Re: OT Pelosi is going down

On Sat, 16 May 2009 11:14:51 -0700, Gunner Asch
<gunner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
<snip>
I dont doubt that she is a very old and accomplished liar. Who's lies
finally caught up with her in very small part.
<snip>
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Fine philosophical point here.

If, when you make a statement, you believe it to be the truth, is
it a lie?

The apparently "true fact" is that she was indeed briefed on the
use of "intensified interrogation," but like so many people in
positions of authority and responsibility this did not register.
This can be due to several reasons such as: The information was
in small print in the middle of the report. The briefer had a
coughing spell when he started to discuss the topic. Most likely
denial was in full operation, and she could not [did not want to]
hear a word of what was said.

Selective attention and denial is frequently a fatal disease to
not only the individual but to their organization, as the
pressure simply builds and builds until there is an
explosion/collapse. GM and Chrysler are two examples in the
private sector. A regulatory example is the Maddoff hedge fund.

These individuals indeed need to be removed from positions of any
authority/responsibility, but their replacement by other
individuals with similar "blind spots," preconceptions, and
denials will accomplish nothing, and indeed may be
counterproductive in that this gives the appearance or illusion
of "action/correction." An example of this in your state was the
replacement of Gray Davis with "The Terminator." Their styles
are different, but how did the outcomes change?


Unka' George [George McDuffee]
-------------------------------------------
He that will not apply new remedies,
must expect new evils:
for Time is the greatest innovator: and
if Time, of course, alter things to the worse,
and wisdom and counsel shall not alter them to the better,
what shall be the end?

Francis Bacon (1561-1626), English philosopher, essayist, statesman.
Essays, "Of Innovations" (1597-1625).
.