why clark won't make bush accountable

[bearfartinthewoods]

i wish i would have saved the url but i didn't. it was to one of the threads in freepville, prior to the 00 election. the freeps were having it out as to whether bush would make clinton accountable.

one side just "knew" bush would re-open all the old charges and "bring clinton to justice". the other side said they were foolish to believe that because bush would be walking into a closely split congresss and if he ever hoped to get any of his agenda passed, he couldn't possibly start out by investigating clinton.

well, we know which side was right in the argument. the same reasoning stands now, applied to this idea that clark will make bush accountable. if elected, he will walk into a pubbie house and senate. no way is he going to do anything to start investigating bush. none of our guys will. and you should look twice at any candidate who tries to get your vote by saying he will.

[LTR]

1. It won't happen

Presidents don't really like attacking other presidents. It is a bad precedent, and can backfire easily. It's best to stay above the frey.

That's why you saw Carter commend Ford for keeping the country together in Nixon's wake during his inauguration speech.

[maxr4clark]

7. No, Carter believed it was right; so did I.

Nixon WAS investigated. There is a difference between finding out the truth, and what to do with the wrongdoer after the truth is determined.

I can see investigating Bush to get the truth out, and then a fairly lenient sentencing, or even a pardon. Both the truth-finding process AND the leniency will help reunite the country, by giving Republicans a reason to see things from the Dems side, and then a gracious call for unification.

[bearfartinthewoods]

15. it's a nice dream but it will never happen.

never has....never will. the OFFICE of the president must be protected...yada yada.

[maxr4clark]

19. To protect the office of the president

you have to bring those who misuse the power of that office to justice.

You and I are not going to end up agreeing on this.

[Skittles]

2. investingating Clinton FOR WHAT?

what on EARTH could he be investigated for that 8 years and $70,000,000 worth of WITCH HUNT didn't cover ??????????????????????

[bearfartinthewoods]

14. the richie pardons and others

janet reno's tenure at the fbi especially ..oh...crap...mindlock.
the davidians....waco. jeeze i am losing it. the waco tradgedy.
there was other stuff too but those are the ones that stick out.

[Skittles]

20. YOU DON'T THINK THOSE WEREN'T INVESTIGATED ????

I HEARD ABOUT THEM AD NAUSEUM

[bearfartinthewoods]

23. did i say that?

they wanted clinton in jail. they didn't get what they wanted and neither will we.

[Democrats unite]

3. If you want to listen to the reasons of freepers, be my guest...

Allot of people including Clark have what is called free will & use it freely.

[bearfartinthewoods]

10. are you kidding?

free will....in washington?

nothing in DC happens without co-opperation from others.

[maxr4clark]

4. he can and will; any Dem that wins should

for two reasons. First, you were talking about Bush reopening investigations. The investigation of Cheney's secret energy task force shows an existing will to hold this administration accountable; no investigations of Bush's misconduct have yet begun. Opening and reopening investigations are different, and have different political consequences.

Second, a Democratic victory this year will put Repub control over both houses in jeopardy in the midterm elections. Repubs will be between a rock and a hard place: support Bush by stonewalling sensible legislation in protest over investigations, and Repubs risk suffering Bush's fate at the ballot box. Frankly, I hope they do; I'd love to win back the House and the Senate. Their other choice is to join the Dems in saying Bush misled them; that won't go over well with their base, either.

There is a lot to be gained politically by holding Bush accountable.

[bearfartinthewoods]

8. the same freeps freaked when bush didn't look into the

"clinton pardons". they were frothing at the mouths because bush was
not looking into that and janet reno's tenure at the fbi. those would have been new investigations not re-opening old well trod ground.

midterms...it is common 'wisdom' that the midterm after a prez is elected means LOSES IN THE PREZ'S PARTY. that's what made the pubbies gain such a shocker. plus, opening investigations into bush will not help clark because the general population doesn't like conflict and disorder. it's bad for the markets.

pressure to establish a working relationship with the pubbies.
pressure to maintain the current bull market.
pressure to not antagonize the independent voters prior to midterms.

three very powerful arguements against stirring the pot.

and i just heard clark say he would never put partisan politics ahead of the good of the country. that's how investigations of bush would be viewed by most people or at least most swing voters who we need to get the senate and house back.

ain't gonna happen.

[mikehiggins]

12. Yup, there ain't a professional politician out there that'd want to

open up that can of worms.

Not one professional politician in the land.

Nope.

Not one.

[bearfartinthewoods]

17. i get your point...clark is not a pro

but that still doesn't discount the reasons against it. clark will not be king or emperor. he will not govern in a vacumn. the power of the president has limits.

[maxr4clark]

16. there's a HUGE difference

Between Clinton's pardons, which are at the President's discretion, and misleading the country into fighting a war in which 500 Americans died. I can't believe you're serious.

I see investigating Bush as important for the country, not as partisan politics. The political process has to be an open book in this country. The country needs to know that the President represents truth and decency, whether it is Clinton or Bush or Clark. Determining whether Bush did is important in the process of moving on, just like it was with Nixon.

[bearfartinthewoods]

22. it doesn't matter how we see it.

what would matter to a newbee clark administration is the good will of the middle. he will never blow his honeymoon, if he gets one, on investigating bush.

i think you are right. we will never agree on this one.

[wyldwolf]

5. Aside from the freeper advice you took to heart, be fair and...

...apply this to ALL the candidates...

why dean won't make bush accountable
why kerry won't make bush accountable
why edwards won't make bush accountable
why Kucinich won't make bush accountable
why sharpton won't make bush accountable

Why make CLARK the subject of the thread?

Why not just say NONE will make bush accountable?

I've seen plenty of statements from people here claiming their guy will.

[bearfartinthewoods]

9. because he's the only one who i've seen referenced

i read clark supporters saying he will do this and that this is important in their choice of candidates. none of them will. i said none of them will.

[wyldwolf]

13. THAT is because you only remember things you disagree with...

...from candidates you don't prefer.

For example, anti-Clark people certainly remember and reference Clark's friendly words about the Bush administration but choose to ignore similar words from Dean.

[KittyWampus]

6. I Just Lost A LOT Of Respect For Someone Here

:(

Edit: And it isn't Clark

[bearfartinthewoods]

11. gee....i never know you respected me before

i'm sorry you no longer do to the same extent.

[Skittles]

21. DITTO FOR ME

I'm hitting the IGNORE BUTTON to (self-censored).

[NNN0LHI]

18. Coattails can be an amazing thing to watch n/t