Meanwhile, Will Saletan has some great advice for the hacks who have spent the last few months doing nothing but working on the ‘Bush is a liar’ meme. No need to point names- you guys kow who you are (and this will apply to the right wing should the Democrats ever get their act together and get in power of something other than the NAACP and the NEA). Saletan explains it is time for you to grow up:
I’m not excusing the games Republicans play. But by projecting all evil onto Republicans, Democrats spread the same political disease: the notion that you don’t have to be wary of lying or cheating unless the other side is doing it. Lying and cheating don’t belong to Republicans or Democrats. We’re all susceptible, and we’re all guilty.
Sure, some people are more guilty than others. But if that’s your obsession, I commend to you the words of my colleague, Jack Shafer: If you’re interested in which wing lies more, you’re probably not very interested in the truth.
The natural response- “But Bush really is the biggest liar ever- we can’t let the Re’thug’licans bully us into not playing hardball.” The Shafer piece is a must read, btw.
RW
Surely you expect nothing more than a knee-jerk response (attack Saletan & his premise)?
I think I’d faint if I saw *one* legitimate blogger (legitimate being defined as someone who has over 100 posts on their blog) on the left whose reaction wasn’t of the usual attack the messenger sort.
Please let me know if I need the smelling salts, but I don’t think I need to rush to the pharmacy & get any.
Moe Lane
Come now, Ricky. Michael Totten’s said similar things as Saletan in the past, and I’d imagine that so has Dean Esmay (alas, webblockers mean that I can’t check).
RW
I’d forgotten about Totten (jeez, the guy’s on my blogroll) & didn’t consider Esmay a lefty.
Nonetheless, I stand correctedamundo!
Kimmitt
A variant on the natural response is the correct one. The Bush Administration’s mendacity reaches Nixonian levels, and he’s only had one incomplete term. Since the President’s image is one of a straight-talking truth-teller, it behooves those of us who view the truth as something other than a political football to bring this to the attention our fellow citizens.
David Perron
I guess there’s nothing to say after that except “QED”.
Moe Lane
“I guess there’s nothing to say after that except “QED”.”
Quantum Electro-Dynamics?
I mean, normally I’d expect that to mean /quod erat demonstrandum/, but Kimmitt’s statement can’t really be described as a ‘proof’ of anything except of the theory that Kimmitt has a notably negative opinion of the current administration. But the quantum thing doesn’t really fit, either.
It’s a puzzler.
Moe
David Perron
Moe, QED on the “it’s time to grow up” idea. And not QED of the Feynman variety.