“What truly is at question here is not whether Bush lied but whether you can prove it. . .”

This statement seems to imply you believe Bush lied but no-one can prove it. Come on, Rich, why waste everyone’s time with this if we all agree Bush lied?

You know the proof. You just refuse to believe it.

Your idea that we should all express how tired we are of having a government that lies on a daily basis is perfectly legitimate. But to predicate that idea on the back of the Bush Lied Conspiracy is completely illegitimate. I asked both you and Becky to give me solid examples of the Bush Administration lying in the lead up to the war and neither of you were able to substantiate your claim.

You both relied on the fact that certain information given by the Whitehouse turned out to be inaccurate as an example of lying. It is not. The information while well delivered and even possibly over emphasized was information gleamed from actual beliefs and raw intelligence from our intelligence agencies. You still have yet to produce the smoking gun documents or testimony that says that Bush told his advisors to fabricate evidence.

While he certainly made mistakes until that evidence is presented, we must assume as good, right and just people that Bush was being honest in his assessments. After all, that it what it was, an assessment of an overwhelming pile of information, no matter how circumstantial. Did he have a motive for trying to make a best case against Iraq? Sure, he believed as the Clinton Administration did that Iraq had WMDs and was supplying/funding terrorists.

You yourself are making the exact same mistake by trying to build a case based on circumstantial / anecdotal information and conjectured opinion. So what is your motivation?

What truly is at question here is not whether Bush lied but whether you can prove it before bearing false witness against him. That has always been what this is about.

If we are purely talking about whether politicians lie I will agree with you that we need to begin to say no to even exaggerations of the truth. So why don’t we start with our current president and look back at the many things said during his campaign. Heck we can do the same to McCain if you like. You write it up at OneUtah.org and you’re sure to see me there.

A lot of politicians might ask, what’s wrong with that? We should answer, we’re tired of having a government that lies to us on a daily basis. Years ago, we used to make fun of the Soviet Union for pushing lies and propaganda, now it’s not so funny when it’s coming from Washington.

I haven’t read the whole essay yet, but got to the part where you reference me and just want to set the record straight: That wasn’t the BEST example I could find, it was the FIRST one I found.

I am pleased that you acknowledge Bush had a motive of pushing his “agenda” in his misinformation campaign, to wit: “It is only evidence of a skillful politician who knows how to make his points for the greatest effect. If this way of thinking were true, anytime any president of either political party used the Bully Pulpit when pushing an agenda it would be considered a lie.”

I promise to finish reading this when I return a little later. I thought it was cute that you referred to me as a “True Believer of the Bush Lied Conspiracy”.

What information was true?