[Jeff Higgins]

Wow Thom, amazing compilation of quotes. Amazing in both its completeness concerning what was said by the Bush Cabinet and his chronies, and in the absolute and complete omission of anything ever said by our previous President and his staff. Now I don't have the time, energy, of frankly interest enough to pursue this, but apparently you do. So here is a two part challenge, assuming the sources you used to compile this list even have this information: One, find similar quotes predating the Bush presidency from people of the same general positions. We all know they are out there; this did not start with Bush. Two; if you (or anyone else in on this discussion) disputes that equivelent Cabinet level officials, Senators, Congressmen, or whatever believed the same thing as Bush and his Cabinet, provide quotes to support that position. I don't think you can. It was accepted as "common knowledge" in our intelligence community, and Europe's, that Iraq had these weapons long before Bush took office. To continue to insist that "Bush lied" or Bush was incompetent just does not hold up. He inheirited the intelligence of his predecessor and the next President will too. There is a great deal more continuity there than you want to admit; there has to be, a new President simply cannot start from square one on this. So, to be fair, and not paint this as yet another Bush problem, please provide us with what the same kinds of folks were saying before Bush took office. I think we all remember it as pretty much the same as Bush and company had to say.