Bush Family Tradition: Ducking Scandal

[leftchick]

This is an excellent run down of ducking scandal through the BFEE history. Right back to Prescott Bush...

<snip>

The “talking point” memo also is a classic example of how the neoconservatives have used rhetorical games since the early 1980s when they rose to power under Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

When people have come up with information that can cause the neocons trouble, the neocons have applied an approach called “controversializing” the accuser.

The process works whether that person is a federal prosecutor (as in the case of Iran-Contra independent counsel Lawrence Walsh), a member of Congress (as with Rep. Henry Gonzalez and his probe of George H.W. Bush’s secret aid to Iraq); a journalist (as with New York Times correspondent Raymond Bonner, who wrote about Central American death squads in the early 1980s); or a private citizen (like Wilson was when he questioned Bush’s use of the yellowcake allegations).

In 1991-92, for instance, Walsh – a lifelong Republican – closed in on the obstruction of justice that had surrounded the Iran-Contra scandal for five years. Walsh’s investigation broke through the White House cover-up when his staff discovered hidden notes belonging to former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger.

The notes made clear that there was widespread knowledge of the 1985 illegal arms shipments to Iran and that George Bush Sr. had been lying when he claimed that he was “not in the loop” on the covert Iranian shipments.

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2005/071405.html

[leveymg]

1. Yes, but they haven't frontally attacked the career CIA before.

The basic thrust of Iran-Contra -- get rid of the Sandinistas by any means necessary -- had wide support within the Agency, the DIA, and the Washington press corps, etc. Carter was viewed as a dangerous simp who had to be gotten rid of, again, BAMN. Few if any American corpses. Mission accomplished.

Not this time. The whole thing is a disaster, right back to 9/11. BushCo have scapegoated the intel professionals, and the WH operatives have been playing a visibly treasonous game in a lame attempt to crawl out of the frying pan. Believe me, the folks at CIA and DIA see right through the Rovian dirty-tricks. While most of them are probably still Republicans, they won't and can't let Shrub and his crew get away with this. They can't, because if they do, BushCo will sacrifice them all and the entire country in the quest for glorious conquest, which would be * and the neocon's only redemption. They won't because the career Agency people are only human, and they too want revenge.

This is different. The pols aren't weaseling out this time.

[leftchick]

2. I hope it is different

It certainly seems to be heating up in a way I could never have imagined. Yet always hoped for.

:)

[leveymg]

3. Why do you think it's different this time?

Do you think any of the media suits would be going bonzai right now, unless the higher-ups first said, "Go ahead, kids, have some fun"?

Why do so many powerful people hate Bush, seemingly all of a sudden? No, this isn't about Rove. It's payback time.