With 935 instances of Bush Administration lies, documented by the Center for Public Integrity, you’d think the press could raise a little skepticism when officials make their pronouncements. Bush’s conspirators have lied about everything from 1 Pet Goat to Zyklon-B, isn’t it time, wouldn’t it be appropriate, to append “alleged” to every damn thing they say?

Detainees newly released from Guantanamo, complaining of their ill treatment, suffer their accusations being tempered with “alleged” simply because it’s their lone word against their torturers. Even after we have the tapes, the pictures and the testimonials, we have the nerve to disbelieve the victim.

Remember the fortune cookie exercise where you append “in bed” after each Confucius Say? Try putting “allegedly” after George W’s phrases. He gives you the time, between his five word utterances. While his ear piece is prompting the next line, you interject a qualifier and see how the pronouncements come across.