Seven essential questions raised by Bush's mandated ethics training for white house staff. . . .
Question 3. Why did Georgie schedule the meeting when he was out of town and unable to attend? Guess he is going to be the "child left behind" on this one. . . .
Reuters reported today that George Bush took time from the beating he is taking in Argentina to mandate that White House officials attend mandatory ethics briefings next week. "Your attendance at one of these sessions is mandatory," said a memo to White House staff from White House counsel Harriet Miers. Many questions, all condemnations of the administration, come to mind:
Question 1. Why should we need to teach administration officials about ethics? Ethics should come naturally to those whose prime interest should be serving the American people.
Question 2. If ethics matter to this Administration, why must Bush make the meeting mandatory? Shouldn't the availability of the seminar be enough to attract ethical people? I guess that last question answers the first.
Question 3. Why did Georgie schedule the meeting when he was out of town and unable to attend? Guess he is going to be the "child left behind" on this one.
Question 4. Why are the presentations limited to aides with security clearance? Does that mean that President Bush believes that persons with security clearances (nee Karl Rove) and not ordinary staff lack an ethical compass?
Question 5. Will Vice President Cheney attend, or does the mandate only apply to White House personnel of junior rank to President Bush? `nuff said.
Question 6. Will the briefings make any difference? No. Until this administration learns that admitting error is the start of fixing a problem, nothing will make a difference. The arrogance of power, and the administration's inability honestly to assess its record and prospects for the future, exacerbates the results of the ethical breaches of which we are repeatedly learning.
Question 7. IS IT TIME FOR A CHANGE, OR MORE OF THE SAME? The resounding shout arises, "Save us." It is time. On December 6, 2005, voters in the California 48th Congressional District will have the opportunity to send the first message of the 2006 election cycle to the administration that it is time for a change. I am the democratic candidate for congress, running in the allegedly safest republican district in the country. I need your help to make it happen. Thank you.