Blumenthal: Reality is unravelling for Bush

[kskiska]

Even negative attacks on Kerry no longer seem to be working

At the Pentagon, on June 10, while business in Washington had officially halted as the body of Ronald Reagan lay in state, defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld convened an emergency meeting on the Abu Ghraib scandal, according to a reliable source privy to its proceedings. Rumsfeld began the extraordinary session by saying that certain documents needed to "get out" that would show that there was no policy approving of torture and that what had happened in Iraq and Afghanistan was aberrant.

The Senate armed services committee had been conducting hearings whose corrosive impact needed to be countered. Rumsfeld complained about "serial requests" for information from Congress. Yet he was even more upset by subpoenas of defence officials issued by the special prosecutor in the case of Valerie Plame. The Pentagon, Rumsfeld said, was nearly "at a stop" because of them. Rumsfeld admitted he was startled by the uproar over Abu Ghraib: "There are so many international organisations."

(snip)

Now, Bush's opponent is not only moving ahead, but the failed assault may insulate Kerry against future offensives. Bush had every reason to believe that his attack on Kerry's image would succeed. After September 11, he was able to impose his explanations on the public almost without resistance and to taint anyone who contradicted them as somehow unpatriotic.

With Congress in Republican hands, checks and balances were effectively removed. Most of the media was on the bandwagon or intimidated. Cheney himself called the president of the corporation that owned one of the networks to complain about an errant commentator. Political aides directed by Karl Rove ceaselessly called editors and producers with veiled threats about access that was not granted in any case. The press would not bite the hand that would not feed it.

more…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4955048-103677,00.html

[Kahuna]

1. Nice little read. Thanks for posting.

nt

[swag]

2. I'm glad the adults are in charge n/t

[Tosca]

3. Blumenthal is an American Hero

His book, "The Clinton Wars" is a must read, as far as I'm concerned.

[riverwalker]

4. Rumsfeld startled by the uproar

"Rumsfeld admitted he was startled by the uproar over Abu Ghraib: "There are so many international organisations."

In other words, Rummy doesn't care about the torture, just about the blowback from the torture. All those "pesky" Human Rights organisations just befuddle him like the digital cameras did.

[Beetwasher]

5. Holy FUCK!! Did Anyone Else Know THIS?!?!?

"Most of the media was on the bandwagon or intimidated. Cheney himself called the president of the corporation that owned one of the networks to complain about an errant commentator. Political aides directed by Karl Rove ceaselessly called editors and producers with veiled threats about access that was not granted in any case. The press would not bite the hand that would not feed it."

I mean I suspected it, but this is an amazing little tid bit of info here!!!

[opihimoimoi]

6. Just as important is the move to release those "memos"

showing how they "were within the letter of the LAW"

How convinient, How expedient, HOW LATE.

[Vitruvius]

9. The Bu$h gang is releasing those self-serving memos

just as soon as the ink is dry.

[opihimoimoi]

12. I suppose they are not above POST DATING things, including Memos

to make themselves look good.

What? They think we so stupid we cannot figure this one out.? Damn.

[struggle4progress]

7. Well, perhaps they've finally and thoroughly p*ssed people off. eom

[Skittles]

8. Gestapo, anyone?

:puke:

[Jack Rabbit]

10. This fact emerges every now and then

I remember a discussion about it on DU about a year and a half ago.

[Demeter]

11. BushCo Won't Recognize Reality Until It Bites Them

What is unravelling is their tissue of lies.