I've been around more than six decades. And while I regret the many things I've failed to learn at all and all that I failed to learn well, there are a few bits of social life I think I've caught onto. Hardly scientific, however it's been my anecdotal experience that most often when someone just blurts something out, it's a better than even odds bet it's the truth of their heart they're emptying into the ether.
And you can frequently prepare yourself pretty well when it's a sentence divided by a 'but' for the truth that's about to follow. So, when the Republican Senate majority leader, Kentucky's Mitch McConnell, earlier this week said..."Unfortunately, most of our friends on the other isle are having a hard time admitting things are getting better; some days I almost think the critics of this war don't want us to win. Nobody is happy about losing lives but remember these are not draftees, these are full-time professional soldiers" (Emphasis mine), I guess the truth is that all who "support the troops" stuff was just a bunch of disingenuous Wizard of Oz, behind the curtain, spinning crap. How he really feels is that our men and women in uniform are stupid suckers whose lives aren't all that important after all.
McConnell's bio: McConnell served briefly in the United States Army Reserve during the Vietnam War-era but was discharged for unknown reasons. McConnell has refused to discuss the exact circumstances surrounding the discharge, and representatives from his office have given differing statements on the topic. In August 1967, a telegram was sent to the commanding general at Fort Knox (where McConnell was in boot camp) from the office of former Senator John Sherman Cooper for whom McConnell had previously worked as an intern. The telegram stated that McConnell, "being medically discharged your station," and " is anxious to clear post in order to enroll NYU. Please advise when final action can be expected." However, no record exists of McConnell ever enrolling in -- or even applying for -- admission into New York University. Misc: McConnell is a staunch conservative and a master of procedure, but no piece of legislation bears his name.
McConnell on the Hypocrisy Road: In 1996, Senator McConnell demanded that President Clinton allow White House aides to testify under oath. On April 1, 2007, Chris Wallace claimed that McConnell's stance on Karl Rove and Harriet Miers testifying under oath in relation to the dismissal of US attorneys controversy was hypocritical.
Wallace asked, "In 1996, you were saying those White House aides should testify in open hearing. These were White House aides of Bill Clinton, in open hearing under oath. Why shouldn't the same rules apply for the Bush White House and people like Karl Rove?"
McConnell replied, "And what I'm telling you is the president's going to make that decision."