Donate today and get a free, signed copy of David Sirota's New York Times bestseller The Uprising: An Unauthorized Tour of the Populist Revolt Scaring Wall Street and Washington

The Promise Keeper

By Brian Cook

It’s no revelation that the “perception managers” giving our reporters their daily bread from the White House and Pentagon are old hands at the art of euphemism, having long ago taken to heart Humpty Dumpty’s dictum that when “masters” use a word, it means exactly what they choose it to mean—“neither more nor less.” Yet language remains a fickle mistress,… return to article

  • subscribe to print magazine

  • Zoom OutZoom In Reader Comments (4)

    Page 1 of 1 pages

    American citizens have always been somewhat wary of those with power, and have long recognized an official habit of bending the truth.  When people start to accept egregious lies involving their lives and their well-being and even come to expect that sort of thing from elected officials it can only mean that the death of “democracy” is nigh. 

    I know that I am one of many who wishes that George Orwell were alive today.

    United States Posted by a kullar on Sep 24, 2004 at 11:58 PM

    I am almost hopeless.  Millions and millions of Americans cannot tell the difference between right and wrong when the evidence is so clear.  What gives me some hope is that articles like this are not yet censored. 
    I wonder when Nazi Germany started to censor opinions against their state.  Might that be the next step for Bush?  What about just nuking the whole world?  Then no “evil-doers and terrorists” will be alive.  Of course, then Bush would not exist, but I doubt he and his cabal can make that logical connection.  Colin Powell could, but he would have to follow orders, so it wouldn’t matter anyway. 

    Thanks, inthesetimes.com!

    United States Posted by Tom on Sep 25, 2004 at 9:36 PM

    FUHRER MORE YEARS!!!

    My guess is that the spin doctors infecting the White House studied the ways to manipulate the populace by the master Josef Goebbels.

    i see no real difference between what happened in Germany in the mid-1930’s and what is taking place today in America.

    When the large majority of Americans know more about their local sports team than what is going on in their government at the local, state and espeically the federal level, then they receive the
    type of administration they deserve.

    Unfortunately, the rest of us receive the same screwing.

    United States Posted by Greg Bacon on Sep 28, 2004 at 5:00 AM

    Republi-Con Artist (def.) Someone in a particular political party who believes they can fool all the people all of the time...especially if a cowed news media aids and abets.

    Neo-Con Artist (def.) A master-level Republi-Con Artist who seeks to “fool all the people all of the time” and pass it off as somehow helping the people...while at the same time the people are having their pockets and brains picked. (see Serial Spinner, Master Magician, Karl Rove, Moriarty, every Neo-Con Artist mentioned in Brian Cook’s “The Promise Keeper,” entire list of Who’s Who in the Republicon Party).

    Republi-cancer (def) an often fatal disease associated with falling for the the Republi-Con Artist and Neo-Con Artist spin. Causes Brain Rot, medically speaking. Only known cure is “The Truth.” WARNING: Republi-cancer is contagious and spreads rapidly if anti-toxin not administered immediately following exposure. Often leads to death and destruction. (see “Iran: Another Ground Zero?”, 9/11 report, Iraq War, AID’s funding, Medicare, Halliburton, Oil Cartels, etc., etc.) (Note: a comprehensive list is available in 666-page appendix). WARNING: If you spot a Neo-Con Artist, cover your ears and immediately contact your local “Truth” officials so the Republi-cancer contagion can be contained. Quarantine protocols will be stringently observed. Do not, repeat, do not try to converse with a Neo-Con Artist or your head might spin completely off.

    United States Posted by Paul Sorrells on Sep 29, 2004 at 1:29 AM
    Page 1 of 1 pages
  • register a new account »Posting Security

    To participate in our forums, please register for a free account.
Also by Brian Cook
  • Joys of ‘The Wire’
    Some critics have called HBO's hit series 'depressing' and 'nihilistic.' They couldn't be more wrong.
  • Blackwater Nation
    Contracting soldiers of fortune is only one example of our recent philosophy of government
  • The Kids Aren’t Alright
    Daniel Brook's The Trap reminds us that inequality is bad for everyone, rich and poor
  • Death from Above
    For the Iraqi people, the surge in U.S. troops has meant more bombs dropping from the sky and a surge in deaths
  • Not Neutrality
    Why are the Communications Workers of America opting out of the Save the Internet coalition?
  • The Spychopath Who Loved Me
Popular Discussions