Thread: Bush's Credibility Gap

editorial | posted February 12, 2004 (March 1, 2004 issue)
Bush's Credibility Gap


"There's going to be ample time for the American people to assess whether or not I made good calls," George W. Bush told Meet the Press host Tim Russert in their recent one-on-one. But if Bush has his way, he's not going to do anything to help the American people--or the global community--assess his credibility before he stands for re-election. The commission he has appointed to review the faulty prewar intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction will not report its findings until March 2005, months after the election. (There are other problems with the commission; it is co-chaired by federal Judge Laurence Silberman, a champion of right-wing activism, and so far it has few members with experience in intelligence matters.) This means there may well be no official body that issues a pre-election judgment on whether Bush and his aides dishonestly overstated Iraq's WMD threat to whip up public support for an elective war.

Bush's credibility has become an issue of late. He has not been able to explain his prewar assertions about Iraq's weapons (or, similarly, his phony budget projections designed to hide massive deficits). And that credibility gap undermines US security. United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan recently noted that the missing WMDs have led to international skepticism concerning US intelligence, and that may make it harder for Washington--or the UN--to win support for necessary actions in the future. "The bar has been raised," Annan warned. "People are going to be very suspicious when we try to use intelligence to justify certain actions."

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20040301/editors

The question of the crisis in credibility, experienced by THIS admnistration on virtually ANY issue, has grown far beyond the Iraq war. The crisis is manifested in the current questions about the firings of the US Attorneys, the Scooter Libby/Valerie Plame mess, the disaster that is homeland security, Bush immigration reform and other issues. The real question is this: Can the President really DO anything, in his last two years in office, given the crisis in credibility that his administration has created? Where does this leave conservative republicans? Can they align themselves with Bush-like policies without becoming tainted by the crisis in credibility created by the Bush administration? How much more support can the President REALLY expect from his conservative cohorts, and will it be enough to sustain his administration (intact) through to the end of his second term?

why are you posting thats years old?

Originally Posted by The_Bear

why are you posting thats years old?

Because it speaks to a number of issues which are relevant today- and which are not limited to iraq.

Bush withdraws envoy nominee who had Swift Boat campaign ties

Bush's incredible definition of credibility. - By William Saletan - Slate Magazine

Col. Dan Smith: Bush's Credibility Gap

Appropriations Committee - Dave Obey, Chairman

Let me make myself obscure for the moment: Credibility is important. When the administration says, for example, that there was no wrongdoing in the firing of the US Attorneys- it is relying on its credibility to convince people that what it says is so is in fact so. Similarly the Administration states that the surge is working it is relying on its credibility. The question I asked, therefore, is this: Given the abuse of its own credibility, by this administration, why should anyone believe them about anything? This is an important question because it shapes how both the Congress and the Public will react to the statements and objectives of this administration. It will also serve to shape the political dialog for the balance of the term of this administration.

Well...speaking about the time it was written, he was re-elected, so what does that say about his credibility.

Originally Posted by Jet

Well...speaking about the time it was written, he was re-elected, so what does that say about his credibility.

That 54,000,000 Americans are absolute idiots?

Originally Posted by Think for myself

That 54,000,000 Americans are absolute idiots?

Yes, that does appear to be the correct answer...

Originally Posted by Shadowman

Yes, that does appear to be the correct answer...

Here you go. This is pretty hilarious. I just found this site.
George Walker Bush - dKosopedia

Originally Posted by Think for myself

Here you go. This is pretty hilarious. I just found this site.
George Walker Bush - dKosopedia

I think that's the 1st site that pops up when you google "FAILURE"

Originally Posted by The_Bear

why are you posting thats years old?

But he's still President.

Why does the hate-talk radio, Right-Wing, American-hating, echo-boxes, talking heads like Hannity bring up Clinton everyday when he hasn't been President for over 6 years?

Originally Posted by Common Sense Craig

But he's still President.

Why does the hate-talk radio, Right-Wing, American-hating, echo-boxes, talking heads like Hannity bring up Clinton everyday when he hasn't been President for over 6 years?

That's called a smoke screen brutha!