Running two ideas together inappropriately is a common failing. And it produces confusion, since the data doesn't work well when it is wrongly conflated. For example, Bush's effort to conflate 9-11 with Saddam Hussein was very irritating because it did not compute. Many folks being unable to tolerate the pain of the resultant confusion stemming from this self-serving conflation, simply lapsed into sullen acceptance or even bought the whole nine yards, conflation and all.