Scott McClellan, the Lastest White House Whistleblower

"...we are puzzled." Words from the current White House Press Secretary, referring to former press secretary, Scott McClellan's new book, "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception." Of course, like the others who have ventured to tell the truth about the culture of deceit inside the Bush White House, McClellan will be dismissed as self-serving and disgruntled by insiders and die hard Bush supporters. Those of us who have been thinking for ourselves during this whole sad era knew better all the time. It was so clear, if you really listened to what was being said and did not let partisan politics color your perception.

McClellan reportedly writes that, "President Bush relied on an aggressive "political propaganda campaign" instead of the truth to sell the Iraq war, and that the decision to invade pushed Bush's presidency "terribly off course." That point was very evident as Bush sent his people far and wide to "sell" the war to the United States and its Allies. Members of Congress were openly courted and Bush went on TV and in front of Congress to convince the world that invasion was the only course of action, while those of us who opposed this action listened and said "why?"

The White House and former staffers are already denying McClellan's book. They question his motives and say, "why didn't he do or say something then?" Speaking out against something as big as the Bush White House and its war, would have taken an exceptionally strong person. That person would have had to have been ready for complete ruination. I can't imagine what despair would have befallen McClellan at the hands of Rove, Cheney, right wing talk radio, and the die hard Republican faithful. The Dixie Chicks were almost driven from a successful music career by these people for simply exercising their right of free speech. McClellan would have been harried to this day and driven into some sort of quasi-exile by these people. Free speech does not enter into their vocabulary.

As it is today, McClellan is free of the White House. He will probably suffer somewhat, because he will never be able to work with any of his former friends and staffers, at least those who remain blindly loyal to their leaders. However, by waiting until now he is preaching to a much larger congregation than he would have been at the time this terrible catastrophe began. Many people will be much more understanding, because it is much clearer now that Bush and his people lied. If many people could not see it then, they surely can see it now.

Thanks to McClellan and others like him, we are getting a very clear picture of how the White House worked and its chain of lies and deceit that continues to fool so many people to this day. There will be others who finally have the courage to speak out as time goes by. Historians will surely look back on these days as some of the darker days of our nation. In my opinion they are even darker than the days of "Tricky Dick," one of the new "poster boys" of today's Republican Party.

Later that day...

As I reflect more on this issue, it has occurred to me that, unlike Bush, Cheney, and Rove, McClellan may very well have had to come to terms with his conscience. To have worked among this group of "ne'er do well's," seen the results of their criminal actions, and then realized that he represented them and defended them in front of the world must have caused much inner tumult. McClellan may have realized that he played a part in this tragedy and, therefore, he had to expose the truth to cleanse his soul.

Memorial Day

This weekend we will recognize those who have given their lives in service to our country. Here in Union County, Georgia we will have a memorial day parade on Saturday. Tomorrow, I will work with other volunteers to complete the Union County Historical Society's entry in that parade. We will remember the 158 men from Union County who have lost their lives in the wars that have taken place since the county was created in 1832. That number includes 94 men from both the South and the North who were killed during the Civil War. Fortunately, we have not lost anyone in the current fiasco in Iraq...yet.

I hope that everyone takes a moment this weekend to remember those who have sacrificed for our country, whether actually in "defense of freedom" or because of some politician's particularly narrow minded vision. Few of our wars have really been in "defense of freedom." I hear the current action in Iraq continually referred to in this way, however, I cannot for the life of me determine how this calamity "defends" freedom. In reality the current administration is more a threat to our freedom than anyone in Iraq.

So many of our young men and women have lost lives and limbs over the past few years in Iraq. Today's military is all volunteer, but, still they must go where they are sent, no matter how poor the leadership and planning. They are not fighting a war to rid the world of Adolph Hitler or Hideki Tojo, but their lives and their sacrifices are just as important. The same is true for those who died in Vietnam because of poor leadership at home. They were there because they were sent by their country. They didn't have a choice, and they deserve to be remembered.

I hope that by this time next year we will see the light at the end of the tunnel in Iraq. Maybe we can focus our resources on Afghanistan and remove the real threat to our world. Whatever, the case, let us hope that fewer of our service people are in harms way. I certainly hope that we in Union County still have 158 souls listed on our war memorial.

Bush's Appeasement Remarks

George Bush's appeasement remarks to the Israeli Parliament were nothing less than political trash talk and were inappropriate at the least. If he is going to campaign for his "home boy," McCain, he should make remarks like that at home, not in another country. It's obvious he was using that stage to appeal to Israeli supporters at home.

I have written this before, but I will do it again. Bush has an aversion to diplomacy. Somehow, he equates it with appeasement or weakness. Being willing to open a dialogue with countries, not terrorists, that you oppose does not mean that you give in to their demands. It means that you meet them face to face and present your concerns and hear theirs. In the event that there is some middle ground that you can agree on, then you discuss it. If you never sit and talk with them, you will never have the opportunity to win them over or at least settle some differences. We negotiated with the Russians throughout the Cold War.

McCain has tried to distance himself from Bush on the campaign trail, but it's obvious that Bush is campaigning for McCain. They are soul buddies. McCain is totally in bed with Bush's war in Iraq and, I am sure, welcomed Bush's remarks to the Israelis. He didn't have to make the statement and be accused of dirty politics. Let the man, who is already known for his dirty politics, say it for him. The Republicans are very good at this sort of campaigning. The Swift Boat Veterans are a good example.

Ultimately, this kind of politics may fail the Republicans this year. They have lost special elections in the last few weeks, some of which were for traditionally Republican seats. George Bush's campaigning may be good for the Democrats, because the American people appear to be fed up with his shotgun diplomacy, his poor and corrupt management and his awful and unnecessary invasion of Iraq.