LIE OF THE WEEK: 05-26-2006

President Bush on the court-approved FBI raid of the Capital Hill office of Congressman Jefferson:

"Our government has not faced such a dilemma in more than two centuries," Bush said in a statement. "Yet after days of discussions, it is clear these differences will require more time to be worked out."

THE TRUTH: There is no dilemma - the FBI has clear evidence of bribery and other crimes committed by the congressman and this court-approved legal search was executed after the congressman's office ignored a court subpoena for eight months.

This whole situation is disgusting in the face of the spineless congress we've had for the past few years. They have never stood up to the executive branch on anything, which is why President Bush has never vetoed any bill - he always gets exactly what he wants (along with some congressional pork that he apparently doesn't mind). They haven't challenged any of the administration's tactics, even when they violated American or international laws, all in the name of a need for increased executive power during a time of war.

We need some real representation of the American people's values on Capital Hill so that we ensure the checks and balances of our three branches of government are preserved, not these silly protests after criminal activity has already been proven. (Maybe the members of congress who are protesting have their own reasons for worrying about the FBI investigating them? - we'll leave those possibilities for another day).

LIE OF THE WEEK: 05-19-2006

Former Vice President Al Gore on his new movie:

"My whole objective here is to try to move the country past a tipping point, beyond which politicians in both parties compete with each other for genuinely meaningful solutions ... and to change the minds of the American people to the point where people in both parties demand action," he said.

Having narrowly lost the 2000 presidential election to Republican George W. Bush, Gore faces new speculation because of the movie he may make another White House bid.

"I have no plans to run for president again," Gore said. "I have found other ways to serve and I'm enjoying them."

THE TRUTH: Regardless of running for president again or not, this movie is mostly about the self-promotion of Al Gore and only partly about the environmental issues. If this was not true, Al Gore wouldn't spend the entire movie talking about the issue and would instead try to make it more interesting with other people taking the lead. This is absolutely shameless and the arrogance in pretending otherwise is even worse.

LIE OF THE WEEK: 05-12-2006

Congressman Patrick Kennedy on his recent incident:

...he said he had suffered a recurrence of the "addiction problem" — "a chronic condition for which I'm taking full responsibility."

THE TRUTH: The Congressman spends all of his time talking about his "disease" and how he can't control his addictions. For some people, addictive behavior is truly a disease, but his statement crosses the line of taking no personal responsibility for any bad behavior. He was clearly seen drinking at a public bar before his accident and blaming it on sleeping pills and checking himself into a rehab clinic is just another diversion from his irresponsibility. He should be convicted for his DUI and suffer the consequences like any other person would, but I guess America isn't really a land of true justice when he is getting away with the same crime as his father with no consequences - anyone remember Chappaquiddick?

LIE OF THE WEEK: 05-05-2006

Vice President Cheney on his visit to Kazakhstan:

"At a news conference with Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Cheney held up his host as a model for Iran to follow in the gathering controversy over Tehran's possible pursuit of nuclear weapons [...] Cheney had come to discuss Kazakhstan's long record of help in the war on terror, trade issues and energy"

THE TRUTH: Kazakhstan is a model for nothing. It is a very cruel dictatorship with very little freedom for it's citizens. Just because it has been cooperative in giving up it's previous Soviet nuclear arsenal (which it didn't have the means to keep anyway and which cost us billions of taxpayer dollars to help clean up) and just because it has been allowing us to use it's airspace and territory as we fight the war in Afghanistan does not mean it should praised as making progress towards democracy (which it truly has not done other than some fancy window-dressing).

For Vice President Cheney to speak so strongly against the democratic failures of Russia (which actually is a democracy, although with major flaws) and to then praise the democratic success of Kazakhstan (an autocratic oppressive state) is nothing but the purest of political hypocrisy.