posted
Are we really to the point when we just accept that the President of the United States of America, who swears a solemn oath to uphold the Constitution, actually cares nothing for the Constitution at all, casually breaks the law at all levels, precipitates constitutional crises with gay abandon, and all to further his own personal power? And we just say "oh well, politics is like that"????
I'm nothing like that cynical! Wow, that takes me aback! I do think there are people who serve out of a feeling of responsibility and love for our country (including the very core things it stands for, freedom, democracy, checks and balances, human rights, rule of law). I think if we ever lose that, and just give up and accept that the people in power will always be corrupt, then there's no help for us. We'll be living under tyranny.
Systems can be good and bad, but unless there's some basis in the true feelings and morals of the public, (and I do believe that most people are just basically good honest upright people), then no system can protect us from ourselves. It is NOT okay to cheat and tell yourself everybody does it. Everybody doesn't, in fact, do it.
Posts: 6246 | Registered: Aug 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
When Nixon was doing things like firing the special prosecutor, and refusing to obey the Supreme Court ruling saying he had to give up the tapes, he was endangering the very foundation of our rule of law, our system of checks and balances, and the core of the Constitution. At the time we weren't sure what would happen, whether the United States would survive. What if he ordered the military to prevent the courts from enforcing their edicts? He's commander in chief of the military, the police answer to the courts. What if the military and the police got in a battle over the tapes?
His secretary erased 17 1/2 minutes of one tape. We don't know to this day what's on that part of the tape, but modern technology may allow us to find out someday. That would be cool. But whatever it was, he thought it was far worse even than the stuff he left on there, which was unbelievably bad! Read the White House Transcripts if you want to know what he was like as a person. It frightens me that he was in power.
Posts: 6246 | Registered: Aug 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
I think these things from the articles of impeachment linked above bear quoting here.
quote: He has, acting personally and through his subordinates and agents, endeavoured to obtain from the Internal Revenue Service, in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, confidential information contained in income tax returns for purposed not authorized by law, and to cause, in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, income tax audits or other income tax investigations to be intitiated or conducted in a discriminatory manner.
He misused the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Secret Service, and other executive personnel, in violation or disregard of the constitutional rights of citizens, by directing or authorizing such agencies or personnel to conduct or continue electronic surveillance or other investigations for purposes unrelated to national security, the enforcement of laws, or any other lawful function of his office; he did direct, authorize, or permit the use of information obtained thereby for purposes unrelated to national security, the enforcement of laws, or any other lawful function of his office; and he did direct the concealment of certain records made by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of electronic surveillance.
He has, acting personally and through his subordinates and agents, in violation or disregard of the constitutional rights of citizens, authorized and permitted to be maintained a secret investigative unit within the office of the President, financed in part with money derived from campaign contributions, which unlawfully utilized the resources of the Central Intelligence Agency, engaged in covert and unlawful activities, and attempted to prejudice the constitutional right of an accused to a fair trial.
He has failed to take care that the laws were faithfully executed by failing to act when he knew or had reason to know that his close subordinates endeavoured to impede and frustrate lawful inquiries by duly constituted executive, judicial and legislative entities concerning the unlawful entry into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee, and the cover-up thereof, and concerning other unlawful activities including those relating to the confirmation of Richard Kleindienst as Attorney General of the United States, the electronic surveillance of private citizens, the break-in into the offices of Dr. Lewis Fielding, and the campaign financing practices of the Committee to Re-elect the President.
In disregard of the rule of law, he knowingly misused the executive power by interfering with agencies of the executive branch, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Criminal Division, and the Office of Watergate Special Prosecution Force, of the Department of Justice, and the Central Intelligence Agency, in violation of his duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.
In all of this, Richard M. Nixon has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States. Wherefore Richard M. Nixon, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office.
posted
I want to say, too, what a great triumph it was for our system of government that he was made to step down. I feel like the fact that he was pardoned was really wrong. I think we should remove the pardoning power of the president to apply to himself or the people of his administration, and that of his predecessor. That's a loophole that should be closed. But just the fact that he had to resign was a triumph for truth, justice, and right over tyranny.
Remember freedom isn't free. The flame of liberty must be fed from time to time with the blood of patriots, and all that. If we allow our government to become corrupt and unlawful, it will. We the people are the only ones who can prevent that.
Posts: 6246 | Registered: Aug 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
While I don't begrudge Felt's family making money out of this situation, I do think they should have waited until after his death. From the news reports, I am of the belief that Mr. Felt is not capable of making the decision and that it was made by his daughter. Since Mark kept quiet for 30 years, I doubt that he wanted to be identified at all. Certainly he could have collected on his story at any time in the last 30 years if that is what he had wanted. I think it was disrespectful of his daughter to influance the announcement at this point in time.
Yes I am old enough to remember Nixon. I even voted for him. I had just come back from an overseas trip courtesy of Uncle Sam when the break ins occurred.
Posts: 21 | Registered: Dec 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'm fairly conservative and I think the Watergate coverup was wrong and disturbing. But I do think Nixon did some good things too. Few people are all good or all bad in life. I mean, I'm not really sure what he did that was good, but there was that Vulcan truism about him in Star Trek VI.
Posts: 2010 | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
If he wanted to keep that office, he shouldn't have betrayed the American people, the Constitution, Congress, the FBI, etc.
One can say he did some good things without having to minimize the terrible things that he did. Contrariwise, saying that he did terrible things does not mean there were no good things.
The more I learn about Watergate, though, the more extensive and frightening it becomes. And sickly fascinating.
Posts: 99 | Registered: Mar 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Stephen Ambrose wrote a 3-volume biography of him in which he was able to say some nice things to say about Nixon. Yet Ambrose found him to be a very sad character; Ambrose wrote a book about male friendship called "Comrades," and in the book he considers Nixon's character, and portrays Nixon as a friendless man who was never able to make friends because he didn't believe in trusting anyone. Sad.
Posts: 2911 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
From The Onion, "What Do You Think?" comments about the news about Deep Throat:
quote:"I'm just glad that longtime suspect Henry Kissinger has finally been vindicated. It's about time his good name was cleared of any lingering charges of right-doing."
quote:"I had my money on former Nixon speechwriter Ben Stein, largely because I am ignorant and he's been on TV."
posted
Clinton did many of the same things that Nixon did. He had hundreds of Republicans files from the FBI and IRS in the Whitehouse. Documents from the Whitewater investigation are missing for years then just happen to turn up on a table in the Whitehouse. He had Sandy Berger steal classified documents some of which were not returned. He used the all of the available resources to crucify Ken Starr, Monica Lewinsky, and anyone else who was against him, just like Nixon. He knowlingly had his subordinates lie for him. None of that was deemed to be the worst crimes in history but the same items are when it is Nixon. No one from Clinton's scandal had any kind of punishment (jail or fines or anything like that). The only thing Clinton was held accountable for was lying about having sex in the Oval office. No outrage about anything else, no mentions of destroying the Constitution. Why is Nixon held to such a higher standard than Clinton? Clinton got a complete pass when he lied to a grand jury. Why was he given a pass? the biggest one I hear is that he lied about sex and who wouldn't do that? Well, why doesn't Nixon get the same pass. I mean proceedings are being held against him, and if he tells the truth he will get in trouble, so why shouldn't he be allowed to lie too? I do agree with Starlooker: "Engaging in elaborate cover-ups, obstructing justice as outlined in the constitution, and lying to Congress and the American public are SERIOUS matters. Especially when those lies include cover-ups for activities which subvert the democratic process." Clinton did exactly that, he looked us all in the eye and lied to us. Repeatedly. Where is the hatred for Clinton? Yes, Clinton was impeached yet there is not the same hatred for him as exists for Nixon. I'm just asking Why? I still believe that Nixon is hated because he is not likeable, and Clinton (or Reagan and others) are not because they are likeable. I have more but I'm hungry and it's lunch time Oh, and thank you Starlooker for all that info and links, and also thank you for the statement (which sums up my long boring point): "However, I think the question is not "Why do you hate Nixon" but rather, "Why aren't you outraged at these other people?"
Posts: 1918 | Registered: Mar 2005
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
If we allow our government to become corrupt and unlawful, it will. We the people are the only ones who can prevent that.
