# WTF? Bush calling critics revisionist historians!?!? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 17, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-bush-calling-critics-revisionist-historians/182348 "2003-06-17T00:59:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-bush-calling-critics-revisionist-historians/182348/221 "2003-06-21T16:51:07Z")
There is a big difference between connecting the dots to _discern_ a pattern and connecting them to _impose_ a pattern. It is the action of intelligence to discern a pattern, it is the action of a paranoid to impose one. Theres this house in a run down neighborhood. Could be a crack house. People coming in and out all hours of the day and night. Unsavory characters, mostly. Maybe the house is rented by the firm Drugs 'R Us. Very suspicious. Put it under surveillance, send in a snitch, all that sort of thing is reasonable. Lobbing a couple of grenades through the window and letting God sort 'em out is not. ---
**Author:** ![Sterra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Sterra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterra)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-bush-calling-critics-revisionist-historians/182348/222 "2003-06-21T17:06:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Desmostylus \* > \*\*Credibility means the ability to elicit belief. If you believe it, or if Bush believes it, then yes, there is _some credibility_. That doesn’t mean there’s any evidence, or any _reason_ for that belief. \*\* Well, I was mostly just saying that Bush is better off just admitting that he lied rather than claiming that the looters got them. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-bush-calling-critics-revisionist-historians/182348/223 "2003-06-21T17:11:46Z")
Never. Never cop to it. Not ever. Its like Willy Nelson says: your honey catches you in bed with somebody else you say “Well, who are you gonna believe? Me, or your damn lying eyes!” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-bush-calling-critics-revisionist-historians/182348/224 "2003-06-21T17:18:28Z")
> [@](#): > > **elucidator** predicts: documents will be found… Am I prescient, or what? [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030621/ap\_on\_re\_mi\_ea/iraq&cid=540&ncid=716](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030621/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq&cid=540&ncid=716) "U.S. forces acting on an intelligence tip raided an abandoned Baghdad community hall early Saturday and seized documents that may contain information about Iraq’s suspected weapons of mass destruction. " ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-bush-calling-critics-revisionist-historians/182348/225 "2003-06-21T17:25:22Z")
Sorry, **Sterra** , my sarcometer has been on the fritz lately. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ChaosGod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ac91a4/32.png) [@ChaosGod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChaosGod)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-bush-calling-critics-revisionist-historians/182348/226 "2003-06-22T19:06:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Read\_Neck \* > \*\*From this link: > [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,90045,00.html](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,90045,00.html) > RICE: It’s simply revisionist history … \*\* The quote from GWB predates that of RICE, I believe. This is June 16, while Rice’s is June 20. > [@](#): > > “This nation acted to a threat from the dictator of Iraq. Now there are some who would like to rewrite history; revisionist historians is what I like to call them,” [Link to complete transcript](http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3002820.stm) ---
**Author:** ![Read\_Neck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@Read\_Neck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Read_Neck)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-bush-calling-critics-revisionist-historians/182348/227 "2003-06-22T20:07:36Z")
And your point is? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-bush-calling-critics-revisionist-historians/182348/228 "2003-06-22T20:41:58Z")
We are a nation of sheep being led by jackals? Something like that, I imagine. ---
**Author:** ![ChaosGod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ac91a4/32.png) [@ChaosGod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChaosGod)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-bush-calling-critics-revisionist-historians/182348/229 "2003-06-22T21:29:46Z")
Actually I was just making the point that it was GWB who first mentioned “revisionist historians”. Nothing else. elucidator-\> aren’t we all? 🙂 (although this time around, you guys went of the chart) ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-bush-calling-critics-revisionist-historians/182348/230 "2003-06-22T23:39:43Z")
> [@](#): > > “This nation acted to a threat from the dictator of Iraq. Now there are some who would like to rewrite history; revisionist historians is what I like to call them.” Really now, Mr. President, isn’t that precisely the problem. You kept _telling_ us Iraq was a threat to our nation, but it turns out you were apparently full of shit. Where’s the fucking threat, Mr. President? ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-bush-calling-critics-revisionist-historians/182348/231 "2003-06-23T01:29:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elucidator \* > \*\*Am I prescient, or what? > > [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030621/ap\_on\_re\_mi\_ea/iraq&cid=540&ncid=716](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030621/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq&cid=540&ncid=716) > > "U.S. forces acting on an intelligence tip raided an abandoned Baghdad community hall early Saturday and seized documents that may contain information about Iraq’s suspected weapons of mass destruction. " \*\* Oh come now Elucidator. Hedge your bets much? If they find nothing you will of course crow with glee. Now your setting yourself up to be safe in case they do find something by generating a criteria to dismiss it before the fact. Naughty. Naughty. Dammit man take a stand, and get off the fence for once before that post gets lodged in your ass permanently! Don’t get fast with me. I know what time it is. (Thanks, that felt good.) ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-bush-calling-critics-revisionist-historians/182348/232 "2003-06-23T02:22:09Z")
Actually, **Scylla** , **elucidator** is predicting the next steps Bush will take pretty well. See, the reason it is confusing is that Bush is backpedalling. You have to turn it around when Bush is moving backwards so fast. elucidator is not at all hedging his bets, Bush is. elucidator is just predicting which hedge Bush is going to try to hide behind next. “If there’s a Bush-o in your hedgerow, don’t be alarmed now. It’s just a spring clean for the Cheney.” ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-bush-calling-critics-revisionist-historians/182348/233 "2003-06-23T02:27:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hentor the Barbarian \* > \*\*Actually, **Scylla** , **elucidator** is predicting the next steps Bush will take pretty well. \*\* Ok. So ummm, if they do find something good in the WMD field does that prove elucidator’s point or negate it? ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-bush-calling-critics-revisionist-historians/182348/234 "2003-06-23T03:00:23Z")
I was sort of joking in your last post. In seriousness, I guess I don’t understand how one could not comprehend elucidator’s prediction. Certainly, he can explain it better than I, but his prediction was that Bush, having failed to find WMD as promised, and beginning to lower the bar for himself (ala WMD **program** rather than the actual bad boys in person), would start announcing that documents have been found. In fact, yes, one need only scroll up to 6/20 and all should be revealed. [quote] Scylla will have his wish, you can bet on it. The bar has been lowered, once again, to a point where it need only be fallen upon. For now, we are looking for a weapons “program”. Ah, yes. A “program”. Given the rigorous standards of the Usual Suspects, what could possibly allay thier skepticism? Damn near anything. Documents for instance.\*\* Low and behold, there comes a pronouncement that documents were found. Too bad Blair hadn’t warned us that they could have their documents ready in 45 minutes. Perhaps we need a space based strategic shredder initiative. Smart highlighters; brilliant white out. Get the Xerox inspection team in there pronto. So how is accurately predicting “How low can Bush go?” hedging one’s bets? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-bush-calling-critics-revisionist-historians/182348/235 "2003-06-23T12:29:22Z")
And lest we forget… $250,000, lying on the table, waiting for someone to walk in and tell us where the warehouse full of SCUD missiles loaded with nuclear anthrax is located. “On the corner of Saddam Street and Uday Blvd.” and walk away with a fortune. And no takers. None. Gee, **Scylla** , why is that? Iraqis dont like money? Not one? Its been a couple months now. So now we’re looking for a “program”. Documents. Documents can be faked far more easily that physical facts, i.e., actual weapons. Now we have signalled that Uncle Sam will smile most benignly on someone who can come up with documents, with the assurance that they will not be examined too closely. Looking for a tip-off? If I were to guess, I’d say something like the documents finger someone who knows _exactly_ where the dreaded WMDs are located, someone who can lead us right to the very spot in the Godforsaken Desert where they are buried. Bad luck! Turns out that guys dead! Drat! ---
**Author:** ![Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-bush-calling-critics-revisionist-historians/182348/236 "2003-06-23T15:18:34Z")
I’m sorry if it’s already been pointed out, but didn’t Bush give us a big (revisionist) song and dance about how America has never fought a war of conquest? ---
**Author:** ![Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-bush-calling-critics-revisionist-historians/182348/237 "2003-06-23T15:36:14Z")
Let’s not forget all those revisionists who now claim that it’s treason to oppose a war… so long as there’s a Republican in the Oval Office: [http://www.fair.org/extra/0305/kosovo-doves.html](http://www.fair.org/extra/0305/kosovo-doves.html) ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-bush-calling-critics-revisionist-historians/182348/238 "2003-06-23T21:03:06Z")
Thanks for the link, Ben. It’s nice to have the shifting patriotism of the right-wing punditry laid out so neatly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-bush-calling-critics-revisionist-historians/182348.md?page=11)