Grand Unification Theory of W

I read a quote yesterday about the history of science and scientific discovery. German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt "observed that there are three stages in scientific discovery: first, people deny that it is true; then they deny that it is important; finally they credit the wrong person." In politics, in W's neocon world, already abandoned by those who came up with it, it works much the same way. First, deny that something is true; then deny that it is important; finally credit the wrong person.

Think about W and his minions opposing the 9/11 commission or opposing creating the Department of Homeland Security or the Katrina response or the Medicare plan or Cheney's hunting accident or the UAE port deal or basically any activity of the adminstration. Deny it, say it isn't important then take credit for a job badly done. It's a nice and simple way to explain the Dear Leader and his capos. Call it the Grand Unification Theory of W. Try it as a measuring stick for W and his press secretary flack. Deny, downplay then co-opt it and take credit. Works everytime.