It's All True; It's All False

All progressive bloggers - myself included - have long written about Bush's bait-n'-switch habits, making promises to fund programs and then making sure that Republicans in Congress failed to include funding for those same programs in budget bills. The past is evidence of their mendacity, but most on the Right will not learn the lessons of history when it comes to BushCo..

New evidence, though, raises the question "will they learn from direct evidence of intent to continue their ways?" My best guess is "no." From the Paul Krugman in today's New York Times:

Last week The Washington Post got hold of an Office of Management and Budget memo that directed federal agencies to prepare for post-election cuts in programs that George Bush has been touting on the campaign trail. These include nutrition for women, infants and children; Head Start; and homeland security. The numbers match those on a computer printout leaked earlier this year - one that administration officials claimed did not reflect policy.

Lots of folks have commented on the fact that BushCo. officials would rather lie even when the truth would prove favorable to them; they are pathological liars. So there doesn'tnecessarilyy need to be a reason for them to lie. But in this case, Krugman thinks there really is a reason for the bald faced lie:

...whatever they may say in public, administration officials know that sustaining Mr. Bush's tax cuts will require large cuts in popular government programs. And for the vast majority of Americans, the losses from these cuts will outweigh any gains from lower taxes.

It has long been clear that the Bush administration's claim that it can simultaneously pursue war, large tax cuts and a "compassionate" agenda doesn't add up. Now we have direct confirmation that the White House is engaged in bait and switch, that it intends to pursue a not at all compassionate agenda after this year's election.

Note closely those programs slated for cuts; programs that provide for the poorest among us and for homeland security.

When it comes time to vote in November, remember this story (and all the others) and ask yourself: "is this the kind of country I want to live in?" Vote your conscience.