Comment: Audacity and Mendacity

The Progressive
March 2006
Mathew Rothschild

The audacity and mendacity of the Bush Administration mount by the day. This Presidency has become an increasing menace to our constitutional system.

Days after the Katrina disaster, and minutes after he woke up to it, Bush promised to cooperate fully with any Congressional inquiry. “Congress is preparing an investigation, and I will work with members of both parties to make sure this effort is thorough,” he said.

But that was then. Now Bush is buttoning the lips of the entire Administration.

Even Senator Joe Lieberman, who usually is so eager to sit on the President’s lap, has registered his displeasure. “Almost every question our staff has asked federal agency witnesses regarding conversations with or involvement of the White House has been met with a response that they could not answer on direction of the White House,” said Lieberman, who is the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

FEMA lawyers advised Heckofajob Brownie “not to say whether he spoke to the President or the Vice President, or comment on the substance of conversations he had with any other high-level White House officials,” Lieberman said.

No, that would require accountability, and that’s the last thing this White House wants. It views itself as accountable to no one.

That is the trademark of this Administration: “inconsistent with the law.” Or, more accurately, scornful of the law.

FULL STORY