Trickle-Down Dishonesty

Most Americans say they aren't impressed by the ethics and honesty of
the Bush administration, already under scrutiny for its justifications
for an unpopular war in Iraq and its role in the leak of a covert
CIA officer's identity.

Almost six in 10 - 57 percent - said they do not think the Bush
administration has high ethical standards and the same portion says
President Bush is not honest, an AP-Ipsos poll found.

Gosh, I wonder what caused such a sentiment to permeate this great land.

Could it be Bush saying he'd fire anyone involved in the Plame leak and then not doing it? Or Perhaps his State of the Union address when he lied about Iraq getting Uranium from Niger? Or maybe the "We don't torture" comment he made on Monday? Or perhaps a whole host of other lies that Bush Watch has so generously compiled for us?

And then in his Administration and party we have the likes of Tom DeLay, being indicted for conspiracy and money laundering, and Scooter Libby being indicted on one count of obstruction of justice, two counts of perjury and two counts of making false statements, and let's not forget David Safavian, former White House aide, indicted on five counts of lying.

So, what is the White House doing about all this willy nilly fibbing?

Bush, who promised in the 2000 campaign to uphold "honor and integrity"
in the White House, last week ordered White House workers, from
presidential advisers to low-ranking aides, to attend ethics classes.

[...]

The mandatory White House lectures on ethics for its employees came
after the Libby indictment, and some people say they aren't impressed.

"It's like shutting the barn door after the horse escaped," said John
Morrison, a Democrat who lives near Scranton, Pa.

And I think the barn door has been left open for way too long.

Honesty is such a lovely word.