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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThis isn't REMOTELY like Watergate ...
Last edited Sat May 13, 2017, 02:43 PM - Edit history (1)
I like to dabble my toe in the water from all sides, mainstream, far left and right, to know how people think and what is in the wind. Perspective is useful, IMO:David Frum of The Atlantic posted this revealing tweet thread this week:
Link to tweet
Link to tweet
Link to tweet
Link to tweet
Obviously, there ARE Watergate similarities ... but his distinctions are worth noting. I am wondering what weight/action his group of moderate/traditional Republicans are considering. Combined with Dems, their combined heft could be significant in a further crisis of Country vs Party. Also interesting to me that he is already prepared to throw Pence under the bus based on this past week. That is significant, coming from a Republican ...
TWEET SUMMARY:
- This isnt remotely like Watergate. During Watergate, Congress cared whether laws had been broken.
- This isnt remotely like Watergate. During Watergate, honorable people in government resigned rather than be associated with improper acts.
- One conclusion from the weeks events: Mike Pence is more orderly and disciplined than Trump, but no more respectful of truth & legality
Sculpin Beauregard
(1,046 posts)spanone
(135,831 posts)DownriverDem
(6,228 posts)I am white and find many whites who support trump are racist and think minorities are gaming the system. They are a total embarrassment. They aren't rich. They will need the programs that the repubs want to destroy. We must focus on beating the repubs and not fighting each other. After we gain control will it be time to make many of the changes that folks keep talking about.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,683 posts)#2: The GOPers in Congress stuck up for Nixon for quite a long time; even the votes on the recommended articles of impeachment in the House Judiciary Committee split mainly along party lines: 2711 for obstruction of justice (21 Dems and 6 GOP for, 11 GOP against); 28-10 for abuse of power (21 Dems and 10 GOP for; 10 GOP against); 21-17 for contempt of Congress (19 Dems and 2 GOP for, 2 Dems and 15 GOP against). Some GOPers continued to claim Watergate was a liberal plot even after Nixon resigned (Pat Buchanan comes to mind).
Two honorable Republicans resigned and one was fired in the Saturday Night Massacre: Richardson, Ruckelshouse and Cox. Robert Bork did not resign and went ahead and fired the special counsel at Nixon's direction. But it was always the Dems that were pushing the investigation. It took the GOP a long time to see (or admit) what Nixon had been up to.
PsychoBabble
(837 posts)came out, the evidence was incontrovertible ... and recalcitrant GOP members joined in -- did not DENY evidence, which seems to be what is happening now. So we need OVERWHELMING evidence, and/or criminal charges.
I am giving Frum credit for looking at the big-picture aspect.
elmac
(4,642 posts)we need to make or break a few of our own, null and void this election, have a do over with popular vote only.
Ccarmona
(1,180 posts)It's like Watergate because the WH is trying to throw the investigation off course every chance it gets (firings, mis-information, lies, & tantrums)
It's unlike Watergate as there have been multiple crimes committed by numerous sources; it involves a foreign government; this President is dumber than a rock (Dick was smart, just too arrogant for his own good); the cover-up isn't going to bring them down, the actual crimes are.
PsychoBabble
(837 posts)Though the cover-up will add weight to the crimes.
We need indictments.
jimmil
(629 posts)it involves a "hostile" foreign government.
pansypoo53219
(20,976 posts)i listened to that whole thing, except ollie north. i thought that foreign thing made it worse. DEALING w/ terrorists well. jeez. i thought reagan was bad. this is just straight out traitors instead of sedition under obama. we need civics classes refresher courses to amerikans toot sweet.
lostnfound
(16,178 posts)That takes even a bit more courage than to just resign.