Dukakis was right

[ochazuke]

During one of the debates with dubya's dad, Michael Dukakis laid responsibility for the Iran-Contra scandal on President Reagan, quoting an old Greek expression "the fish rots from the head".

My first impression upon hearing of the abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners by American military personnel was that dubya is responsible: his constant good-evil shit and cowboy speak is a clear message to all his subordinates that the ends justify the means, or to put it another way "it's Juliani time".

[tom_paine]

1. Agreed.

Little did many of us realize then.

[immune2irony]

2. Absolutely

Just like how torture occured in Abu Ghraib with Saddam's knowledge and blessing, it is unfathomable that Bush did not know what was going on there. Hell, the naked pyramid was probably his idea. Both are evil thugs. No wonder the world hates us.

[TN al]

3. I think Dukakis used the expression...

...in answer to Poppy's declaration that he would create an office in his administration to monitor compliance with corruption laws and the like. Dukakis said that in his administration the office for that job would be the oval office, the fish rots from the head down. Maybe I am wrong but that is how I remember it.

[ochazuke]

4. You may be right, but...

Later in the debate, maybe it was in daddy-bush's closing, he blew up, saying that Dukakis was "comparing the president to a ROTTING FISH!!!"

Of course, Reagan was just the head of the fish. Whatever. A bush never misses an opportunity to twist his opponent's words.

[TN al]

5. You know I may be all wrong here...

... but as I remember it it wasn't a debate, just dueling soundbites.

[ochazuke]

6. The word 'debate'

I don't think there has ever been a proper debate at the presidental campaign level, nor will there be. But, they call them debates, for some reason.