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The president's most recent speech on terrorism was a bit of a departure from his past efforts. Rather than a series of general platitudes and vague and misleading statements, he dug down into the details, using a series of facts to attempt to bolster his case. It was an admirable effort, but for one thing...

His facts were wrong. And not just minor facts. Big ones. Central ones.

It was one thing when Reagan would tell stories about events in the 1950's that never happened. It is another thing entirely if the president lies about events that are happening on his watch.

In yesterday's speech, he lied about torture. But don't take my word for it. Listen to Lt. Gen. John Kimmons, the Army deputy chief of staff for intelligence. Or if that doesn't convince you, see what members of his own administration have to say.

He lied about Guantanamo. Again, his own administration says so.

And that story about Abu Zubaydah, the one that justifies his use of torture? You guessed it. An outright lie, one that could not possibly have been told accidentally.

Andrew Sullivan:

On one of the gravest moral matters before the country, this president is knowingly stating an untruth.

Spencer Ackerman:

Of course, most Americans don't have access to Nexis. And most Americans don't remember--and can't be expected to remember--newspaper coverage of Al Qaeda for a seven-month stretch between the attacks and Abu Zubaydah's capture. Bush is exploiting that ignorance to tell the American people an outright lie in order to convince them that we need to torture people. As Bush once said in another context, if this is not evil, then evil has no meaning.

The party of moral values has become utterly immoral. Lying, cheating, and stealing have become the tools of their political trade. A party that once stood in opposition to increasing authority is now willing to do anything to retain its hold on power.

What is wrong with these people?