Republicans had absolutely no problems saying it about Clinton. Remember how “Clinton lied under oath” was all that we heard for the better part of two years (and the past 7)? So please – we can stop dancing around these terms. They are powerful terms, and should not be used lightly. But they are accurate terms. Deadly accurate.
McNulty didn’t “mislead” the Senate – he knew EXACTLY what he was saying, and exactly what he was hiding. And if he didn’t lie, then Goodling lied today. And I am pretty sure that lying should destroy her immunity deal.
Gonzales didn’t give “inaccurate” statements to Congress. The man spent the better part of a week being coached on his answers. And yet he still knowingly gave answers that he knew were untrue. He “didn’t recall” being in a meeting that was only the most important meeting about the US Attorney purge? These are only the top 93 US prosecutors who report to Gonzales. He “didn’t know”? Bullshit!! He LIED. To Congress. Not once but twice (at least).
Five million emails were “misplaced”? All by one Karl Rove – the same man who is knee deep in the US Attorney purge, the caging scheme run by his protégée Tim Griffin (who was pushed through as US Attorney), the outing of a CIA agent and her front company, the firing of David Iglesias, author of election fraud, THE math, connected to Jack Abramoff and lord knows what other scummy criminal acts. No – they were deleted. On purpose. While there was a document preservation order from Patrick Fitzgerald. That is lying about obstructing justice. Not “deleting”. Not “misplacing”.
Condi Rice didn’t make “misleading statements” to Congress about Iran’s overtures back in 2003. She knew damn well what was going on. And knowing that something is true yet willfully saying the opposite in order to convince those who you are talking to is a big fat lie. No other way to put it.
Mushroom clouds? Lies. Iraq linked to 9/11 or al Qaeda? Lies. Making progress? Lies. “Nobody would have thought….? Lies Scooter Libby, Karl Rove, Alberto Gonzales, Dick Cheney, George W. Bush. All Liars. Mark Foley. Dennis Hastert. Bill Frist. Tom DeLay. Jack Abramoff. John McCain. Rudy Giuliani. Liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar and liar. Richard Perle, Douglas Feith, Paul Wolfowitz, Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Bremer, George “Slam Dunk” Tenet. Every single one of them, liars.
It’s time to stop pussy footing around and step up to the plate. There were no “misstatements” or “misunderstandings” or even “miscommunications”, “errors”, “misplacements” “misleading” or anything other than lies.
Period. Start calling it, and them, what they are.
We should call a spade a spade.
Whenwego, I hope you don’t mind my asking, but are you from Westwego?
Words, words… Thinking about how to persuade people who aren’t already ready to riot…
Weak:
“So and so lied to Congress.” Congress is widely regarded as lying scum, so who cares?
Strong:
“…lied to the Congress of the United States” This identifies “Congress” with the authority and majesty of the nation itself. Likewise for “lied to the American people”, or “lied to Congress and the American people”.
Strong:
“…lied under oath” Good (when appropriate), because it evokes values that are especially strong among conservatives.
Weak:
_”So and so lied” This lacks gravity: Who among us has never told an untruth?, etc.
Strong in the wrong way:
_”So and so is a liar” This too quickly moves beyond the fact in question to a sweeping assertion about character. (Accurate, maybe, but harder to sell.)
says that anyone working for/with the president by proxy has the right/responsibility to lie for America’s sake…
This will be a long, stupid exercise in futility and insanity to eventually get this before the supreme court. IMHO, none of them will ever be held accountable, and I hate to say it, but they MAY JUST WIN…
In a week where we’ve seen an amazing lack of backbone among congressmen, where are the perjury charges?
It is absolutely clear that Gonzales is guilty of (at least) perjury and (very likely) witness tampering. Is any action being taken? What is the point of a vote of “no confidence” when the crimes are so clear?
They’ll get around to those charges when they find their backbone, but it is really, really lost and it will probably take a really, really long time to find it.
I also would like to know if there has been any effort to censure (at least) Domenici and Wilson who tried to influence David Igelias’ handling of a case for political reasons. Oh, wait. I’m fantasizing.
There’s a couple of pieces floating around this last week on Cheney’s mental status, not just BooMan’s straight jacket reference, where the premise is that congenital heart disease can certainly be a factor in personality changes; ie, inability to analyze and hold onto process, anger and paranoia. Seriously, count the number of former associates who point out Cheney is not the person they have known…instead he seems incapable of new thought, just on a merry go round of old unfinished talking points that he doesn’t bother to correct or update.
My mom died of congenital heart disease and when I noted to the doctor how she had turned from a bright, sweet little old lady into this cross, aggitated, well, raging bitch actually…he replied that the disease robbed the brain of oxygen and it was like someone was holding your head under water (sort of like waterboarding, mmmm) and you had to fight to get to the surface so sufferers of the disease often became very combative and unreasonable.
And yes, in the last few months she lied her little fanny off.
My mom died of cancer and heart disease — while I don’t think that explained her entire personality of being a racist homophobe, it does give me a small bit of comfort…
Lies — Thompson Twins
Liar — Argent
Lyin’ Eyes — The Eagles
Little Lies — Fleetwood Mac
In the Movies playlist:
Liar, Liar
True Lies
Sex, Lies and Videotape (with the sex edited out)