-on in Health and Human Services
From yesterday's New York Times, "Inquiry Confirms Medicare Chief Threatened Actuary": An internal investigation by the Department of Health and Human Services confirms that the top Medicare official threatened to fire the program's chief actuary if he told Congress that drug benefits would probably cost much more than the White . . . [more]
From yesterday's New York Times, "Inquiry Confirms Medicare Chief Threatened Actuary": An internal investigation by the Department of Health and Human Services confirms that the top Medicare official threatened to fire the program's chief actuary if he told Congress that drug benefits would probably cost much more than the White . . . [more]
June 24, 2004
#131 - Campaigning with Lies and Scare Tactics, Because the Truth Won't Win Him an Election
From the Michigan Land Use Institute, via Helpful Reader Eric, "Bush Campaign Chair Fabricated Job Loss Number" On April 8 Marc Racicot, President George W. Bush’s national campaign chairman, startled Michigan by announcing what sounded like an ominous fact. After dedicating the Bush-Cheney campaign’s state headquarters near Detroit, Mr. Racicot . . . [more]
From the Michigan Land Use Institute, via Helpful Reader Eric, "Bush Campaign Chair Fabricated Job Loss Number" On April 8 Marc Racicot, President George W. Bush’s national campaign chairman, startled Michigan by announcing what sounded like an ominous fact. After dedicating the Bush-Cheney campaign’s state headquarters near Detroit, Mr. Racicot . . . [more]
May 22, 2004
#164 - More Line Crossing
From Thursday's New York Times, via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, "GAO says Medicare video violated law": The General Accounting Office, an investigative arm of Congress, said yesterday that the Bush administration had violated federal law by producing and disseminating television news segments that portray the new Medicare law as a boon . . . [more]
From Thursday's New York Times, via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, "GAO says Medicare video violated law": The General Accounting Office, an investigative arm of Congress, said yesterday that the Bush administration had violated federal law by producing and disseminating television news segments that portray the new Medicare law as a boon . . . [more]
May 21, 2004
#165 - Election-Year Hypocrisy
From "White House Is Trumpeting Programs It Tried to Cut" via the New York Times: Like many of its predecessors, the Bush White House has used the machinery of government to promote the re-election of the president by awarding federal grants to strategically important states. But in a twist this . . . [more]
From "White House Is Trumpeting Programs It Tried to Cut" via the New York Times: Like many of its predecessors, the Bush White House has used the machinery of government to promote the re-election of the president by awarding federal grants to strategically important states. But in a twist this . . . [more]
May 10, 2004
#176 - Hiding Problems Isn't Fixing Them
From an article by Rebecca Traister on Salon.com last week, "Making women's issues go away": A damning new report reveals that the Bush administration has quietly removed 25 reports from its Women's Bureau Web site, deleting or distorting crucial information on issues from pay equity to reproductive healthcare. If you'd . . . [more]
From an article by Rebecca Traister on Salon.com last week, "Making women's issues go away": A damning new report reveals that the Bush administration has quietly removed 25 reports from its Women's Bureau Web site, deleting or distorting crucial information on issues from pay equity to reproductive healthcare. If you'd . . . [more]
April 27, 2004
#189 - We Can't Trust Him with History
From last week's Scripps Howard News Service, via Helpful Reader K, "Mystery at the National Archives": The Bush administration's secretive ways have made a Washington mystery of something as relatively straightforward as choosing a new National Archivist. On April 8, President Bush nominated historian Allen Weinstein to be the head . . . [more]
From last week's Scripps Howard News Service, via Helpful Reader K, "Mystery at the National Archives": The Bush administration's secretive ways have made a Washington mystery of something as relatively straightforward as choosing a new National Archivist. On April 8, President Bush nominated historian Allen Weinstein to be the head . . . [more]
April 26, 2004
#190 - He Can't Handle the Truth
The Bush team is still trying to cover up anything that looks bad re: 9-11: The Bush administration will today seek to prevent a former FBI translator from providing evidence about 11 September intelligence failures to a group of relatives and survivors who have accused international banks and officials of . . . [more]
The Bush team is still trying to cover up anything that looks bad re: 9-11: The Bush administration will today seek to prevent a former FBI translator from providing evidence about 11 September intelligence failures to a group of relatives and survivors who have accused international banks and officials of . . . [more]
April 20, 2004
#196 - Shameless Propaganda
From today's New York Times, "An I.R.S. Promotion for Bush at Tax Time": As the deadline for filing tax returns approached, news releases from the Internal Revenue Service included a little something extra, a sentence promoting the administration's tax policies that said, "America has a choice: It can continue to . . . [more]
From today's New York Times, "An I.R.S. Promotion for Bush at Tax Time": As the deadline for filing tax returns approached, news releases from the Internal Revenue Service included a little something extra, a sentence promoting the administration's tax policies that said, "America has a choice: It can continue to . . . [more]
March 19, 2004
#228 - He's Using His Father's Tactics...and They Should Backfire This Time, Too
From an article by William Saletan on Slate yesterday, "Enemies of the States - If you're against Bush, you're against America": If you oppose George Bush's policies, or if you're supported by anybody who opposes George Bush's policies, you're anti-American. That was the message of the 1988 presidential campaign of . . . [more]
From an article by William Saletan on Slate yesterday, "Enemies of the States - If you're against Bush, you're against America": If you oppose George Bush's policies, or if you're supported by anybody who opposes George Bush's policies, you're anti-American. That was the message of the 1988 presidential campaign of . . . [more]
March 17, 2004
#230 - Your Tax Dollars, Not at Work for You
Federal investigators are scrutinizing television segments in which the Bush administration paid people to pose as journalists praising the benefits of the new Medicare law, which would be offered to help elderly Americans with the costs of their prescription medicines. The videos are intended for use in local television news . . . [more]
Federal investigators are scrutinizing television segments in which the Bush administration paid people to pose as journalists praising the benefits of the new Medicare law, which would be offered to help elderly Americans with the costs of their prescription medicines. The videos are intended for use in local television news . . . [more]
March 12, 2004
#235 - Reclassification, Not Recovery
From the New York Times via the Indianapolis Star: Is cooking a hamburger patty and inserting the meat and trimmings inside a bun a manufacturing job, like assembling cars? That question is posed in the new Economic Report of the President, a thick annual compendium of observations and statistics on . . . [more]
From the New York Times via the Indianapolis Star: Is cooking a hamburger patty and inserting the meat and trimmings inside a bun a manufacturing job, like assembling cars? That question is posed in the new Economic Report of the President, a thick annual compendium of observations and statistics on . . . [more]
March 11, 2004
#236 - His Administration's Advertisements Are Weak, and Full of Omissions...but Not Partisan
From Reuters yesterday, "Medicare Ads Ruled Not in Violation of Rules": Bush administration advertisements touting the new U.S. Medicare law did not violate a ban on using taxpayers' money for partisan purposes but did omit important facts about prescription drug benefits, congressional investigators said on Wednesday. The General Accounting Office . . . [more]
From Reuters yesterday, "Medicare Ads Ruled Not in Violation of Rules": Bush administration advertisements touting the new U.S. Medicare law did not violate a ban on using taxpayers' money for partisan purposes but did omit important facts about prescription drug benefits, congressional investigators said on Wednesday. The General Accounting Office . . . [more]
February 28, 2004
#248 - Inflated Service
From today's Boston Globe, "Bush bio on Web inflates Guard service": Questions remain about President Bush's long-ago service in the Texas Air National Guard. But the basic outline of his Guard service is not in dispute: After a year in flight school, Bush spent five months learning how to fly . . . [more]
From today's Boston Globe, "Bush bio on Web inflates Guard service": Questions remain about President Bush's long-ago service in the Texas Air National Guard. But the basic outline of his Guard service is not in dispute: After a year in flight school, Bush spent five months learning how to fly . . . [more]
February 23, 2004
#253 - We Want Real Good News, Not More Misrepresentation
We're all for good news. But this type of reporting makes you wonder if there's much the Bush administration doesn't misrepresent. The Bush administration says it improperly altered a report documenting large racial and ethnic disparities in health care, but it will soon publish the full, unexpurgated document. "There was . . . [more]
We're all for good news. But this type of reporting makes you wonder if there's much the Bush administration doesn't misrepresent. The Bush administration says it improperly altered a report documenting large racial and ethnic disparities in health care, but it will soon publish the full, unexpurgated document. "There was . . . [more]
February 19, 2004
#257 - Because the Lies are Becoming Endemic
Top scientists and environmentalists on Wednesday accused the Bush administration of suppressing and distorting scientific findings that run counter to its own policies. They backed a report from the Union of Concerned Scientists that said the administration had suppressed research on global warming, air quality, sexual health, cancer and other . . . [more]
Top scientists and environmentalists on Wednesday accused the Bush administration of suppressing and distorting scientific findings that run counter to its own policies. They backed a report from the Union of Concerned Scientists that said the administration had suppressed research on global warming, air quality, sexual health, cancer and other . . . [more]
February 07, 2004
#269 - Misplaced Certainty
"Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised." - George Bush, March 17, 2003 "In the intelligence business, you are almost never completely wrong or completely right. That applies in full . . . [more]
"Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised." - George Bush, March 17, 2003 "In the intelligence business, you are almost never completely wrong or completely right. That applies in full . . . [more]
February 02, 2004
#274 - Executive Order 13233
First, some background about the Presidential Records Act and EO 13233 from "Executive Order Undermines Democracy", an article by Ira Berlin in the Organization of American Historians Newsletter, May 2002: A product of the Watergate Crisis, the Presidential Records Act had its origins in Richard Nixon's attempt to privatize and . . . [more]
First, some background about the Presidential Records Act and EO 13233 from "Executive Order Undermines Democracy", an article by Ira Berlin in the Organization of American Historians Newsletter, May 2002: A product of the Watergate Crisis, the Presidential Records Act had its origins in Richard Nixon's attempt to privatize and . . . [more]
February 01, 2004
#275 - The Illusory Middle Class Tax Cut
From Reuters, " IRS: Tax Cuts Would Expand Minimum Tax Bite" Unless Congress acts, millions of U.S. taxpayers will be shocked in April 2006 as they do their taxes and discover they owe the government much more than thought, according to the Internal Revenue Service's taxpayer watchdog. "These are compliant . . . [more]
From Reuters, " IRS: Tax Cuts Would Expand Minimum Tax Bite" Unless Congress acts, millions of U.S. taxpayers will be shocked in April 2006 as they do their taxes and discover they owe the government much more than thought, according to the Internal Revenue Service's taxpayer watchdog. "These are compliant . . . [more]
January 31, 2004
#276 - We Want to be Positive
Quick, guess which regime Condelezza Rice was referring to last Thursday: "When you are dealing with secretive regimes that want to deceive, you’re never going to be able to be positive" about intelligence, Ms Rice told NBC. (via The Scotsman) If you guessed the one that’s refusing to endorse an . . . [more]
Quick, guess which regime Condelezza Rice was referring to last Thursday: "When you are dealing with secretive regimes that want to deceive, you’re never going to be able to be positive" about intelligence, Ms Rice told NBC. (via The Scotsman) If you guessed the one that’s refusing to endorse an . . . [more]
January 29, 2004
#278 - The Cost of War, Part 2
Via Reuters, "Bush Sees No Need for More Iraq Funds Before 2005" The White House said on Friday it has no plans "at this point" to seek more money this year for military operations in Iraq, putting off any politically sensitive request until Congress convenes in 2005 after the U.S. . . . [more]
Via Reuters, "Bush Sees No Need for More Iraq Funds Before 2005" The White House said on Friday it has no plans "at this point" to seek more money this year for military operations in Iraq, putting off any politically sensitive request until Congress convenes in 2005 after the U.S. . . . [more]
January 19, 2004
#288 - Once Again, Campaigning Trumps Truth
From today's Washington Post, "9/11 Panel Unlikely to Get Later Deadline" President Bush and House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) have decided to oppose granting more time to an independent commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, virtually guaranteeing that the panel will have to complete its work by the . . . [more]
From today's Washington Post, "9/11 Panel Unlikely to Get Later Deadline" President Bush and House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) have decided to oppose granting more time to an independent commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, virtually guaranteeing that the panel will have to complete its work by the . . . [more]
January 14, 2004
#293 - He's Sneaky
While we're all in a tizzy over Iraq and other Bush misadventures, this is the type of slippery-slope agenda item that his administration is trying to sneak in behind our backs: A federal appeals court Tuesday overturned a Bush administration decision to weaken energy-efficiency standards for new air conditioners, a . . . [more]
While we're all in a tizzy over Iraq and other Bush misadventures, this is the type of slippery-slope agenda item that his administration is trying to sneak in behind our backs: A federal appeals court Tuesday overturned a Bush administration decision to weaken energy-efficiency standards for new air conditioners, a . . . [more]
December 27, 2003
#311 - Policy Shifts without Public Disclosure
From an article in the New York Times earlier this month, "Bush Restoring Cash Bonuses for Political Appointees": The White House has decided that several thousand political appointees across the federal government will be eligible for cash bonuses, abandoning a Clinton-era prohibition that grew out of questionable practices in the . . . [more]
From an article in the New York Times earlier this month, "Bush Restoring Cash Bonuses for Political Appointees": The White House has decided that several thousand political appointees across the federal government will be eligible for cash bonuses, abandoning a Clinton-era prohibition that grew out of questionable practices in the . . . [more]
December 26, 2003
#312 - He Creates Cognitive Dissonance
From an article by Renana Brooks's in The Nation, "The Character Myth": Psychologists have long understood that people who hold views that are mutually inconsistent, or who perform actions that depart from their values or that threaten their positive self-image, will experience discomfort. This is known as cognitive dissonance. People . . . [more]
From an article by Renana Brooks's in The Nation, "The Character Myth": Psychologists have long understood that people who hold views that are mutually inconsistent, or who perform actions that depart from their values or that threaten their positive self-image, will experience discomfort. This is known as cognitive dissonance. People . . . [more]
December 23, 2003
#315 - His Administration Tampers with the Historical Record
From an article by Dana Milbank on eCommerce Times, "White House Web Scrubbing": It's not quite Soviet-style airbrushing, but the Bush administration has been using cyberspace to make some of its own cosmetic touch-ups to history. White House officials were steamed when Andrew S. Natsios, the administrator of the U.S. . . . [more]
From an article by Dana Milbank on eCommerce Times, "White House Web Scrubbing": It's not quite Soviet-style airbrushing, but the Bush administration has been using cyberspace to make some of its own cosmetic touch-ups to history. White House officials were steamed when Andrew S. Natsios, the administrator of the U.S. . . . [more]
December 17, 2003
#321 - Fearsome Fridays
From last Friday's Seattle Post-Intelligencer, via Helpful Reader Kathleen, "TGIF -- it must be time for Bush policy changes": The Bush I administration perfected Stealth military technology and deployed it to devastating effect as U.S. planes, invisible to Saddam Hussein's radar, began Gulf War I by destroying Iraqi infrastructure. Bush . . . [more]
From last Friday's Seattle Post-Intelligencer, via Helpful Reader Kathleen, "TGIF -- it must be time for Bush policy changes": The Bush I administration perfected Stealth military technology and deployed it to devastating effect as U.S. planes, invisible to Saddam Hussein's radar, began Gulf War I by destroying Iraqi infrastructure. Bush . . . [more]
December 05, 2003
#333 - Fowl Play
The reputation of White House spin doctors for obsessively manipulating President George W Bush's image came under the spotlight again yesterday when it emerged that the turkey he appeared to be serving to troops in Baghdad was not for eating. (AP photo) The homely photograph of a smiling Mr Bush . . . [more]
The reputation of White House spin doctors for obsessively manipulating President George W Bush's image came under the spotlight again yesterday when it emerged that the turkey he appeared to be serving to troops in Baghdad was not for eating. (AP photo) The homely photograph of a smiling Mr Bush . . . [more]
November 30, 2003
#338 - His Disconnect With Reality
From President Bush's weekly radio address, broadcast today: Good morning. On Thursday, I was honored to travel to Iraq, to spend Thanksgiving with some of the finest men and women serving in our military. My message to the troops was clear: your country is thankful for your service, we are . . . [more]
From President Bush's weekly radio address, broadcast today: Good morning. On Thursday, I was honored to travel to Iraq, to spend Thanksgiving with some of the finest men and women serving in our military. My message to the troops was clear: your country is thankful for your service, we are . . . [more]
November 29, 2003
#339 - He "Demonizes" Those Who Disagree
Via Paul Krugman in the New York Times: ...[T]he Bush administration — which likes to portray itself as the inheritor of Reagan-like optimism — actually has a Nixonian habit of demonizing its opponents. For example, here's President Bush on critics of his economic policies: "Some say, well, maybe the recession . . . [more]
Via Paul Krugman in the New York Times: ...[T]he Bush administration — which likes to portray itself as the inheritor of Reagan-like optimism — actually has a Nixonian habit of demonizing its opponents. For example, here's President Bush on critics of his economic policies: "Some say, well, maybe the recession . . . [more]
November 25, 2003
#343 - More Revisionist Speechmaking
Don't have that crucial soundbite just right? Make it up! It may be called the Case of the Disappearing Pause. When President Bush laid out the potential threat that unconventional weapons posed in Saddam Hussein's hands last year in his State of the Union address last year, he became tongue-tied . . . [more]
Don't have that crucial soundbite just right? Make it up! It may be called the Case of the Disappearing Pause. When President Bush laid out the potential threat that unconventional weapons posed in Saddam Hussein's hands last year in his State of the Union address last year, he became tongue-tied . . . [more]
November 09, 2003
#359 - Using Private Lynch
From today's Guardian (UK), "Private Jessica says President is misusing her 'heroism'": When American Private Jessica Lynch was rescued from an Iraqi hospital last April, President George Bush's administration and much of the US media was gripped by a dramatic tale of blonde, all-American heroism. The story reaches fever pitch . . . [more]
From today's Guardian (UK), "Private Jessica says President is misusing her 'heroism'": When American Private Jessica Lynch was rescued from an Iraqi hospital last April, President George Bush's administration and much of the US media was gripped by a dramatic tale of blonde, all-American heroism. The story reaches fever pitch . . . [more]
November 08, 2003
#360 - Mouthing the Wrong Words
From Josh Marshall’s Talking Points Memo, via Helpful Reader Eric: The week before last I wrote a post questioning the wisdom of something President Bush said when he addressed the Australian parliament. "We," said the president, "see a China that is stable and prosperous, a nation that respects the peace . . . [more]
From Josh Marshall’s Talking Points Memo, via Helpful Reader Eric: The week before last I wrote a post questioning the wisdom of something President Bush said when he addressed the Australian parliament. "We," said the president, "see a China that is stable and prosperous, a nation that respects the peace . . . [more]
October 30, 2003
#369 - The Quality of Lying Just Isn't What It Used to Be
From Tuesday's New York Times, "Bush Steps Away From Victory Banner": The triumphal "Mission Accomplished" banner was the pride of the White House advance team, the image makers who set the stage for the president's close-ups. On May 1, on a golden Pacific evening aboard the carrier Abraham Lincoln, they . . . [more]
From Tuesday's New York Times, "Bush Steps Away From Victory Banner": The triumphal "Mission Accomplished" banner was the pride of the White House advance team, the image makers who set the stage for the president's close-ups. On May 1, on a golden Pacific evening aboard the carrier Abraham Lincoln, they . . . [more]
October 24, 2003
#375 - Sadly, Some of Those Media Filters He Complains about Actually Work in His Favor
From an article by Seth Porges in Editor and Publisher, Press Underreports Wounded in Iraq: When newspapers reported this week on poor medical and living conditions for Americans injured in Iraq, it might have come as a shock for some readers. For months, the press has barely mentioned non-fatal casualties . . . [more]
From an article by Seth Porges in Editor and Publisher, Press Underreports Wounded in Iraq: When newspapers reported this week on poor medical and living conditions for Americans injured in Iraq, it might have come as a shock for some readers. For months, the press has barely mentioned non-fatal casualties . . . [more]
October 15, 2003
#384 - More Politically-Motivated Deceit from Iraq
The Bush PR machine runs amok, via Business Wire. Newspapers, many of them in crucial swing states, recently received identical letters to the editor purportedly submitted by soldiers serving in Iraq. These letters contain exactly the same message employed by the Bush administration in their new PR campaign on Iraq. . . . [more]
The Bush PR machine runs amok, via Business Wire. Newspapers, many of them in crucial swing states, recently received identical letters to the editor purportedly submitted by soldiers serving in Iraq. These letters contain exactly the same message employed by the Bush administration in their new PR campaign on Iraq. . . . [more]
October 12, 2003
#387 - Donald Rumsfeld, Ambassador of Love
From the Guardian (UK), "Bush launches PR salvo on Iraq": The [Bush] administration is taking the 'good news in Iraq' message out into smalltown America. A series of speeches and interviews for Bush and top aides has been planned for this week with local newspapers and small television stations. From . . . [more]
From the Guardian (UK), "Bush launches PR salvo on Iraq": The [Bush] administration is taking the 'good news in Iraq' message out into smalltown America. A series of speeches and interviews for Bush and top aides has been planned for this week with local newspapers and small television stations. From . . . [more]
October 04, 2003
#395 - His Administration Created a Hidden Task Force, and Then Ignored Their Findings
From the New York Times, "Report Offered Bleak Outlook About Iraq Oil": The Bush administration's optimistic statements earlier this year that Iraq's oil wealth, not American taxpayers, would cover most of the cost of rebuilding Iraq were at odds with a bleaker assessment of a government task force secretly established . . . [more]
From the New York Times, "Report Offered Bleak Outlook About Iraq Oil": The Bush administration's optimistic statements earlier this year that Iraq's oil wealth, not American taxpayers, would cover most of the cost of rebuilding Iraq were at odds with a bleaker assessment of a government task force secretly established . . . [more]
October 03, 2003
#396 - He Won't Admit Mistakes
Worse, with unemployment, poverty and the percentage of Americans without health insurance rising, he makes taxpayers foot the bill for his folly: The Bush administration is seeking more than $600 million from Congress to continue the hunt for conclusive evidence that Saddam Hussein's government had an illegal weapons program, officials . . . [more]
Worse, with unemployment, poverty and the percentage of Americans without health insurance rising, he makes taxpayers foot the bill for his folly: The Bush administration is seeking more than $600 million from Congress to continue the hunt for conclusive evidence that Saddam Hussein's government had an illegal weapons program, officials . . . [more]
September 20, 2003
#409 - Campaigning Is Job 1
From today’s AP wire, "Bush is often in states that could decide '04": If you live in Pennsylvania or Florida, your chances of catching a glimpse of President Bush are pretty good. Missouri, Ohio or Michigan, too. He has been to each more than 10 times as president, and he's . . . [more]
From today’s AP wire, "Bush is often in states that could decide '04": If you live in Pennsylvania or Florida, your chances of catching a glimpse of President Bush are pretty good. Missouri, Ohio or Michigan, too. He has been to each more than 10 times as president, and he's . . . [more]
September 18, 2003
#411 - More Bad Information, Courtesy the Bush Administration
From today's Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Bush: No Iraq link to 9/11 found": President Bush, having repeatedly linked Saddam Hussein to the terrorist organization behind the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, said yesterday there is no evidence that the deposed Iraqi leader had a hand in those attacks, in contrast to the belief . . . [more]
From today's Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Bush: No Iraq link to 9/11 found": President Bush, having repeatedly linked Saddam Hussein to the terrorist organization behind the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, said yesterday there is no evidence that the deposed Iraqi leader had a hand in those attacks, in contrast to the belief . . . [more]
September 11, 2003
#418 - He's Building an Unworthy Memorial
We’re going to go out on a limb here and guess that when Bush delivers his speech on the second anniversary of 9/11, he’ll once again point to Iraq as a victory in the war on terror. We won’t belabor the notion that what’s happening in Iraq right now is . . . [more]
We’re going to go out on a limb here and guess that when Bush delivers his speech on the second anniversary of 9/11, he’ll once again point to Iraq as a victory in the war on terror. We won’t belabor the notion that what’s happening in Iraq right now is . . . [more]
September 10, 2003
#419 - Six Reasons from Bill Buckley, but We'll Just Count Them as One Because of the Sarcasm
From yesterday’s editorial on Yahoo! News by William F. Buckley, "Bush Is Evil": In a private forum the question arose, Why do they hate Bush so? And ... what will they do with that hatred? How far can they carry it? How will it affect the next presidential election? The . . . [more]
From yesterday’s editorial on Yahoo! News by William F. Buckley, "Bush Is Evil": In a private forum the question arose, Why do they hate Bush so? And ... what will they do with that hatred? How far can they carry it? How will it affect the next presidential election? The . . . [more]
September 06, 2003
#423 - The Arrogance and Outright Lies
From "Rumsfeld Hails 'Wonderful Start' to New Iraq", via Reuters Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld lauded the "wonderful start" to rebuilding Iraq on Saturday even as guerrillas attacked his troops and hundreds of protesters marched to demand jobs. We're not sure exactly what Rumsfeld's definition of "wonderful" is, but we're pretty . . . [more]
From "Rumsfeld Hails 'Wonderful Start' to New Iraq", via Reuters Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld lauded the "wonderful start" to rebuilding Iraq on Saturday even as guerrillas attacked his troops and hundreds of protesters marched to demand jobs. We're not sure exactly what Rumsfeld's definition of "wonderful" is, but we're pretty . . . [more]
August 26, 2003
#434 - He's Turned Compassionate Conservatism Into "Calculated Conservatism"
Another broken campaign promise, via the New York Times: WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 — President Bush is running for re-election as a "compassionate conservative" who has sought to bring a new Republican approach to poverty and other social ills. But supporters, some administration officials among them, acknowledge that Mr. Bush's "compassionate . . . [more]
Another broken campaign promise, via the New York Times: WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 — President Bush is running for re-election as a "compassionate conservative" who has sought to bring a new Republican approach to poverty and other social ills. But supporters, some administration officials among them, acknowledge that Mr. Bush's "compassionate . . . [more]
August 14, 2003
#446 - We're Still Not Sure What Planet He Lives On
President's Radio Address August 9, 2003 THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Friday of this week was the 100th day since the end of major combat operations in Iraq. For America and our coalition partners, these have been 100 days of steady progress and decisive action against the last hold-outs of the . . . [more]
President's Radio Address August 9, 2003 THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Friday of this week was the 100th day since the end of major combat operations in Iraq. For America and our coalition partners, these have been 100 days of steady progress and decisive action against the last hold-outs of the . . . [more]
August 11, 2003
#449 - That Was Then, This Is Now
From The Washington Post, October 22, 1999, "Bush: Marijuana Laws Up to States": Campaigning in Seattle on Saturday, Bush answered questions about medical marijuana laws by saying, "I believe each state can choose that decision as they so choose." From today’s Kansas City Star, "Bush Lawyer Blasts State Marijuana Laws": . . . [more]
From The Washington Post, October 22, 1999, "Bush: Marijuana Laws Up to States": Campaigning in Seattle on Saturday, Bush answered questions about medical marijuana laws by saying, "I believe each state can choose that decision as they so choose." From today’s Kansas City Star, "Bush Lawyer Blasts State Marijuana Laws": . . . [more]
July 26, 2003
#464 - Total Untrustworthiness
Regardless of whether the Bush administration made the right decision in releasing photos of what it says are the dead bodies of Uday and Qusay Hussein, the fact remains that Americans can be no more sure of the veracity of these claims than the Iraqis and other Arabs they were . . . [more]
Regardless of whether the Bush administration made the right decision in releasing photos of what it says are the dead bodies of Uday and Qusay Hussein, the fact remains that Americans can be no more sure of the veracity of these claims than the Iraqis and other Arabs they were . . . [more]
July 18, 2003
#472 – He Jeopardizes Our Health for Political Gain
Via the New York Times: Critics Say E.P.A. Won’t Analyze Clean Air Proposals Conflicting With President’s Policies In the last several months, the Environmental Protection Agency has delayed or refused to do analysis on proposals that conflict with the president's air pollution agenda, say members of Congress, their aides, environmental . . . [more]
Via the New York Times: Critics Say E.P.A. Won’t Analyze Clean Air Proposals Conflicting With President’s Policies In the last several months, the Environmental Protection Agency has delayed or refused to do analysis on proposals that conflict with the president's air pollution agenda, say members of Congress, their aides, environmental . . . [more]
July 15, 2003
#475 - He Ignores the Lessons of History, Part II
Everyone knows that the cover-up is always worse than the crime. So why does the White House keep changing its story on Saddam Hussein’s phantom uranium cake? First the White House admitted the statement was wrong. Then it blamed the CIA. Now it says that the uranium claim was technically . . . [more]
Everyone knows that the cover-up is always worse than the crime. So why does the White House keep changing its story on Saddam Hussein’s phantom uranium cake? First the White House admitted the statement was wrong. Then it blamed the CIA. Now it says that the uranium claim was technically . . . [more]
July 12, 2003
#478 – The Buck Doesn’t Stop Here
Bush and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice have blamed the CIA and its director George Tenet for the inaccurate information that Bush presented in his 2003 State of the Union address regarding Iraq’s alleged attempts to buy uranium in Africa as part of Saddam Hussein’s nuclear weapons program. Within hours, . . . [more]
Bush and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice have blamed the CIA and its director George Tenet for the inaccurate information that Bush presented in his 2003 State of the Union address regarding Iraq’s alleged attempts to buy uranium in Africa as part of Saddam Hussein’s nuclear weapons program. Within hours, . . . [more]
July 06, 2003
#484 - He Backs up His Politics with Bad Science
Courtesy helpful reader Rob, from an article in the current Washington Monthly by Nicholas Thompson, "Science Friction: The growing - and dangerous - divide between scientists and the GOP": Any administration will be tempted to trumpet the conclusions of science when they justify actions that are advantageous politically, and to . . . [more]
Courtesy helpful reader Rob, from an article in the current Washington Monthly by Nicholas Thompson, "Science Friction: The growing - and dangerous - divide between scientists and the GOP": Any administration will be tempted to trumpet the conclusions of science when they justify actions that are advantageous politically, and to . . . [more]
July 05, 2003
#485 - Shifting the Burden Proof for WMD
From Ari Fleischer's press briefing on July 2nd: I think the burden falls on those who think he didn't have them to explain when he destroyed them, and why, after he destroyed them, he didn't tell anybody or show anybody. He, instead, decides to suffer the consequences. There ya go, . . . [more]
From Ari Fleischer's press briefing on July 2nd: I think the burden falls on those who think he didn't have them to explain when he destroyed them, and why, after he destroyed them, he didn't tell anybody or show anybody. He, instead, decides to suffer the consequences. There ya go, . . . [more]
July 02, 2003
#488 - We Never Know When His Administration is Lying
From yesterday’s New York Times: CIA Said to Find Nuclear Advances by North Koreans American intelligence officials now believe that North Korea is developing the technology to make nuclear warheads small enough to fit atop the country’s growing arsenal of missiles, potentially putting Tokyo and American troops based in Japan . . . [more]
From yesterday’s New York Times: CIA Said to Find Nuclear Advances by North Koreans American intelligence officials now believe that North Korea is developing the technology to make nuclear warheads small enough to fit atop the country’s growing arsenal of missiles, potentially putting Tokyo and American troops based in Japan . . . [more]
June 30, 2003
#490 - It's the Only Way to Oust Dick Cheney
Who's actually running the show? See for yourself in this timeline of Bush's activities on September 11, 2001. . . . [more]
Who's actually running the show? See for yourself in this timeline of Bush's activities on September 11, 2001. . . . [more]
June 28, 2003
#492 - He STILL Can't Keep His Stories Straight
This week the New York Times reported that Iraqi scientist Dr. Mahdi Obeidi has admitted burying plans and equipment to restart Iraq’s nuclear weapons program in his garden in 1991. Saddam Hussein ordered him to hide the stash so he could restart the program once the U.N. sanctions were lifted. . . . [more]
This week the New York Times reported that Iraqi scientist Dr. Mahdi Obeidi has admitted burying plans and equipment to restart Iraq’s nuclear weapons program in his garden in 1991. Saddam Hussein ordered him to hide the stash so he could restart the program once the U.N. sanctions were lifted. . . . [more]
June 26, 2003
#494 - His Smallpox Vaccination Program: Miserable Failure, or Manipulative Hype?
Back in December, Dubya made a big hairy deal about smallpox vaccinations for military personnel and emergency response teams among medical professionals: We believe that regimes hostile to the United States may possess this dangerous virus. To protect our citizens in the aftermath of September the 11th, we are evaluating . . . [more]
Back in December, Dubya made a big hairy deal about smallpox vaccinations for military personnel and emergency response teams among medical professionals: We believe that regimes hostile to the United States may possess this dangerous virus. To protect our citizens in the aftermath of September the 11th, we are evaluating . . . [more]
June 22, 2003
#498 - He Can't Keep His Stories Straight
Uh, yeah, sure..."looted". . . . [more]
Uh, yeah, sure..."looted". . . . [more]
June 17, 2003
#503 - Hollow Praise for Volunteers
From this year's State of the Union address: Americans are doing the work of compassion every day: visiting prisoners, providing shelter for battered women, bringing companionship to lonely seniors. These good works deserve our praise, they deserve our personal support and, when appropriate, they deserve the assistance of the federal . . . [more]
From this year's State of the Union address: Americans are doing the work of compassion every day: visiting prisoners, providing shelter for battered women, bringing companionship to lonely seniors. These good works deserve our praise, they deserve our personal support and, when appropriate, they deserve the assistance of the federal . . . [more]
June 12, 2003
#508 - Lights, Camera, Bullshit!
Sure, it's old news, but for the record: this is not okay. . . . [more]
Sure, it's old news, but for the record: this is not okay. . . . [more]
June 09, 2003
#511 - Secrecy and the Illusion of Safety
From yesterday's San Franciso Chronicle (via Slashdot), "No-fly list ensnares innocent travelers": As the war on terrorism spurs U.S. intelligence agencies to constantly expand aviation watch lists, many airline-reservation systems rely on name-searching software based on a 120-year-old indexing system that mistakes the similar spelling or sound of innocent passengers' . . . [more]
From yesterday's San Franciso Chronicle (via Slashdot), "No-fly list ensnares innocent travelers": As the war on terrorism spurs U.S. intelligence agencies to constantly expand aviation watch lists, many airline-reservation systems rely on name-searching software based on a 120-year-old indexing system that mistakes the similar spelling or sound of innocent passengers' . . . [more]
June 01, 2003
#519 - Can't Find WMD? Just Lower the Standard!
From yesterday's Washington Post, "Bush Remarks Confirm Shift in Justifying War": "We found the weapons of mass destruction," Bush asserted in the Thursday interview, released Friday. "We found biological laboratories. You remember when Colin Powell stood up in front of the world, and he said, Iraq has got laboratories, mobile . . . [more]
From yesterday's Washington Post, "Bush Remarks Confirm Shift in Justifying War": "We found the weapons of mass destruction," Bush asserted in the Thursday interview, released Friday. "We found biological laboratories. You remember when Colin Powell stood up in front of the world, and he said, Iraq has got laboratories, mobile . . . [more]
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