Refreshing

Some say George Bush is an incompetent leader. While others believe he is the devil incarnate. Still there are those who believe Dick Cheney is actually the president. While some in Washington believe the President broke the law when he made an end-around FISA. Some say I ramble on and on without a point. While other people believe I am the best blogger ever. Some people ask; what's the point? The Associated Press has the answer and some would say it's surprisingly refreshing.

Bush Using Straw-Man Arguments in Speeches
WASHINGTON - "Some look at the challenges in Iraq and conclude that the war is lost and not worth another dime or another day," President Bush said recently.

Another time he said, "Some say that if you're Muslim you can't be free."

"There are some really decent people," the president said earlier this year, "who believe that the federal government ought to be the decider of health care ... for all people."

Of course, hardly anyone in mainstream political debate has made such assertions.

When the president starts a sentence with "some say" or offers up what "some in Washington" believe, as he is doing more often these days, a rhetorical retort almost assuredly follows.

The device usually is code for Democrats or other White House opponents. In describing what they advocate, Bush often omits an important nuance or substitutes an extreme stance that bears little resemblance to their actual position.

He typically then says he "strongly disagrees" — conveniently knocking down a straw man of his own making.

I can't help but think what an aberration this story is. Seriously folks, when was the last time you heard a major news organization flatly point out Bush's lying misdirection? Um... never.

Read more, this is not extra credit, and yes, it will be on the final exam.