I Dreamt That George W. Bush Adopted James Frey’s 3-Step Program–Denial, Larry King and Oprah–To Get to the Truth About the War in Iraq

I Dreamt That George W. Bush Adopted James Frey’s 3-Step Program–Denial, Larry King and Oprah–To Get to the Truth About the War in Iraq

I Dreamt That George W. Bush Adopted James Frey’s 3-Step Program–Denial, Larry King and Oprah–To Get to the Truth About the War in Iraq

Maybe Oprah can get the truth out of Bush–just don’t try to screen her questions.

Copy Link
Facebook
X (Twitter)
Bluesky
Pocket
Email

Step One:
At first, when people said he’d lied,
He, bristling visibly, denied
A lie or even a mistake
In anything he did to take
This country into a debacle
That, like a nasty streptococcal
Disease, seems endless and resists
The many cures that he insists
Will someday get us unensnared,
While in his speeches he declared
That people saying he misled
Just helps the folks who want us dead.

Step Two:
This Larry King’s a friendly sort,
Who won’t object if guests distort
The truth a bit, so pols all like
To make announcements at his mike.
Though Presidents don’t usually come,
I see Bush there, admitting some
Of what he said was slightly wrong.
And Bush has brought his mom along.
She smiles. He’s sounding slightly whiny
While claiming falsehoods all were tiny–
Just unimportant details. And he
Says otherwise the war’s just dandy.

Step Three:
Our Oprah, stern-faced, draws applause
With questions while he hems and haws.
She clears the mist that still enshrouds
His yellowcake and mushroom clouds.
She asks why, in the name of heaven,
He tied Iraq to 9/11.
Bush stares at her–a hollow stare.
He’s all alone. His mom’s not there.
He then admits, with eyes quite full,
His tales have been all cock and bull.
And Oprah says, “Well, fine. That’s great.
For thousands, though, it comes too late.”

Support The Nation’s June Fundraising Campaign

With the midterm elections now firmly upon us, the question is whether Democratic candidates will do more than merely occupy ballot lines as mild alternatives to the red-hot crisis that is Donald Trump.

As Trump spends over $1 billion a day on a globally destabilizing war on Iran and admits that he doesn’t “think about Americans’ financial situation,” millions across the country are struggling with the surging costs of essentials. Democrats must seize this moment and advance bold, small-“d” populist ideas—not settle for cynical caution that once again snatches defeat from the jaws of victory.

The Nation elevates progressive ideas, movements, and elected officials achieving real change across the country into the national conversation. At the same time, our journalists are exposing how crypto and AI-funded super PACs are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to knock out candidates they oppose, reporting on the devastating impact of the Supreme Court’s evisceration of the Voting Rights Act, and sounding the alarm on attempts by red states to quickly redraw electoral maps, disenfranchising Southern Black voters.

We can play this critical role because of support from readers like you. This June, we’re raising $20,000 to power The Nation’s independent journalism in the run-up to November’s immensely consequential elections.

It’s in our power to build a more just society, and your support at this critical moment brings us closer to that bold vision. I hope you’ll donate today.

Onward,

Katrina vanden Heuvel
Editor and Publisher, The Nation

Ad Policy
x