I find it appalling that anyone should argue for the re-election of President Bush on the basis that he is a straight-talker.

Surely, these people aren’t talking about the same Bush who went to war with Iraq over their vast stockpiles of WMDs. Certainly they couldn’t be talking about the same President Bush who told us the war in Iraq was over a year ago. They couldn’t possibly be referring to the same Bush that railroaded the Sept. 11 commission at every opportunity and spoke of winning hearts and minds in Iraq.

In truth, I can understand how Mr. Bush is perceived as a straight-talker. By repeating the same (often-flawed) message such as imminent threat and then evoking Sept. 11 as an excuse for every failed policy, it is very hard to oppose any view without being accused of being unpatriotic or an apologist for the terrorists.

But to call Mr. Bush a straight-talker after watching him dodge and spin his way through every interview and press conference is inexcusable. There is no doubt that this administration has indeed suffered many intelligence failures, but I don’t think it has anything to do with the CIA.

I am certainly no fan of John Kerry. But nothing Kerry has ever said has increased the chances of blood being spilled on American soil, or cost American lives abroad. I wish I could say the same for Mr. Bush.

Daniel Coulombe, Auburn

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