Pensito Review - Bush and Rove Launch ‘Legacy’ Campaign to Rewrite History

"The scenario depicted in the (Downing Street Memo) of Bush and his operatives “fixing” the intelligence to justify invading Iraq has also been backed up by books and interviews with former Bush staffers, including former Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill, national security team member Richard Clarke and, most recently, Scott McClellan, the former press secretary.

What these false assertions by Bush and Rove about the invasion indicate is that the modus operendi of the legacy project will be to relitigate their blunders and failures relentlessly over the next few years until the truth is upended and facts are blurred beyond recognition. They will probably succeed for three reasons. First, American memories are famously short, and, second, propagandizing is just about the only thing Bush does well.

But the third marker for their success is the most fundamental. It would be more difficult, if not impossible, for them to attempt to change history if Bush, Rove, Dick Cheney and the rest were held accountable for their misdeeds and misjudgments. Instead, on January 20, Bush will ride off into the Texas sunset to face the same treacly fate meted out to Richard Nixon, the previously worst president: To grow old in disgrace." (Emphasis Mine.)

Concluding with:

"Bush’s escape from accountability now means that he and Rove will be unimpeded as they attempt to create one final reality — a shiny new version of the last eight years in which Bush blameshifts the Iraq fiasco, the loss of New Orleans, the economic meltdown and the rest to his predecessors, opponents and hapless underlings. 

Just as Ford’s pardon of Nixon led to the Republicans’ return to power just five short years later — and through Reagan came the Bushes, and with the second Bush came Dick Cheney, a Nixon acolyte and true believer in the unitary executive and fascistic absolutism — letting George Bush off the hook now undoubtedly paves the way for the return of another corrupt and abusive conservative regime sooner rather than later.

Absent impeachment or a trial, there is only one way to stop him: The truth-squadding of George Bush’s term in office cannot, must not — will not — ever end." (Emphasis Mine.)