what is the effect of any illegality re: swift boat liars?

[unblock]

assuming that there is a determination that the swift boat liars were coordinated and set up and so on by the bush campaign, in violation of campaign finance laws, what does this actually mean?

aside from the delicious political hay to be made from this, what does this actually mean in terms of legal punishments?

-does this mean that the florida county bush/cheney guy that left the paper trail faces jail time, but that's it?
-does this mean that someone higher up could face jail time?
-or does this just mean that the bush/cheney campaign has to fold the swift boat liars into their official campaign, which probably has no really damaging effect? maybe they pay an fec fine for mischaracterizing campaign spending or something?

[Seldona]

1. Been wondering that myself.

[Tamyrlin79]

2. Its a slap on the wrist...

They get fined like several thousand dollars or so. Usually the FEC negotiates a settlement with the offender, and if no settlement can be reached they go to court. Most settle.

[unblock]

3. that was my guess -- was wondering why the salivation about "nailing" them

i guess it's all really just the political damage, tarnishing the bush/cheney campaign as muckrakers.

[sallyseven]

4. It is still a scandal because they

said that the slime balls were not part of the campaign. bush lies so often that he forgets when he shouldn't tell the stupid lie, Go after the national guard stuff now. Kerry said he wouldn't but now he is free to smash him because bush is involved with eh swift slime balls.

[JPJones]

5. It's not about the punishment

If somebody calls you a fucking liar, and you don't call them a fucking liar back, then everyone will assume you are a fucking liar.

[shraby]

6. They not only slandered Kerry in a

book, they slandered him on national t.v. over and over. Kerry should slap a slander suit on them.

[JPJones]

7. Kerry is a public figure

But Rassman should file a libel lawsuit against every single Swiftboat vet.