There’s a legal adage that goes something like this:
If the law is on your side, pound the law.
If the facts are on your side, pound the facts.
If neither is on your side, pound the podium.
As The Daily Show pointed out last night, that’s what Bush seems to have resorted to . . . literally. Take a look at these excerpts from his speech Monday at Oak Ridge:
America is safer because of your service at Oak Ridge.
. . .
Today, because we acted to liberate Afghanistan, a threat has been removed, and the American people are safer.
. . .
Today, because we’re working with the Pakistani leaders, Pakistan is an ally in the war on terror, and the American people are safer.
. . .
Today, because Saudi Arabia has seen the danger and has joined the war on terror, the American people are safer.
. . .
Today, because America and our coalition helped to end the violent regime of Saddam Hussein, and because we’re helping to raise a peaceful democracy in its place, the American people are safer.
. . .
Today, because the Libyan government saw the seriousness of the civilized world, and correctly judged its own interests, the American people are safer.
. . .
We have ended one of the most dangerous sources of proliferation in the world, and the American people are safer.
. . .
Today, because America has acted, and because America has led, the forces of terror and tyranny have suffered defeat after defeat, and America and the world are safer.
We might be safer these days, or maybe we aren’t. It’s hard to tell. So what is the criteria the president is using to reassure us that we are safer? The number of times he can repeat himself? Perhaps he thinks that by pounding the podium enough times he will discourage al Qaeda and they will opt not to attempt any more terrorist attacks.
See, that’s one of the major problems with this whole “war on terror.” Since there aren’t many meaningful gages with which we can measure the government’s performance, officials can make all sorts of claims, issue warnings, change color codes, and the public won’t know the difference. We’ve ratcheted trust in government to a higher plane.