I do not breathe your politics
"Comment is free but facts are sacred." (C.P. Scott)
Friday, April 21, 2006
Not the same as 'totally untrue'
There's a great Daily Show video clip over at Crooks And Liars featuring Rumsfeld's onerous repeated use of the phrase "Henny Penny". Jon Stewart identifies the repetition as portentious of an attack on Iran, but that's not what caught my eye.
Earlier in the clip is some footage of Bush saying: "I read the articles in the newspapers this weekend. It was just wild speculation, by the way. What you're reading is wild speculation, which is -- it's kind of a -- happens quite frequently here in the nation's capital."This phrase comes up more and more often from PR people and from people in power, and in this particular situation it seems to be the official wording. This is intended to shut down the debate from a position of authority and assumed knowledge: they say it is wild speculation, and they should know as they have all the facts. However, viewed through the prism of increased potential for impeachment, the president really means: I appreciate the seriousness of the allegations and I know I have to say something to discredit them, but I can't say it's 'totally untrue', or even just plain old 'false', because I smirk when I'm lying. posted by Michael at 4/21/2006 02:03:00 AM |