Notes on the Atrocities is a blog I started reading a week or so ago.  I was intrigued by the author's alias (Emma Goldman) and her tagline ("one person's bid to get her own FBI file.")  She also has this wonderful project where she is creating "dossiers" on the central rogues in the current admin.

In a post today, Emma lays out two possible scenarios.  In one, the by now infamous claim in the SOTU was an honest mistake and once discovered Bush steps forward, forthrightly takes responsibility and still stands by his assertion that the war was necessary and justified. In the second scenario, the admin knew the evidence was suspect all along, and once called to account for it dissolves into a mess of finger-pointing and double talk..   Then Emma asks:

 ... if these examples seem unreasonable, try this: invert the lying/not lying scenarios and their narratives. Does it seem possible that all this obfuscation, parsing, and general shiftiness is arising from the embarrassment over an honest mistake?

In the comments section of her website, I wrote:

The inversion just doesn't fly. What has me the most spooked is how carefully worded the claim in the SOTUS was. The fact that Bush deliberately attributed the uranium claim to the British seems like a CYA move in advance. To me this seem like someone knew it was kind of bogus and ensured the wording allowed Bush to be considered "technically accurate."

I remember, in the months leading up to the war, being mystified at the fact that no other country [except the UK] seemed as concerned as Bush did. I remember thinking the same thing about Congress. I kept hoping that the Bush Admin had some truly devastating piece of evidence that they were sitting on that was motivating the need to start a war with Iraq now. And I was mystified as to (1) why, if they had the evidence, weren't they sharing it with high level officials in the US and other countries and/or (2) why, if they were sharing it, weren't Congress and the other countries jumping up and down demanding a pre-emptive strike on behalf of everyone's safety?

And now the answer is clear. Because the evidence was crap.

Update:

Bohemian Mama said it better than I did:

It's not just the lie, Mr. President, it's the malice and aforethought that went into framing that lie in just such a way that the plausible deniability could be claimed 

[...]

Shame on you. Shame on Congress that blindly followed and sent our troops into this sham of a venture without questioning or taking the time to deliberate on the consequences of their actions. Shame on the media for not caring enough to actually investigate the situation. Shame on us if we let you keep your office after next year.

6:05:32 PM    

Well.  After tearing the house apart again, I bit the bullet and called my contact at the city and 'fessed up.  She was much less flipped out than I was.  She said, as long as the check wasn't endorsed prior to it being lost [it wasn't] she would set the wheels in motion for it to be voided and another one issued.  She, of course, could give no guarantees on turn-around time.  Now I just have to tell the landlord that I am not sure when we will be able to write the next rent check.   Gulp.  She has been extremely cool so far, but still ...

I am struggling with how anonymous I want to remain on this site.  On the one hand, I have linked this site to From Here to There - a journal documenting our family's joining a cohousing community and building a new log home.  So there will be plenty of specific personal info on that site.  On the other hand, because I am active in my local community and involved with developing the cohousing community as well, I feel that a lack of anonymity will inhibit the candid reflection and venting I may want to do here.

It's a dilemma and I am wondering how other bloggers deal with it.  I know some folks just have personal blogs that they don't really advertise.  Then they only share the URL with select friends and family.  And then some folks have much more public blogs where they share their creativity, writing, opinions and research.  Those blogs tend to be less personal.   I am inclined to combine the two here.   A matter for on-going reflection.

4:21:17 PM    

Trying to take deep breaths and stave off a panic attack this morning.  That damn check is all I thouight about all night long.  I am dreading the thought that I may have to go, tail between my legs and ask the issuer to void it and reissue.  Which is kind of a big deal because the issuer is the local govt who is accountable to the county govt who is accountable to the federal govt for this money.  What a mess.  I can be such an idiot.  Usually no matter how deep the clutter around here, I know where the important stuff is.  BUt I cannot for the life of me remember where I stashed this -- or even whether I stashed this -- in a "safe" place.  AUUUGGGHHH.

In other news: A/C still broken.  House a mess.  Spent a nice weekend at the in-laws [they feed us very well when we are there].  In just a few moments I am off to the family resource center to coordinate "messy play monday" for little ones and their caregivers.  I wish I actually enjoyed that more...

more later?? 

9:06:10 AM