read my lips

The president's father got into trouble with the simple phrase: "Read my lips: No new taxes!" It was a simple pledge. No gray areas to muddy the waters. It got him elected. And it got his reelection bid shot down in a hail of self-inflicted gunfire.

Now the son wants to ressurect that familiar refrain. Of course, his entire presidency has been built on "Read my lips rhetoric." Don't both to check the truth or look for contradictory facts. Just read his lips. And if you don't like it, you can kiss his ass.

The latest "Read my lips" assault is over massive wiretapping of innocent Americans.

Granted, George W. Bush's entire approach to life has been "It's always easier to ask for forgiveness than it is for permission." The problem is, this is the Constitution of the United States we're dealing with here. Our nation was built on it. It's bedrock. This isn't a Yale frat party and there's beer on the floor after midnight.

Have you ever heard a little child lie? They keep repeating the lie over and over again, reinforcing the fragile bridge the lies create.

Now listen to W. talk about his wiretapping scheme (calling this wiretapping is like calling Niagra Falls a leaky faucet). It's legal. He says. Again and a again. I know it in my heart, it's legal. We had lawyers look at it: it's legal.

It's not difficult to understand. W. and the Republicans have always held the belief that if they say it often enough, it will become true -- and that a lie can travel around the world before the truth gets out of bed and finds its socks.

The lies are becoming more frantic these days. And that's not a good sign. Not for the truth. Not for the civil liberties we all expect to have insured by the Bill of Rights. Not for the men and women put in harm's way because of those lies.

Is it too much to ask to get a straight answer?

More soon.