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8:00-8:01 Billboard:
The Lies of George W. Bush: Mastering the Politics of Deception
Generous New Tax Break For Bechtel and Halliburton?
Democracy Now! Exclusive: EPA Scientist Resigns in Protest
Over Agency's Acceptance of Developer-Financed Wetlands Study
8:01-8:06 Headlines
8:06-8:07 One Minute Music Break
8:07-8:20 The Lies of George W. Bush: Mastering the
Politics of Deception
INTRO: “Lying has been one of the essential tools
of [Bush’s] presidency” - We speak the Nation’s
David Corn about his new book “The Lies of George W.
Bush: Mastering the Politics of Deception” on how the
president lied about the invasion of Iraq, tax cuts, the environment
and September 11th.
In his first full press conference in four months and just
the 10th of his term, President Bush claimed Tuesday that:
"The world is more peaceful and more free under my leadership."
He repeatedly characterized the resistance within Iraq as
orchestrated by terrorists. This despite public opinion polls
in Iraq that there is widespread opposition to the U.S. occupation.
He said the recent string of bombings in Baghdad represent
"the same mentality... that attacked us on September
the 11th, 2001."
Today we take a look at a new book by the Nation’s
Washington editor David Corn titled: “The Lies of George
W. Bush: Mastering the Politics of Deception.” David
Corn writes:
“Bush's truth-defying crusade for war did not mark
a shift for him. Throughout his campaign for the presidency
and his years in the White House, Bush has mugged the truth
in many other areas to advance his agenda. Lying has been
one of the essential tools of his presidency. To call the
forty-third President of the United States a prevaricator
is not an exercise of opinion, not an inflammatory talk-radio
device. Rather, it is backed up by an all-too-extensive record
of self-serving falsifications.”
- David Corn, author of the new book “The Lies of
George W. Bush: Mastering the Politics of Deception”
and the Washington editor for the Nation.
Link: www.bushlies.com
8:20-8:21 One Minute Music Break
8:21-8:40 David Corn Cont’d
8:40-8:41 One Minute Music Break
8:41-8:50 Generous New Tax Break For Bechtel and
Halliburton?
INTRO: A new tax break being considered by a House committee
could generously benefit two of the biggest recipients of
government contracts for Iraqi reconstruction: Bechtel and
Halliburton. Bechtel hired a former IRS commissioner to lobby
on its behalf and won GOP support for the tax break.
A new tax break being considered by a House committee could
generously benefit Bechtel and Halliburton - two of the biggest
recipients of government contracts for Iraqi reconstruction.
The general purpose of the legislation is to replace a longstanding
tax break for U.S. exporters that the World Trade Organization
has declared an illegal trade subsidy. Congress decided to
do away with the subsidy resulting in 50 billion dollars in
savings. Instead of applying that money to help reduce the
growing budget deficit, Congress decided to spend it on creating
new tax breaks for large corporations.
The legislation, which was taken up by the House Ways and
Means Committee on Tuesday, was originally intended to help
shore up U.S. factory jobs by reducing the tax rate for domestic
manufacturers. But now the bill includes a provision sought
by Bechtel that would reduce taxes on "architectural
and engineering services." Bechtel hired a former commissioner
of the Internal Revenue Service to lobby on its behalf and
won support for the break from Republicans in the House.
However, it remains unclear whether the break would apply
to profits earned on the billions of dollars of work that
companies like Bechtel and Halliburton and do outside the
United States.
- Sheryl Fred, reporter for Capital Eye, the newsletter
for the Center for Responsive Politics, which has reported
in detail on the story.
Link: www.capitaleye.org
8:50-8:58 Democracy Now! Exclusive: EPA Scientist
Resigns in Protest Over Agency's Acceptance of Developer-Financed
Wetlands Study
INTRO: We speak with former Environmental Protection Agency
biologist Bruce Boler who resigned to protest the agency’s
acceptance of a developer-financed study that concluded wetlands
give off more pollutants than they absorb.
The study suggested that replacing natural wetlands with
golf courses and other developments may be better for the
environment.
In his resignation letter, Bruce Boler writes: “Ultimately,
the politics in Southwest Florida have proven to be stronger
than the science…I have worked assiduously in the last
three years to develop an evaluation that would discourage
development in wetlands (no pollutant source) and provide
a means to sustain the unique quality of life that this region
offers with its abundant aquatic resources. I fear that my
efforts may have, inadvertently, strengthened the very forces
that are intent on developing these resources.”
- Bruce Boler, an Environmental Protection Agency biologist
who resigned to protest the agency’s acceptance of
a developer-financed study that concluded wetlands give
off more pollutants than they absorb.
Link: www.peer.org/EPA/Boler_Statement.html
8:58-8:59 Outro and Credits
For a copy of today’s program, call 1 (800) 881 2359.
Our website is www.democracynow.org.
Our email address is mail@democracynow.org.
Democracy Now! is produced by Mike Burke, Sharif Abdel Kouddous,
Ana Nogueira, Elizabeth Press, Jeremy Scahill and Parvez Sharma.
Mike Di Filippo is our engineer.
Thanks also to Uri Galed, Angela Alston, Orlando Richards,
Simba Russeau, Johnny Sender, Rich Kim, Joe Murgio, John Randolph,
Chris Zucker, Karen Ranucci, Denis Moynihan, Eric Rweyemamu,
Jenny Filipazzo and Isis Phillips.
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