(C) Mike Lukovich, 2014 Anyone catch Darrell Issa's (R-CA) recent comments at a Florida Republican fundraiser? Seems Mr. Issa, the Chair of the Republican House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, has justified both the new special investigation of Benghazi as a vital fundraising mechanism for the GOP but also because, somehow, Benghazi is equal or more serious than what President Nixon and his cabal of advisers put this nation through during the Watergate era. Seems folks are really believing this tripe, as evidenced in multiple Letters to the Editors claiming "Four Americans died in Benghazi and no one died in Watergate!" Huh?
Ironically, near the end of every school year, I have my PolySci students learn about Watergate and the extent of the the corruption then emanating from the Oval Office. While reviewing this real scandal, many are shocked to learn the extent of the active illegality practiced by the White House and how it shook America in the 1970's. Many now understand how corrosive the Nixon Administration's aims were for American democracy. Capping their review of Watergate, they viewed the tapes of the Frost-Nixon interviews and found Nixon actually admitting to wrongdoing. Before I could comment about what they had learned about Watergate, many students asked how Benghazi could possibly be related to Watergate. When pressed, they indicated that nothing Congress has complained of with the handling of Benghazi comes close to the hijacking of American justice and government engaged in by the Nixon Administration. Gee, no kidding!
So how it is possible that so many believe the tragedy in Benghazi is more serious than the outright attempt to kidnap our democracy by the Nixon crowd? Because so many today, either forgot what Watergate was really about or they consciously avoid real facts relating to that 1970's presidential scandal. Okay Rubin, we see where this is heading and Obama is a "Liar" who is stealing our country from us and he needs to be impeached...immediately! Benghazi is just one of many things Obama has been involved in criminally! Really? Can anyone explain to me how they could possibly reach such a conclusion? Does anyone remember the depths of the active corruption engaged in by the Nixon Administration? Does anyone bother to recall how many officials within the Nixon Administration were found guilty of crimes? Obviously, no.
John Mitchell, having served as Attorney General and Campaign to Re-Elect the President ("CREEP") was convicted of perjury.
Richard Kleindienst, Nixon's Attorney General after Mitchell was also convicted for refusing to answer investigative inquiries and was sentenced to jail.
Jeb Stuart Magruder (who died this past week), head of CREEP was convicted of conspiracy.
Frederick C. LaRue, advisor to John Mitchell was found guilty of obstruction of justice.
H.R. Haldeman, Nixon's Chief of Staff was convicted of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjury.
John Ehrlichman, Counsel to the President was convicted of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and perjury.
John W. Dean, Counsel to the President was convicted of obstruction of justice.
Dwight L. Chapin, Deputy Assistant to the President was convicted of perjury.
Herbert L. Porter, aide to CREEP was convicted of perjury.
Herbert W. Kalmbach, personal attorney of the President was convicted of illegal campaigning.
Charles W. Colson, Special Counsel to Nixon was convicted of obstruction of Justice.
G. Gordon Liddy, Head of Nixon's "Special Investigative Group" was convicted of burglary.
E. Howard Hunt, former CIA operative and Nixon "Security Consultant" was convicted of burglary.
James W. McCord, Jr., "Intelligence Advisor" to the Administration was convicted of burglary, conspiracy and wiretapping.
Richard M. Nixon, facing certain impeachment and removal, resigns the Presidency (only to be fully pardoned by President Gerald Ford).
Just from this list, you must be thinking that Watergate could not have been the only thing Richard Nixon and his cabal were up to. In fact, their illegal actions began well before the Watergate break in. In fact, engaging in illegal break ins, surveillance of political opponents, theft of personal records and character assassinations of any perceived opponent (whether real or not) engaged the active services of the CIA, the FBI and the Justice Department itself. All in an effort to manipulate the 1972 elections (and derail our system of electoral democracy). And THIS is less serious than the Obama administration's failure to label the tragedy at Benghazi as "terrorist attack" the day after it occurred? What exactly does Issa and his fellow Republicans expect to discover from this (now 6th) House investigating committee? How much more can the GOP politicize the deaths of Americans at the hands of terrorists? Yes, I label them "Terrorists", but does anyone actually believe the president called for the murder of Americans? Does anyone actually believe that the military could drop out of the sky and save those killed in the surprise attack? Does no one recognize that the CIA responded to the attack (even though we were not supposed to know the CIA has such "Boots on the ground" in Libya)?
No where does the tragedy of Benghazi come even close to the scandal we all know as Watergate, yet so many have no real clue about. Although some may claim that no one died in Watergate, they somehow fail to fathom that our very democracy was under attack and our liberty itself could have been killed by a sitting president and his minions. Benghazi? Issa's own statements tell us all we really need to know about the ongoing "made for Fox News scandal and reality television" - raising money off of Benghazi is "Fair Game." For more on the real efforts behind the GOP investigation of Benghazi, see http://www.juancole.com/2014/05/benghazi-campaign-fundraising.html). See also;
http://tbo.com/news/politics/committee-chair-in-tampa-benghazi-investigation-just-in-the-early-stages-20140515/
As President Andrew Jackson once wrote; "I weep for the liberty of my country when I see at this early day of its successful experiment that corruption has been imputed to many members of the House of Representatives, and the rights of the people have been bartered for promises of office." In today's political matrix, Benghazi = GOP Fundraising = Defeat Clinton in 2016. It has nothing to do with real criminality or wrongdoing. Anyone who thinks otherwise, ignores political realities. Have a great week!
Ironically, near the end of every school year, I have my PolySci students learn about Watergate and the extent of the the corruption then emanating from the Oval Office. While reviewing this real scandal, many are shocked to learn the extent of the active illegality practiced by the White House and how it shook America in the 1970's. Many now understand how corrosive the Nixon Administration's aims were for American democracy. Capping their review of Watergate, they viewed the tapes of the Frost-Nixon interviews and found Nixon actually admitting to wrongdoing. Before I could comment about what they had learned about Watergate, many students asked how Benghazi could possibly be related to Watergate. When pressed, they indicated that nothing Congress has complained of with the handling of Benghazi comes close to the hijacking of American justice and government engaged in by the Nixon Administration. Gee, no kidding!
So how it is possible that so many believe the tragedy in Benghazi is more serious than the outright attempt to kidnap our democracy by the Nixon crowd? Because so many today, either forgot what Watergate was really about or they consciously avoid real facts relating to that 1970's presidential scandal. Okay Rubin, we see where this is heading and Obama is a "Liar" who is stealing our country from us and he needs to be impeached...immediately! Benghazi is just one of many things Obama has been involved in criminally! Really? Can anyone explain to me how they could possibly reach such a conclusion? Does anyone remember the depths of the active corruption engaged in by the Nixon Administration? Does anyone bother to recall how many officials within the Nixon Administration were found guilty of crimes? Obviously, no.
John Mitchell, having served as Attorney General and Campaign to Re-Elect the President ("CREEP") was convicted of perjury.
Richard Kleindienst, Nixon's Attorney General after Mitchell was also convicted for refusing to answer investigative inquiries and was sentenced to jail.
Jeb Stuart Magruder (who died this past week), head of CREEP was convicted of conspiracy.
Frederick C. LaRue, advisor to John Mitchell was found guilty of obstruction of justice.
H.R. Haldeman, Nixon's Chief of Staff was convicted of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjury.
John Ehrlichman, Counsel to the President was convicted of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and perjury.
John W. Dean, Counsel to the President was convicted of obstruction of justice.
Dwight L. Chapin, Deputy Assistant to the President was convicted of perjury.
Herbert L. Porter, aide to CREEP was convicted of perjury.
Herbert W. Kalmbach, personal attorney of the President was convicted of illegal campaigning.
Charles W. Colson, Special Counsel to Nixon was convicted of obstruction of Justice.
G. Gordon Liddy, Head of Nixon's "Special Investigative Group" was convicted of burglary.
E. Howard Hunt, former CIA operative and Nixon "Security Consultant" was convicted of burglary.
James W. McCord, Jr., "Intelligence Advisor" to the Administration was convicted of burglary, conspiracy and wiretapping.
Richard M. Nixon, facing certain impeachment and removal, resigns the Presidency (only to be fully pardoned by President Gerald Ford).
Just from this list, you must be thinking that Watergate could not have been the only thing Richard Nixon and his cabal were up to. In fact, their illegal actions began well before the Watergate break in. In fact, engaging in illegal break ins, surveillance of political opponents, theft of personal records and character assassinations of any perceived opponent (whether real or not) engaged the active services of the CIA, the FBI and the Justice Department itself. All in an effort to manipulate the 1972 elections (and derail our system of electoral democracy). And THIS is less serious than the Obama administration's failure to label the tragedy at Benghazi as "terrorist attack" the day after it occurred? What exactly does Issa and his fellow Republicans expect to discover from this (now 6th) House investigating committee? How much more can the GOP politicize the deaths of Americans at the hands of terrorists? Yes, I label them "Terrorists", but does anyone actually believe the president called for the murder of Americans? Does anyone actually believe that the military could drop out of the sky and save those killed in the surprise attack? Does no one recognize that the CIA responded to the attack (even though we were not supposed to know the CIA has such "Boots on the ground" in Libya)?
No where does the tragedy of Benghazi come even close to the scandal we all know as Watergate, yet so many have no real clue about. Although some may claim that no one died in Watergate, they somehow fail to fathom that our very democracy was under attack and our liberty itself could have been killed by a sitting president and his minions. Benghazi? Issa's own statements tell us all we really need to know about the ongoing "made for Fox News scandal and reality television" - raising money off of Benghazi is "Fair Game." For more on the real efforts behind the GOP investigation of Benghazi, see http://www.juancole.com/2014/05/benghazi-campaign-fundraising.html). See also;
http://tbo.com/news/politics/committee-chair-in-tampa-benghazi-investigation-just-in-the-early-stages-20140515/
As President Andrew Jackson once wrote; "I weep for the liberty of my country when I see at this early day of its successful experiment that corruption has been imputed to many members of the House of Representatives, and the rights of the people have been bartered for promises of office." In today's political matrix, Benghazi = GOP Fundraising = Defeat Clinton in 2016. It has nothing to do with real criminality or wrongdoing. Anyone who thinks otherwise, ignores political realities. Have a great week!
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