December 19, 2003

RUMOUR MONGED

It’s acceptable to float crazy conspiracy rumours so long as you don’t believe them, according to Howard Dean:

Dean, for instance, recently spoke of a "most interesting theory" that Saudi Arabia had "warned" Bush about the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Although Dean said he does not believe Bush was tipped off about the assaults that killed nearly 3,000, he has made no apologies for raising the rumor.

"How is what I did different from what Dick Cheney or George Bush . . . did during the time of the buildup of the invasion of Iraq?" the former Vermont governor said Tuesday night aboard his campaign plane. "There were all these theories that they mentioned. Many of them turned out not to be true. The difference is that I acknowledged that I did not believe the theory I was putting out."

Ozzy Osbourne has his bats, Ann Coulter has that darn "convert them to Christianity" quote, and forever more Howard Dean will have his pre-warned 9/11 line. And he didn’t even believe it. Just don’t get him started on bike paths.

UPDATE. "Empowered by the American people, I will work to restore the legitimacy that comes from the rule of law, the credibility that comes from telling the truth ... "

Posted by Tim Blair at December 19, 2003 11:47 AM
Comments

What is the difference between Dean's peddling `tips' and psychics peddling tips like how & when and by whom someone was murdered and where the body is ( and the police waste tax payers money to follow the clue to turn up zip).

Answer: none.
Why are they the same: both prey upon emotions to their own nasty ends.

Posted by: d at December 19, 2003 at 11:57 AM

hmm, one can add to the above: Lathy Boy once candidly stated politics is about playing upon voters' emotions like fears, hopes, ambitions, envy.... which is why some polticians including Lathy baby are craven usorious mongrels.

Posted by: d at December 19, 2003 at 11:59 AM

I heard an interesting theory that Howard Dean used to smear his body in chocolate syrup and dance around in his grandmother's panties to the theme song from "Hawaii Five-0." I don't really believe it but until he opens up his files it can't be disproved.

Posted by: Randal Robinson at December 19, 2003 at 12:01 PM

Opponent-bashing isn't what it used to be. George Smathers, former Democractic Senator from Florida, had considerable fun criticizing his opponent, Claude Pepper, with seemingly hostile words, which really were quite harmless. Smathers claimed that Pepper:

- was a shameless extrovert
- practiced celibacy before his marriage
- had a sister who was a thespian in wicked New York
- matriculated before entering college
- was a well-known heterosexual in college.

Considering that this took place in the '50s, rural Florida audiences were shocked by these "charges".

Posted by: Ernie G at December 19, 2003 at 01:19 PM

It's a famous story, but it's not true.

Posted by: Donnah at December 19, 2003 at 01:34 PM

"I did not believe the theory I was putting out."

Oh, you're putting out, Dean, make no mistake about it.

Posted by: Alice at December 19, 2003 at 02:44 PM

The rumour -conspiracy mill has it,Dean made love to Glenda the 2-ton Gorilla's cousin in san Diego.

Posted by: d at December 19, 2003 at 03:00 PM

that is a shocking name to call a gorilla

Posted by: ilibcc at December 19, 2003 at 03:36 PM