Another Day, Another Lie

With all the controversy about John Kerry's Vietnam medals and ribbons, who'd have thought that loyal George W. Bush aide Karen Hughes would be the one to catch the President fibbing about a supposed varsity letter? In her new book, "Ten Minutes From Normal," Hughes recounts a conversation with Bush after Russian President Vladimir Putin grilled him on his Yale days.

"President Putin knew you had played rugby, but he didn't have the context. I mean, you just played for one semester in college, right?" Hughes said.

Bush corrected: "I played for a year, and it was the varsity."

Yesterday, a Yale spokeswoman confirmed that there's no such thing as varsity rugby at Yale - not when Bush was an undergrad in the 1960s and not today.
A possibly reliable source

Boy George's Past Resurfaces

"New research ... indicates that in late 1973 or early 1974, the United States Air Force, which supervises and whose jurisdiction supercedes the Air National Guard, attempted to discharge then-Lieutenant George W. Bush.

Effective September 15, 1973, four years into Bush’s six-year duty requirement, the Air Force placed Bush on inactive status. This document, in Bush’s military record, was dated January 30, 1974, suggesting that it was retroactive."

Read all about it. Is there anything to this, or is it just hot air & cold mud in an election year? Stay tuned. (blogged on 8/10)

Even I Have Standards

“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we,” Bush said. “They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.”

Nah, too easy.

Candor Can Be Refreshing

"US President George W. Bush today said there was no point in taxing the rich because they just dodged their tax bill anyway."

" 'Real rich people figure out how to dodge taxes,' he said during a campaign stop in suburban Washington."
Herald-Sun News, 8/10/04

This statement begs some questions:
- Is he justifying shifting tax burdens to lower and middle classes because the rich are smarter than Bush's government?
- Is he saying that we should just give up on trying to get the wealthy to pay their fair share?

And is he aware that "dodging taxes" is a crime? The IRS defines tax avoidance efforts, and considers them legal. However, the IRS also defines tax dodging and tax evasion efforts, and considers them to be illegal.

Amazing, Simply Amazing

Q: When does the press laugh at the President?
A: (1) When the President is in way over his head.
A: (2) When he's in so deep that he doesn't even know how deep he's in.

Q: Doesn't the President deserve more respect than this?
A: Most Presidents deserve better. However, respect is earned. So is disrespect.

What the heck does all this mean?