Molly Ivins: "Dammit, when will they quit LYING?"

[Bluebear]

AUSTIN, Texas -- As one on the liberal side of the chorus of moaners about the decline of civility in politics, I feel a certain responsibility when earnest, spaniel-eyed conservatives like David Brooks peer at us hopefully and say, "Well, yes, there was certainly a lot of misinformation about WMD before the war in Iraq, but ... you don't think they, he, actually lied, do you?"

Draw I deep the breath of patience. I factor in the long and awful history of politics and truth, add the immutable nature of pols -- fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly -- and compare Tonkin Gulf, Watergate and Iran-Contra with the piddly Curveball and Niger uranium. I prepare to respond like a reasonable person -- "Of course not actually lie, per se, in the strict sense" -- and then I listen to another speech about Iraq by either the president or the vice president and find myself screaming, "Dammit, when will they quit lying?"

I realize this is not helping the cause of civility. On the other hand, sanity has its claims, as well....


One night in mid-September, George W. stood in New Orleans' Jackson Square, with the floodlit facade of St. Louis Cathedral in the background. He promised help for housing, education and job training: "The work that has begun in the Gulf Coast region will be one of the largest reconstruction efforts the world has ever seen. ... And tonight I also offer this pledge of the American people: Throughout the area hit by the hurricane, we will do what it takes, we will stay as long as it takes to help citizens rebuild their communities and their lives."

Hey, you know, another mission accomplished.

http://www.creators.com/opinion_show.cfm?columnsName=miv

[cry baby]

1. I find myself screaming at my tv all the time.

I love Molly Ivins!

[Javaman]

19. I don't watch it anymore, my bloodpressure can't take it. n/t

[linazelle]

2. Answer for Molly: They won't. Besides, when called on it, they "misspeak"

they don't lie like the lower classes that they rule.

[Bluebear]

3. That should be "THEY won't"

;) I kid, I kid.

[linazelle]

6. Thanks. I just started a thread on misspelling and look at me. nt

[Bluebear]

8. That's why I mentioned it lol!

[dusmcj]

4. when we spank them every time they open their mouths.

THIS is the WWII of our time, our great crusade. We fight against the mortal danger of cultural vandals and also-rans, who, having failed to make their ideas prevail on their (completely absent) merit, have concluded that they will do so by subterfuge. They are undermining what remains of the work product of 7000 years of human civilization step by step, it's time to call in pest control.

[shenmue]

5. They will quit lying...

in 2008.

[anitar1]

7. When this admistration promises something, You can be sure

that they are lying. They have no intention to follow through with help for New Orleans.These people are total lyers.Case in point. Same goes for every domestic program they promise. As for the new "prescription" program for seniors. We have already been warned that the program may not be "ready" to accommodate us. So where do we go? No fucking where! May they all rot in hell with a painful disease.

[Supersedeas]

21. New Orleans et al are waiting for the Bush creepy house promises to appear

[Swamp Rat]

9. Here ya go Bluebear:

[Bluebear]

10. You nailed it again, Swampy.

He could give a shit, did you read the White House is hosting like 29 Christmas parties? All decked out, nothing but the best for his highness. And the 9th ward is in shambles.

[Swamp Rat]

11. Did you see this one?:

I have been working very hard around the clock for the past 72 hours making pix because I may be offline for a long time starting Monday evening. I am going back to live in the ruins... hopefully I will have hot water by x-mas... maybe it is true that Nagin is providing free Wi-Fi for everyone in New Orleans and I will be online again in a few days. Then again, maybe not, so here is another:

[Olney Blue]

16. Swamp Rat, please take care.

I hope you will be OK, and that we see you back here SOON.

:yourock:

[donheld]

12. Only when we hold them accountable.

If we keep letting them get away with it they will only get worse.

[rman]

13. When will the abusive husband stop beating the wife?

On his own accord, not ever.

Saying please isn't going to work, demands aren't going to work, threats aren't going to work.

If we want them to stop lying we will have to make them stop.

[Warren DeMontague]

14. If they didn't lie

they wouldn't say ANYTHING.

[B Calm]

15. Republicans always have lied. Look at how they built a legacy

for Ronald Reagan.

[KitchenWitch]

17. Short answer? When they are dead.

[RaleighNCDUer]

18. I'm more worried about when the DO quit lying.

Feeling safe and unassailable, they say "We are an empire"; "I think things would be easier in a dictatorship"; "I don't know where Osama is, and don't much care".

And the truths to come -- "Democracy just doesn't work - too many people mixed up in it to get things done." "There's no such thing as 'the economy'; there's just the few with money and the many without." "Marx said that religion was the opiate of the masses, so we need to keep shoveling the drugs."

[PurpleChez]

20. I love you, Molly Ivins!