Thursday, March 25, 2004
Into the Washington Machine, Out of the Spin Dryer...
Hello, and welcome. As the 2004 Presidential race kicks into gear, I can't help but be appalled by the lame attempts of the Republican Party to try to spin everything their way. Hence this blog, in which I'm going to deconstruct their efforts and reveal them for the smoke and mirrors (read: bullshit) that they always are.
In the days that follow, I'll be adding more here live as it happens, but in the past week, we've seen a flurry of failed Republican spin over Richard A. Clarke's comments on 60 Minutes. First, he was portrayed as a vendor of sour grapes, bitter over having been demoted in the Bush II administration. When this was disproven, he was claimed to be out of the loop. Only trouble was, he was quite in the loop.
The last desperate measure, about four news cycles in, was to claim that Clarke's resignation letter praised George Bush's handling of terrorism. Unfortunately, as the purveyors of this story failed to note before disseminating it, this is actually an argument in Clarke's favor. What would make someone who is apparently loyal to an administration suddenly roll over and point out their failings in a very public forum? Generally speaking, it tends to be the truth that inspires such actions. And it does not bode well for this administration that so many conservative loyalists of late have started speaking out in public.
No matter how hard the Republicans try to spin it their way, they're just hanging tinsel on the Titanic. It may look all glittery and pretty, but the whole shebang -- economy, environment, war on terrorism, war in Iraq, credibility -- is sinking beneath the waves. Ironically, what this administration thought to be the champagne bottle that christened their venture is actually the ice berg, and it's called 9/11.
Peace out.
Spin: (v) to interpret another's words or actions in a way favorable to your side; to cover your ass by trying to divert attention from your own flaws; (n) the interpretation put upon an opponent's words or actions in order to cover your own ass.
In the days that follow, I'll be adding more here live as it happens, but in the past week, we've seen a flurry of failed Republican spin over Richard A. Clarke's comments on 60 Minutes. First, he was portrayed as a vendor of sour grapes, bitter over having been demoted in the Bush II administration. When this was disproven, he was claimed to be out of the loop. Only trouble was, he was quite in the loop.
The last desperate measure, about four news cycles in, was to claim that Clarke's resignation letter praised George Bush's handling of terrorism. Unfortunately, as the purveyors of this story failed to note before disseminating it, this is actually an argument in Clarke's favor. What would make someone who is apparently loyal to an administration suddenly roll over and point out their failings in a very public forum? Generally speaking, it tends to be the truth that inspires such actions. And it does not bode well for this administration that so many conservative loyalists of late have started speaking out in public.
No matter how hard the Republicans try to spin it their way, they're just hanging tinsel on the Titanic. It may look all glittery and pretty, but the whole shebang -- economy, environment, war on terrorism, war in Iraq, credibility -- is sinking beneath the waves. Ironically, what this administration thought to be the champagne bottle that christened their venture is actually the ice berg, and it's called 9/11.
Peace out.
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