He won't forget them. Right.

George W. Bush told the victims California's fires today that "We're not going to forget you."

What revealing phrasing! Implicit is an acknowledgment that his listeners have every reason to fear that they will be forgotten. Like the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Like the women of Afghanistan, whose plight was once used as justification for invasion. Like the millions of Iraqis, pawns of a war who have fled their devastated land for the miserable life of refugees. Like the supposed beneficiaries of all the empty promises he's made.

Even Bush seems to realize at some level that his rhetoric is not to be trusted, that his words are duplicitous, that his avowals of commitment are empty.

Congratulations, California. George Bush will never forget you ... until his attention moves on to something else as your fires fade from the national news.

Note: this was originally posted on ketches, yaks & hawks 25 October 2007