The Philosophy of Mendacity

[bemildred]

Lies of the Neocons: From Leo Strauss to Scooter Libby

All governments lie as I. F. Stone famously observed, but some governments lie more than others. And the neocon Bush regime serves up whoppers as standard fare every day. Why this propensity to lie? There are many reasons, but it is not widely appreciated that the neocons believe in lying on principle. It is the "noble" thing for the elite to do, for the "vulgar" masses, the "herd" will become ungovernable without such lies. This is the idea of the "noble lie" practiced with such success and boldness by Scooter Libby and his co-conspirators and concocted by the political "philosopher" Leo Strauss whose teachings lie at the core of the neoconservative outlook and agenda, so much so that they are sometimes called "Leocons."

CounterPunch

[BOSSHOG]

1. I don't quite totally accept that premise

bush's "herd" could not possibly care less if he or his kind lied to them. bush and his kind had to lie to keep people like me and you from using the truth as a reason to oppose their plans. bush's base is quite content to accept his lies, to the point of enabling him to lie more. Its just those pesky liberals who had to be lied to lest "we" become ungovernable. Ask any person with a bush sticker on his vehicle if he is concerned that bush is a proven liar and the standard reply would be - "fuck you, you american hating liberal bastard." Lies by conservative politicians are irrelevant to them.

[Orrex]

3. "Lies by conservative politicians are irrelevant to them."

That's my view exactly.

But a lie about a legal and consensual affair between two adults is an impeachable offense.

Idiots, all of them.

[BOSSHOG]

4. However

If bush or libby or whomever in the administration had an affair, that would be none of our damn business. Rampant ignorance propping up a corrupt administration that is slowly donning the humpty dumpty outfit.

[Orrex]

6. I can't comment on an ongoing investigation

And in any case, this administration is restoring dignity and honor to the Whitehouse, so we won't even entertain suggestions about sweaty improprieties that may or may not be occurring.

[indepat]

2. This government lies most of all because its whole agenda is based on lies,

nothing but lies IMHO, for not one facet its agenda could be sold to the public if the truth were told.

[Demeter]

5. Amen! A Tissue of Lies--And America Has Caught a Cold

Achoo!