Hmm. Dan Froomkin pulled up the text of Bush's remarks at the swearing-in ceremony back in 2001 and surprisingly enough, Team Bush seems to be coming up short. Even beyond the "restore honor and dignity" comments that now seem like such a joke, Bush promised so much and is now delivering so little.
"[W]e must remember the high standards that come with high office. This begins with careful adherence to the rules. I expect every member of this administration to stay well within the boundaries that define legal and ethical conduct. This means avoiding even the appearance of problems. This means checking and, if need be, doublechecking that the rules have been obeyed. This means never compromising those rules."NOTE FROM JOHN: God bless, Froomkin, I was thinking of this very quote on the way home yesterday and made a mental note to look it up. That "even the appearance" crap is where Bush has totally failed in this regard. He's now become Clinton at his worst. Haggle over words, debate the definition of "treason." Amazing. The Bush administration has become what is was elected to replace.
