Bush: "a President Better Mean What He Says" (ABC news)

[rodeodance]

I think what is bringing him down is his constant lying to the people--which translates into no credibility.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/print?id=1818771

NEWSVIEW: Leak-Hating President, As Leaker
NEWSVIEW: the Leak-Hating President As Leaker-In-Chief? a President Better Mean What He Says

By TOM RAUM
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON - President Bush insists a president "better mean what he says." Those words could return to haunt him.

After long denouncing leaks of all kinds, Bush is confronted with a statement unchallenged by his aides that he authorized a leak of classified material to undermine an Iraq war critic.


The allegation in the CIA leak case threatens the credibility of a president already falling in the polls, and it gives Democrats fresh material to accuse him of hypocrisy.


"In politics, what gets bad gets worse," said GOP strategist Ed Rogers. "And we've been on a a bad roll for quite some time. We're in an environment now where every mistake is a metaphor."


Critics were quick to portray the Bush-leak report as a fresh sign of a failed Iraq policy, manipulated intelligence and a lack of presidential veracity. Honesty was once seen by Americans as one of Bush's strongest character traits, but polls show that perception has waned in Bush's second term.

[bullimiami]

1. they built an entire potemkin republican village on the promise of

honesty and integrity which they never had.

[rodeodance]

2. but empires fall and this one has a big leak (and leaker) in it.

[rodeodance]

3. Bush said this statement again just Thursday:

The disclosure that Bush might be the White House leaker-in-chief isn't going to help matters.

"He's suffering enough now and this is certainly more fuel for the fire," said Wayne Fields, a specialist in presidential rhetoric at Washington University in St. Louis.

Fields said Bush has a record of "making blanket statements, sometimes self-righteous ones" that can later be turned against him when "replayed and quoted over and over."

Just Thursday, Bush emphasized the importance of straight talk. "When the president says something, he better mean what he says," he told a North Carolina audience. "In order to be effective, in order to maintain credibility, words have got to mean something. You just can't say things in the job I'm in and not mean what you say."

In September 2003, Bush said he was distressed by the CIA leak case. "If somebody did leak classified information, I'd like to know it, and we'll take the appropriate action," he said.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said at the time: "If anyone in this administration was involved in it (the CIA leak), they would no longer be in this administration."

Democrats mocked those earlier statements in light of the new allegations.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Meaning what he says would be a first for Bush

He said he'd get Osama dead or alive. He didn't mean it.
He said Saddam had a biochemical arsenal and ties to terrorists. He didn't mean it.
He said he would bring democracy to Iraq. He didn't mean it.
He said he would deal with whoever leaked Valerie Plame's name to the press. He didn't mean it.
He said that his government does not tolerate torture. He didn't mean it.
He said he is keeping America safe from terrorists. He didn't mean it.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

5. Bush means what he says: "There's an old poster out west, as I recall..."

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010917-3.html

Guard and Reserves "Define Spirit of America"
Remarks by the President to Employees at the Pentagon
The Pentagon

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 17, 2001



THE PRESIDENT: The focus right now is on Osama bin Laden, no question about it. He's the prime suspect, and his organization. But there are other terrorists in the world. There are people who hate freedom. This is a fight for freedom. This is a fight to say to the freedom-loving people of the world: we will not allow ourselves to be terrorized by somebody who thinks they can hit and hide in some cave somewhere.

---SNIP---

THE PRESIDENT: But as the Vice President said, you know, Osama bin Laden is just one person. He is representative of networks of people who absolutely have made their cause to defeat the freedoms that we take -- that we understand. And we will not allow them to do so.

Q Do you want bin Laden dead?

THE PRESIDENT: I want justice. There's an old poster out west, as I recall, that said, "Wanted: Dead or Alive."

Q Do you see this being long-term? You were saying it's long-term, do you see an end, at all?

THE PRESIDENT: I think that this is a long-term battle, war. There will be battles. But this is long-term. After all, our mission is not just Osama bin Laden, the al Qaeda organization. Our mission is to battle terrorism and to join with freedom loving people.

We are putting together a coalition that is a coalition dedicated to declaring to the world we will do what it takes to find the terrorists, to rout them out and to hold them accountable. And the United States is proud to lead the coalition.

Q Are you saying you want him dead or alive, sir? Can I interpret --

THE PRESIDENT: I just remember, all I'm doing is remembering when I was a kid I remember that they used to put out there in the old west, a wanted poster. It said: "Wanted, Dead or Alive." All I want and America wants him brought to justice. That's what we want.

[C_U_L8R]

6. A pop quiz

what's Bush ever said that was NOT a lie or deception?

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

[stray cat]

7. Honesty instead of outright lies would be a start.

[GeorgeGist]

8. He means to deceive ...

so I doubt he'll be haunted by his success.