$70 MILLION

NROTC ^ | 6/21/04 | Jonah Goldberg

[swilhelm73]

$70 MILLION [Jonah Goldberg]

The talking point seems to be that Starr wasted $70 million on an investigation that didn't have worthwhile results. Would that liberals condemned every government enterprise based upon the right intentions (the Independent Counsel law was a liberal favorite for years after all) which didn't pan out.

Of course, if the money was the issue and Clinton did nothing wrong in Whitewater, the travel office etc, you'd think Clinton wouldn't have stonewalled the way he did. Reagan waved privileges during Iran-Contra while Clinton invoked every one he could, made up new ones and dragged his feet at every turn. That probably added a few mil to the IC's tab.

[swilhelm73]

Another point here too. The whitewater investigationhad five principles targets. The Clintons, the McDougals, and Gov Tucker.

They got three of the five...including the Gov of Ak. Rather hard to argue it was a waste of money in that light..

[Huntress]

Does anyone remember how much Clinton's trip to China cost? As I recall, it was a lot.

The Clintons sure are quick to criticize spending, except when it is on themselves. Shameless.

[marron]

The trip to India was $50+ million.

[Steven W.]

There were more than 5 - Starr set records for numbers of convictions, etc.

[Polybius]

The talking point seems to be that Starr wasted $70 million on an investigation that didn't have worthwhile results.

Worthwhile enough to get someone disbarred and that "someone" was not Starr.

[edger]

The reason Ken Starr didn't find anything is he didn't look. Almost everybody who worked in the White House at the time of the FBI file scandal was part of a trial somewhere and giving depositions right and left. The depositions were available for download---which I did for a while. Each one of those WH employees was asked, "When did Ken Starr or any of his staff first ask you about the FBI files?" The answer from every one was, "Never."

[OldFriend]

About those 500 folks he dragged off to Africa. About those trips to India because Chelsea had gotten a taste for chicken tandoori.

[Tacis]

Always remember that Willie spent $70 million on Chelsea's summer vaction trip to Beijing and damn close to that amount on every one of the two-a-year trips he took to amuse Chelsea!

[Hardastarboard]

The number 14 comes to mind. Didn't Starr convict, not just indict, the governor of Arkansas, Webb Hubbell, and several other "worthies" whose names escape me? Failed investigation, my @$$.

[Flashman_at_the_charge]

The $70m amount is incorrect, Starr turned in a final figure of $39m total cost to the General Accounting Office.

Convictions

Whitewater

• AK Gov. Jim Guy Tucker - fraud felony convictions - 3 counts (Tucker resigned facing impeachment)
• Jim McDougal - fraud and conspiracy felony convictions - 18 counts
• Susan McDougal - felony - 4 counts (pardoned during Clinton's last minute pardongate payoffs)
• William J. Marks Sr - conspiracy
• Stephen Smith - conspiracy
• Larry Kuca - Fraud
• Neal Ainley - 2 misdemeanors for embezzlement
• David Hale - guilty plea - conspiracy
• Chris Wade - felony - Whitewater real-estate investor
• John Haley - recent! 1998 on fraud
• Robert Palmer - felony for conspiracy
• Charles Matthews - guilty plea for bribery
• Eugene Fitzhugh - Whitewater - bribery
• Webster Hubbell - #2 ranking Justice Dept. Official - felony for embezzlement and fraud
• John Latham - CEO of Madison Bank - bank fraud

Campaign Finance

• Johnny Chung - Clinton cronie - felony guilty plea - funneling money from China
• Gene Lum - convicted - felony for money laundering for the DNC
• Nora Lum - convicted - felony for money laundering for the DNC
• Howard Glicken - guilty plea - 2 midemeanors - funneling foreign donations
• Yah Lin "Charlie" Trie - guilty plea - illegal Clinton campaign donations
• John Huang - Clinton cronie - felony guilty plea - funneling money from China

Paula Jonesgate

• William Jefferson Clinton - found guilty - civil contempt of court - lying under oath about material facts. The Office of the Independent Council further presented Clinton with an agreement that had him disbarred from practicing law for 5 years and made him sign a statement admitting to his deception.

[CyberAnt]

I thought it was $45 million .. that's what the dems were saying at the time. I remember that because the repubs were countering with the $40 million Bill spent on his trip to Africa.

Also .. if it was for nothing .. why did Clinton sign a document on his last day in office - ADMITTING HIS GUILT ..?? And .. if it was nothing, why did Clinton lose his law license for 5 years ..??

The impeached rapist is still spinning like a top.