Why I'm glad the Republicans are poo-pooing perjury as a "technicality"

[Walt Starr]

1) They're also on ther record stating it's a grievous crime that should result in the impeachment of a president even when committing perjury in a civil case almost never results in criminal conviction since that is saved for perjury in criminal cases.

2) I think there's going to be one hell of a lot more than perjury,. obstruction, or even conspiracy thjat the top dogs are going to eb indicted over, which makes their perjury "technicality" crap just that, crap.

3) It will work in our favor come 2006. Hell, Hutchinson is now officially vulnerable in Texas, of all places!

[Moochy]

1. Yeah but when the second in command

commits perjury, and we all know how the "inverted pyramid" of power is set up around bush, with him at the bottom of the matrix-management style diagram....

Doesnt that perjury mean more when the puppetmaster's second lt. and the architech perjure?

[gratuitous]

2. The DCCC has compiled a little list

For your reading enjoyment (I swiped this wholesale from the Daily Kos, which helpfully provides the appropriate links):

Sen. Frist: "There is no serious question that perjury and obstruction of justice are high crimes and misdemeanors...Indeed, our own Senate precedent establishes that perjury is a high crime and misdemeanor...The crimes of perjury and obstruction of justice are public crimes threatening the administration of justice."

Sen. Kyl: "...there can be no doubt that perjurious, false, and misleading statements made under oath in federal court proceedings are indeed impeachable offenses...John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the United States, said `there is no crime more extensively pernicious to society' than perjury, precisely because it `discolors and poisons the streams of justice.'"

Sen. DeWine: "Obstruction of justice and perjury strike at the very heart of our system of justice...Perjury is also a very serious crime...The judiciary is designed to be a mechanism for finding the truth-so that justice can be done. Perjury perverts the judiciary, turning it into a mechanism that accepts lies-so that injustice may prevail."

Sen. Talent: "Nobody else in a position of trust, not a CEO, not a labor union leader, not a principal of a school could do half of what the president has done and stay in office. I mean, who would have said a year ago that a president could perjure himself and obstruct justice and tamper with witnesses... and stay in office."

Sen. McConnell: "I am completely and utterly perplexed by those who argue that perjury and obstruction of justice are not high crimes and misdemeanors...Perjury and obstruction hammer away at the twin pillars of our legal system: truth and justice."

Sen. Voinovich: "As constitutional scholar Charles Cooper said, `The crimes of perjury and obstruction of justice, like the crimes of treason and bribery, are quintessentially offenses against our system of government, visiting injury immediately on society itself.'"

Sen. Hutchison: "The reason that I voted to remove him from office is because I think the overridding issue here is that truth will remain the standard for perjury and obstruction of justice in our criminal justice system and it must not be gray. It must not be muddy."

Sen. Craig: "There is no question in my mind that perjury and obstruction of justice are the kind of public crimes that the Founders had in mind, and the House managers have demonstrated these crimes were committed by the president. As for the excuses being desperately sought by some to allow President Clinton to escape accountability, it seems to me that creating such loopholes would require tearing holes in the Constitution-something that cannot be justified to protect this president, or any president."

Sen. Brownback: "Perjury and obstruction of justice are crimes against the state. Perjury goes directly against the truth-finding function of the judicial branch of government."

[BikeWriter]

5. Here's a link to that.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/10/24/122929/29

[bunny planet]

10. The internets are a beautiful thing ain't they. All that proof of

hypocrisy, double standards, and flip-flopping right there at your fingertips.

[billybob537]

3. Up is Down

Clinton was impeached for perjury. Now that it's a puke "perjury isn't a real crime. If you listen to these people your head wil;l explode.

[emulatorloo]

4. Sane people will be repelled by "Perjury is not a crime"

Freeps will buy it and get all bellicose.

But I have faith that sane people understand you can't lie in court and get away with it.

[tabasco]

6. True. Only the drinkers of the strongest kool-aid ...

will be able to abide the rank hypocrisy.

[alarcojon]

7. And I'd say they're 25% of the country

unfortunately a force to be dealt with. They are beyond the reach of reason.

[TahitiNut]

8. It betrays a knowledge of FAR GREATER crimes.

Let's be very, very clear ... anyone who sets up a firewall, defensive perimeter, line of cannon fodder, or other ablative clearly values that 'fodder' far less than the thing being defended. Any head of some organized criminal undertaking places a far greater value on the 'boss' than on the 'soldiers.' Knights fall on their swords for the king. Staffers take the fall for the bosses. For many decades, the tactic of "Plausible Deniability" has meant that it's easier to admit to ignorance or even incompetence than to admit guilt for criminality.

Firewall 1 - Admit to an 'error' for 'mistakenly' exposing Valerie Plame.

Firewall 2 - Have junior staffers take the perjury fall for something motivated by political retribution.

Firewall 3 - Have senior staffers take the perjury and obstruction fall for something motivated by political retribution.

Firewall 4 - Have Cheney take the conspiracy fall for something motivated by political retribution.

Firewall 5 - Admit guilt for deliberate political retribution.

Firewall 6 - Admit attempt to cover up knowledge of false 'intelligence' in arguing for invasion of Iraq.

Core being defended - Deliberate destruction of CIA intelligence assets that were exposing corruption in Corporate/federal dealings in the Middle East, clearing the way in the future for corrupt corporate profiteering and weapons dealing in South Asia and the Middle East.


It seems clear to me that the 'perjury's not so bad' apologists are more than happy to let the investigation and prosecution to end there. That 'happiness' is what motivates the 'it ain't bad' polemics.

Peel the onion!

[hvn_nbr_2]

12. Bingo

I suspect that CIA completely enlightened Fitzgerald about the "core being defended" very early in the investigation. All the subsequent perjury and obstruction just strengthen the core case and tie it up in neat ribbons. In a sense, peeling the onion from the inside out.

[peacetalksforall]

9. Remember the good old 90's - it was all about perjury, rule of law,

just coming forward, just admitting, just apologizing, family values, AND the honor and integrity of the White House.

Interesting - Family values - in the first five years of the 21st Century, a cabal of a few people have affected the family values of the families who are missing the bread winner and father or mother of one or four or more and what about the values of those who lose their mind, hearing, eyesight, immune system, peace of mind, limbs, organs. And what about the values of a family whose soldier who gets out and shoots down his family.

Yep - this regime is all about family values and honor and integrity in the White House.

[KharmaTrain]

11. Here's Yet Another DU Project: Accountability

First, compile all the statements made by Repugnicans during '98 and throughout the Clinton fiasco. Look closely for any comments made about "perjury", "rule of law" and the like. Remember, Repugnicans told us it wasn't about the sex, it was the "rule of law" that was under attack. I'm sure we'll find a cornicopia of soundbites and clips from right wing hacks and Repugnicans in a lather about how threatened our legal system was if a lie about a blow job was akin to crimes and misdemeanors.

Next, is for some intrepid bloggers to either listen for or call up every Repugnican Senator and Congress critter and get their take on this latest scandal. Right now would be an ideal time, since many still think they have wiggle room...and probably have the "technicality" talking point. Then once the indictments hit the fan, those statements could became equally radioactive.

I'd love to see a ton of campaign commercials next October with these statements...they just write themselves.