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Clinton Coda
Wall Street Journal ^ | 1/21/06 | Opinion

Posted on 01/21/2006 8:34:25 AM PST by harpu

The last of the Clinton-era independent counsels, David Barrett, was finally allowed to release his report this week. And while the revelations aren't earth-shattering, the report reminds us why we don't miss the 1990s.

The Barrett probe began because former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros lied to the FBI during a background check about alleged hush payments to a mistress. Mr. Cisneros pleaded guilty to that offense in 1999, and President Clinton eventually pardoned him. But Mr. Barrett also gathered evidence that Mr. Cisneros didn't report the money for those payments as taxable income. Mr. Barrett alleges that his attempts to investigate tax evasion were obstructed by officials at the Justice Department and IRS.

Some of the most interesting details in the Barrett Report were rumored to concern former IRS Commissioner Peggy Richardson. But they have been redacted. What was deemed fit for public viewing is troubling enough, however, and includes characters familiar to anyone who followed the other Clinton scandals. They include Lee Radek and Jo Ann Farrington of the Justice Department's Public Integrity section, as well as their boss, former Attorney General Janet Reno.

- HUGE SNIP -

Mr. Barrett didn't plan it this way, but it is somehow fitting his report should appear the week Mr. Clinton is entitled to reclaim the law license he forfeited for lying under oath in the Lewinsky case. His report is one piece of a larger story of ethical corner-cutting and a willingness to misuse the institutions of government. With much of the same crowd now preparing for another run at power in 2008, it's fair to ask, what would be different this time?

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: barrettreport; davidbarrett; henrycisneros; peggyrichardson; richardson; wsj; x42
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For those who might like to see the rest of the story...ping me and perhaps we can share the rest via FReepMail
1 posted on 01/21/2006 8:34:25 AM PST by harpu
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To: harpu

Mr. Barrett didn't plan it this way, but it is somehow fitting his report should appear the week Mr. Clinton is entitled to reclaim the law license he forfeited for lying under oath in the Lewinsky case. His report is one piece of a larger story of ethical corner-cutting and a willingness to misuse the institutions of government. With much of the same crowd now preparing for another run at power in 2008, it's fair to ask, what would be different this time?
------
Yes, another reminder that Clinton = sleaze, corruption and criminality. And a reminder to the liberal dolts that voted this maggot into our Oval Office TWICE.


2 posted on 01/21/2006 8:36:50 AM PST by EagleUSA
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To: harpu
Some of the most interesting details in the Barrett Report were rumored to concern former IRS Commissioner Peggy Richardson

Any relation to Bill Richardson?

3 posted on 01/21/2006 8:38:59 AM PST by Osage Orange (Why does John McCain always look like a mule eating cockleburrs?)
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To: EagleUSA

Chuck Grassley should get up on his hind legs and publish the entire report on his web site. If he had any guts, that is.


4 posted on 01/21/2006 8:39:46 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (BTUs are my Beat.)
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To: harpu
Mr. Barrett alleges that his attempts to investigate tax evasion were obstructed by officials at the Justice Department and IRS.

What would 911 have been like if Clinton's Justice Department had devoted a few more BTU's to Al Qaeda instead of protecting their corrupt political organization?

5 posted on 01/21/2006 8:43:00 AM PST by alrea
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To: harpu

When Fitzgerald was done, indictments were handed down.

Now that Barrett is done, no indictments???

Or is someone waitng until we get closer to November'06 to dump it on the Dems???

This is the political equivalent of coitus interruptus.


6 posted on 01/21/2006 8:44:09 AM PST by TheRobb7 (The American Spirit does not require a federal subsidy.)
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To: harpu

Hi harpu,

Yes, if you have it I would appreciate getting the whole article. I don't have a subscripton.

Sadly, the Clinton's really are the gift that just keeps on giving. I did not expect anything earth shattering, but it belies the claim Democrats are using for Republicans now, calling us the party of corruption. The Bush administration has been so clean that it's driving the Democrats nuts.

If it is easier to send this using normal e-mail, please feel free to send it to morgan80237@yahoo.com

Morgan


7 posted on 01/21/2006 8:46:20 AM PST by Morgan in Denver
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To: harpu

ping me


8 posted on 01/21/2006 8:48:45 AM PST by Squat (Deport the illegals now! Turn Home Depot's into the prisons to hold the illegals!.)
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To: TheRobb7

Not all investigations result in indictments, but where criminal activity is uncovered, they should.


9 posted on 01/21/2006 8:52:50 AM PST by billhilly
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To: harpu
"For those who might like to see the rest of the story...ping me and perhaps we can share the rest via FReepMail"

I would very much like to read the rest of the story so I am pinging you to please FreepMail me with it. Thanks...........Spunky

10 posted on 01/21/2006 9:07:59 AM PST by Spunky ("Everyone has a freedom of choice, but not of consequences.")
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To: TheRobb7
Now that Barrett is done, no indictments???

Barrett prosecuted Cisneros and his girlfriend. They were convicted on multiple counts, then pardoned by Bill Clinton.

11 posted on 01/21/2006 9:20:42 AM PST by HAL9000 (Get a Mac - The Ultimate FReeping Machine)
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To: HAL9000

Did you notice how a lot of the old media actually said that "most" of Barrett's time was spent working under the Bush adminstration?


12 posted on 01/21/2006 9:22:30 AM PST by Howlin
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To: harpu

They ask "what would be different this time?" How about corruption multiplied by whatever number you can conceive.


13 posted on 01/21/2006 9:23:19 AM PST by surrey
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To: HAL9000

"Barrett's allegations of a cover-up are nothing short of laughable, given that the Bush administration was in charge for the majority of his investigation, and it's clear he's simply making excuses to justify his expensive and fruitless witch hunt," Mr. Carson said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/20/politics/20inquire.html?pagewanted=print


14 posted on 01/21/2006 9:23:44 AM PST by Howlin
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To: Howlin

Thanks for the link. Carson distorted the facts, but it is disappointing that Ashcroft's DOJ did not authorize an investigation of the coverup. Congress ought to hold public hearings on the findings of Barrett's report.


15 posted on 01/21/2006 9:35:30 AM PST by HAL9000 (Get a Mac - The Ultimate FReeping Machine)
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To: EagleUSA; harpu

<< another reminder that Clinton = sleaze, corruption and criminality. And [Was] .... voted ... into our Oval Office .... >>

No he wasn't.

He attained office via the good offices of that evil little IBM-robbing goblins-in-the-garden bad-hair-cut bastard from Texas and of the activist "Democrats" who collect the INS dole and by way of the two most massive electoral frauds ever perpetrated in the United States of America.

And I am very pleased to be lost among the two-hundred and thirty million-odd other Americans who have never even bad-dreamed about voting for the recidivist, treasonous, lying, looting, thieving, mass-murdering, serial raping son of a Hot-Springs' whorehouse Tom and/or Dick and/or Harry, gangster bastard!


16 posted on 01/21/2006 1:29:51 PM PST by Brian Allen (How arrogant are we to believe our career political-power-lusting lumpen somehow superior to theirs?)
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To: harpu

Worst Crime Machine to ever live in the WH...that's what one day history will show.


17 posted on 01/21/2006 1:32:10 PM PST by shield (The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instructions.Pr 1:7)
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To: harpu
And while the revelations aren't earth-shattering...

That's because 1/3 or the report was "redacted", not released, hushed up.

18 posted on 01/21/2006 3:04:17 PM PST by theDentist (Qwerty ergo typo : I type, therefore I misspelll.)
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To: billhilly
The Clintoon years where all criminal activity.
19 posted on 01/21/2006 3:59:59 PM PST by boomop1
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To: HAL9000
Barrett prosecuted Cisneros and his girlfriend. They were convicted on multiple counts, then pardoned by Bill Clinton.

Doesn't this set a "political" precedent for Bush pardoning Libby if he is convicted in a court of law?

20 posted on 01/21/2006 6:27:18 PM PST by p23185 (Why isn't attempting to take down a sitting Pres & his Admin considered Sedition?)
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