Letter: Mistakes, lies and scandals mark Bush’s tenure

Wednesday, June 8, 2005 | 9:13 a.m.

F. Jay Harrell, in his June 1 letter, tried to cite good examples of President Bush's leadership. Unfortunately he spoke fiction, not facts.

First, the Bush tax cuts have helped the rich at the expense of the middle and lower classes. Also, Harrell mentioned a scandal-free administration. What hogwash! Prisoner abuse, torture, mistreatment at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo and imprisoning innocent American citizens without cause, to name only a few examples, are far worse scandals than what occurred in past administrations. They have negatively affected our global image.

He also mentioned re-establishing America as a beacon of democracy. Where has he been?

We attacked Iraq under false pretenses and lies, and then changed the reasons for invading. The boycott and inspections were working, but we now have learned in the Downing Street memo that Bush lied to us, deciding to go to war well in advance, yet deluding the American public with talk that war was the last resort.

Finally, Mr. Harrell gives kudos to Bush's judge selections. Yet Bush has appointed and nominated reactionary right-wingers. Despite being a secular nation, the rabid religious right is pulling Bush's strings.

Sorry Mr. Harrell, give me Al Gore or John Kerry anytime!

PAUL CARMAN