1) a permanent mistrust of the office of the Presidency
Only people can be mistrusted. The office of the Presidency can do nothing by itself. Only the person in that position can. I trust that President Bush is making choices in the best interest of our country, but he is human. So I retain some skepticism and find out the facts and refrain from making any such blanket judgment. That would be like disbanding the Boy Scouts because some Leaders were gay.
If you have a permanent distrust of that office, I understand. In general I distrust all politicians until they prove different.
2) the stench of collusion between elected officials in high places to protect each other
And it has been that way since time began. I find it hard to blame Bush for over 200 years of history involving collusion.
3) the knowledge that a sitting President gets a FREE PASS for blatantly committing "high crimes and misdemeanors"
President Bush is the President. He is not a circuit court judge, a jury, or a Supreme Court Justice. He cannot prosecute, nor judge guilty, anyone. He could have frustratingly pursued prosecution of the former President, but at what cost? Remember, the former President was impeached, and yet those who DO JUDGE, decided not to vote for his removal from office. If you want to blame someone, blame them.
4) the acceptance of abhorrent behavior by a sitting Commander In Chief.
I'm with you 100% on this one. No US citizen, No member of that President's political party should have tolerated his behavior during his term. He disgraced the highest office in the land.
.... but such opinion is irrelevant when the law of the land has NOT been carried out.
Again, it was carried out by the impeachment, but the removal of BC from office was not. I am sure GWB would like to carry out all applicable laws of the land against any crimes of BC. (And don't think he isn't trying. But it takes time, and patience.) Hillary's campaign fund underreporting is an example. But she had a sacrificial lamb. (BC isn't the brains behind the Clinton's crime sprees. HC is.)
I agree with you to a degree.
Dubya is human and prone to mistakes. I believe he is making many choices for the betterment of the Republic, however on the issue of "finding out facts" until making judgements, the "facts" ARE in.
Bubba Clintoon IS a rapist. Bubba STOLE FBI files. Bubba's relationship with Chinese "investors" was highly suspect. Bubba pardoned Marc Rich. Ad infinitum...
Without enacting the judical "cleansing" of the nth degree sullying of the White House by Bubba, it is impossible not to be TOTALLY skeptical of collusion.
"He [Dubya] could have frustratingly pursued prosecution of the former President, but at what cost?
What again is the "cost" of NOT prosecuting so serious and obvious of crimes against the United States of America?
For instance, the so-called "investigations" into the FBI debacle and Vince Foster were a joke. They were NEVER legitimately "investigated." Are you suggesting we honor some kind of moritorium on enforcing righteous justice?
Look, I know you feel it's better to be pragmatic about whether Bubba's crimes against humanity and the United States of America ought to be can o' worm worth opening. However, by ignoring them, the integrity and honor of the Office REMAINS suspect and compromised.