Count the lies in Bush's news conference

[BurtWorm]

besides everything, including "and" and "the."

The sexiest lie is the banner lie, which though about nothing of great import, is at least a lie people can understand. Furthermore, it shows the great lengths the Bushists go to even for a lie about who had a banner made. And it reveals one of the most repulsive character flaws of this administration: it's inability to accept responsibility for error. I mean this shows a pathological inability.

One other lie that bothers me but that probably won't get picked up on is a lie about who is protected when the WH won't release a subpoenaed briefing to the 9/11 commission. Bush claimed "the writers" were protected, i.e., the CIA. When the heat comes up, the Bushists say, always blame the CIA. (Cute rhyme, eh?)

Your turn.

[BurtWorm]

1. How does Bush know the action to get rid of Saddam was widely supported?

"Remember, the action in Iraq to get rid of Saddam Hussein was widely supported by the Iraqi people. And the actions that were taken to improve their country are supported by the Iraqi people. And it's going to be very important for the Iraqi people to play an active role in fighting off the few who are trying to destroy the hopes of the many."


It may be true, but what's the basis for his saying this? Did they conduct a poll before the action?

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2. Is any of this true?

"the capacity to deliver electricity to the Iraqi people is back up to prewar levels, where nearly 2 million barrels of oil a day being produced for the Iraqi people."

There are thee parts to check: is the capacity to deliver electricity back up to prewar levels? Are 2 million barrels being produced? For the Iraqi people?

[w13rd0]

4. Careful parsing...

the CAPACITY to deliver electricity...NOT THE ABILITY to deliver, not the DESIRE to deliver, but the CAPACITY. What does this mean?

[BurtWorm]

5. My wonder exactly.

How do you measure capacity to deliver electricity?

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3. Bush said "the American people are smarter than alot of these politicians"

...yeah you jackass, the majority of them DIDN'T VOTE FOR YOU!

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6. "Over 1,500 schools we've refurbished."

"The mothers who send their children to the over 1,500 schools we've refurbished appreciate that."

Damn! Halliburton is fast! How did they get 1,500 schools refurbished since June?

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7. The Bush doctrine emended

"As a matter of fact, military action is the very last resort for us. And a reminder, when you mention Saddam Hussein, I just want to remind you that the Saddam Hussein military action took place after enumerable United Security Council resolutions were passed.

"Not one, two or three, but a lot.

"And so this nation is very reluctant to use military force. We try to enforce doctrines peacefully or through alliances or multi- national forums. And we will continue to do so."

[BurtWorm]

8. What part of this is NOT a lie?

QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. President.

You have said that you are eager to find out whether somebody in the White House leaked the identity of an undercover CIA agent. Many experts in such investigations say you could find out if there was a leaker in the White House within hours if you asked all staff members to sign affidavits denying involvement.

.QUESTION: Why not take that step?

BUSH: Well, the best person to do that so that the -- or the best group of people to do that so that you believe the answer is the professionals at the Justice Department. And they're moving forward with the investigation. It's a criminal investigation. It is an important investigation.

I'd like to know if somebody in my White House did leak sensitive information. As you know, I've been outspoken on leaks. And whether they happen in the White House or happen in the administration or happen on Capitol Hill, it is -- they can be very damaging.

So this investigation is ongoing and by professionals who do this for a living and I hope that -- I'd like to know.

[tridim]

9. About the banner

I'd really like to know how that conversation went down between the WH and the Navy.

"Mr. Rove, we've been waiting for days just a few miles from shore while the president prepares for his photo op landing. Our sailors want to see their families waiting on shore! If we're going to do this thing, let's make it quick so we can dock soon, okay? Oh, and by the way, could you please make us a banner that reads "Mission Accomplished"? Make it huge so we can put it up behind the president for his photo op. I think that would be just peachy!"

"Consider it done General."

Bullshit! The banner is all Rove, from design to deployment. The sock in the underoos was too. The Navy had no input whatsoever.

Boil it down, and it's fact that they're lying about the lie (which was also a lie).

[BurtWorm]

10. Bush says American people paying only $20 billion, all at once, for Iraq!

What was all that about $87 billion over several years?



QUESTION: Your package of reconstruction aid, sir, that the Congress, as you point out, is considering, that's an emergency package, meaning it's not budgeted for. Put another way, that means the American taxpayer and future generations of American taxpayers are saddled with that.

Why should they be saddled with that? I know you don't want the Iraqis to be saddled with large amounts of debt, but why should future generations of Americans have that?

BUSH: First of all, it's a one-time expenditure, as you know.

And secondly, because a peaceful and free Iraq is essential to the future security of America.

First step was to remove Saddam Hussein because he was a threat -- a gathering threat, as I think I put it.

And secondly is to make sure that, in the aftermath of removing Saddam Hussein, that we have a free and peaceful country in the midst of a very troubled region.

It's an historic opportunity. And I will continue to make that case to the American people. It's a chance to secure -- have a more secure future for our children. It's essential we get it right.

...

And I believe that a free and peaceful Iraq will help effect change in that neighborhood. And that's why I've asked the American people to foot the tab for $20 billion of reconstruction.

Others are stepping up as well: $13 billion out of the Madrid conference, which may be just only a beginning.

[BurtWorm]

11. Bush ties 9-11 and Iraq again!

"See, that's what this is all about. This is how do we achieve a peaceful tomorrow? How do we do our duty for our children and our grandchildren?

We must never forget the lessons of September the 11th. The terrorists will strike and they will kill innocent life, not only in front of a Red Cross headquarters, they will strike and kill in America, too. We are at war. I said right after September the 11th, this would be a different kind of war. Sometimes you'd see action and sometimes you wouldn't. But it's a different kind of war than what we're used to.

And Iraq is a front on the war on terror. And we will win this particular battle in the war on terror."

[BurtWorm]

12. Bush blames Muslims for all terror!

The two things that came out of there that I think will interest you: one was that -- the question was, "Why do Americans think Muslims are terrorists?" That was the universal question from the three Muslim leaders. And my answer was, "That's not what Americans think. Americans think terrorists are evil people who have hijacked a great religion."

[BurtWorm]

13. The way the American people are and are not

"It seemed like to me that we've got a challenge to make sure that people in countries like Indonesia understand the nature of the American people, that, you know, how we think is going to be an important part of good diplomacy in the long run, that we got to fight off the imagery of a society which condemns entire swathes of people because of the acts of a few, which is not the way we are."

[BurtWorm]

14. Who asked this sick question?

QUESTION: After more than a year of being accused by your critics of waging war for oil, is it frustrating to now hear some of those same critics demand that you essentially take that oil in the form of loans instead of grants for reconstruction?


A sick question deserves a sick answer:




BUSH: Well, that's exactly the point I made to the members of Congress who have come here to the White House to talk about loans or grants. I said, let's don't burden Iraq with loans, the only thing they'll be able to repay their loans with is the oil.

And hopefully we'll get a good solution out of the Congress on this issue. We're making progress. We're working hard with the members to make the case that it's very important for us not to saddle Iraq with a bunch of debt early in its -- in the emergence of a market-oriented economy, an economy that had been wrecked by Mr. Saddam Hussein. I mean, he just destroyed their economy and destroyed their infrastructure, destroyed their education system, destroyed their medical system, all to keep himself in power. He was the ultimate...

[BurtWorm]

15. " I'll say that the world is more peaceful and more free under my leadersh

ip."

[BurtWorm]

16. Bush, above politics

QUESTION: Mr. President, you talked about politics. For weeks if not months now, when questions have been posed to members of your team, those questions have been dismissed as politics and the time will come later to address those questions. You indeed have said that yourself.

How can the public differentiate between reality and politics when you and your campaign have raised over $80 million and you're saying that this season has not started?

BUSH: You're not invited to lunch.

(LAUGHTER)

We are arming -- raising money to wage a campaign and there'll be an appropriate time for me to engage politically, that is in the public forum.

Right now, I'm -- yes, no question. I'm going out to our friends and supporters and saying, "Would you mind contributing to the campaign for the year '04?" To me that's -- and that's a part of politics, no question about it.

And as you know, these are open forums.

You're able to come and listen to what I have to say.

To me, that's -- there's a difference between that and actually engaging potential opponents in a public discourse and a debate. And there will be ample time for that. There'll be ample time to differentiate views and to defend records in the face of, you know, political criticism.

And I know that the campaign has started for some, in terms of the public debate, from a political perspective. It just hadn't for me yet.

[BurtWorm]

17. Get ready to hear the words "gathering danger" over and over and over

Sir, David Kay's interim report cited substantial evidence of a secretive weapons program, but the absence of any substantial stores of chemical or biological weapons there have caused some people even who supported the war to feel somehow betrayed.

Can you explain to those Americans, sir, whether you are surprised those weapons haven't turned up, why they haven't turned up and whether you feel that your administration's credibility has been affected in any way by that?

BUSH: David Kay's report said that Saddam Hussein was in material breach of 1441, which would have been casus belli. In other words, he had a weapons program, he's disguised the weapons program, he had ambitions. And I felt the report was a very interesting first report, because he's still looking to find the truth.

The American people know that Saddam Hussein was a gathering danger, as I said. And he was a gathering danger, and the world is safer as a result for us removing him from power. Us being more than the United States, Britain and other countries who are willing to participate -- Poland, Australia -- all willing to join up to remove this danger.

And the intelligence that said he had a weapon system was intelligence that had been used by a multinational agency, the U.N., to pass resolutions.

It's been used by my predecessor to conduct bombing raids. It was intelligence gathered from a variety of sources that clearly said Saddam Hussein was a threat. And given the attacks of September the 11th, it was -- you know, we needed to enforce U.N. resolution for the security of the world, and we did. We took action based upon good, solid intelligence. It was the right thing to do to make America more secure and the world more peaceful.

And David Kay continues to ferret out the truth. Saddam Hussein is a man who hid programs and weapons for years. He was a master at hiding things. And so, David Kay will continue his search.