Large Scale Central

Bridge to nowhere

General Discussion
#1

At least seven times, in public speeches Sarah Palin has described herself as opposing the famous “bridge to nowhere.” She says " I told Congress “thanks but no thanks” on the bridge to nowhere."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzaIEgLYDgY&feature=user

But she is absolutely lying, and even the Wall Street journal has admitted this:

http://www.wsj.com/article/SB122090791901411709.html?mod=fpa_mostpop

She favored the brodge and lobbied for it.

So what has happened to America’s politics that she can go out and keep repeating the same lie, over and over and over? This is not a “he said, she said,” it’s a case where the facts are clear, but she keeps lying about it.

The McCain campaign yesterday launched an ad claiming Obama “wants to teach kindergarten kids about sex.” It’ a complete lie–not spin, not "interpretation, just a lie

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_09/014636.php

They have gone off the rails

#2

Mike,
Are you saying you think politics have changed?

#3

I am, actually.

It seems like it gets farther and farther from any idea of the truth. Sure, there have always been misrepresentations and spin and outright lies. Attacks on character. Absolutely, from all sides. But here is a candidate lying and then repeating the lie after it has been widely revealed–unmistakeably–as a lie. That’s just odd, and it’s kind of disturbing.

#4

So you have forgotten the statements “I did not have sex with that woman” or “I just can’t remember”?

#5

No not at all, as I said earlier, i think he should have resigned in disgrace. You could claim Clinton was part of a growing trend where the truth simply does not matter

Check out his link

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_09/014636.php

#6

Yep, facts are slippery things to control, Sarah like it before she didnt like it, she only didnt like it when it was clear it wasnt going to happen. Up till then she was looking forward to fishing off that bridge.

While I dont think President Bill should have resigned. Seriously, its not like he was crapping on the constitution by illegally selling missles to Iran to fund Contra rebel’s, he had an affair…should have been a personal matter between Bill and Hill - so BFD!, but I do think he should have fessed up almost immediately, apologized, seeked counseling, ya know, the whole Hollywood “I’m sorry can I go to rehab” route, and by doing so not allow himself to be pursued in a political witchhunt into a corner where he ended up being lying about it, that would have denied the witchhunting republicans the opportunity to turn a personal matter into a political circus. Bill’s ego ended up being his own worst enemy IMHO.

Seriously, the rest of the world looked at us like we were a bunch of politically psycho-puritanical idiots during that whole mess.

#7

It wasn’t the BJ that bothered me, it was the lying. I agree, if he had done the whole “i’ve sinned now I seek forgiveness/rehab” bit, he would have been better off

#8

Mike,

I would have to agree with you about Clinton. The “lewinsky” he received did not matter (can only imagine what went on in the JFK White House), and contrary to popular opinion, he was not impeached because of it - he was impeached for lying under oath about it. And deservedly so. Even though he was not removed from office, consider that his Arkansas license to practice law was revoked, i.e. he was disbarred, as was his right to argue before the US Supreme Court - and also consider that he challenged neither of these revocations.

Your point about the culture of lying in politics without regard to consequences in the face of incontrovertible fact may be disturbing, but it only reflects an even larger trend in society. Such a trend could spell catastrophe for us all.

Brian

#9

Yes, that’s my point. People seem to have lost the ability to tell lies from truth, or they have stopped caring.

Eight times now–she did it again today–Palin has said the same line about how she told congress no on the bridge to nowhere. it’s s complete fabrication, but she keeps saying it, crowds keep cheering.

The McCain camp yesterday accused Obama of wanting to teach sex education to kindergardeners–again, a complete lie. But it’s no coming from anonymous
PACs or viral emails, it’s the McCain campaign–just making shit up.

#10
mike omalley said:
It wasn't the BJ that bothered me, it was the lying. I agree, if he had done the whole "i've sinned now I seek forgiveness/rehab" bit, he would have been better off
Or just explained that he had a "wide stance" while going to the head.......
#11

I have to agree with Mike.
The Republicans wanted to impeach Clinton for lying.
But you want to elect McCain/Palin who are doing the same.
As I said before…you look the other way when it’s your “boy”.
I guess Mrs. Palin’s Church spent too much time on abortion they didn’t get around to teaching about “bearing false witness”.
Understandable they got hung up on the 6th commandment and never made it to the 9th commandment.
Ralph