trifecta

Finally, a lead in tracking the lie Bush keeps repeating:

A Sound Bite So Good, the President Wishes He Had Said It by Dana Milbank [Washington Post]

Now comes information that the three caveats were uttered before the 2000 campaign -- by ... Al Gore. The Post's Glenn Kessler found in the archives this promise from Gore: "Barring an economic reversal, a national emergency, or a foreign crisis, we should balance the budget this year, next year, and every year." Gore said that to the Economic Club of Detroit in May 1998, then repeated it at least twice more, in speeches in June and November of that year.

There is still no trace of Bush making such a caveat; in fact, shortly after taking office, he declared that "we can proceed with tax relief without fear of budget deficits, even if the economy softens." On the other hand, Bush can fairly argue that his top economic adviser, Lawrence B. Lindsey, endorsed the caveats during the campaign. When Kessler asked back then about Gore's three exceptions, Lindsey said the same caveats would apply for Bush.

So let's see. Bush didn't say it, Gore did. In 1998. And Bush never publicly agreed with it, Lawrence Lindsey did.

But hey, it's all the same, right? No need to be the least bit concerned with accuracy if you're the one in charge. We'll restore honor and dignity to the White House, yes we will. And lie about what we said we would do, and people will laugh and buy it. People don't remember things, or care if it was different yesterday (let alone two years ago). History is read-write, not read-only.

Lies about what your policy plans are and were for the country are not even misdemeanors; in fact, you can go on telling them as though no one said a thing even when all the evidence is against you. (Lying about sex, on the other hand, is an impeachment offense.)

If your rulers lie today about what they said yesterday, you can expect them to lie tomorrow about what they told you today. Why shouldn't they?

Hitting the trifecta [MSNBC]

So far, the president has told the joke on the record at least 14 times. It originated, evidently, as an anecdote he told to business leaders Oct. 3 — three weeks after the terrorist attacks...

If you openly, repeatedly lie about little things, why should you be believed about bigger things?

President's Remarks at GOP Luncheon [White House]

You know, I was campaigning in Chicago and somebody asked me, is there ever any time where the budget might have to go into deficit? I said only if we were at war or had a national emergency or were in recession. (Laughter.) Little did I realize we'd get the trifecta. (Laughter.)

Ha.