Posted on 02/04/2008 8:41:02 AM PST by OESY
Bill Clinton just can't seem to keep his sleazy private dealings out of the news: This time, it's a 2005 dinner he shared with a wealthy mining mogul and Kazakhstan's president, after which the businessman wound up with a coveted contract in that country.
The sordid story- about Clinton's meal with Kazakh strongman Nursultan Nazarbayev and UrAsia Energy Ltd. head Frank Giustra- ran on the front page of Thursday's New York Times.
Reporters Jo Becker and Don Van Natta Jr. deserve kudos: They describe how Clinton praised the Kazakh dictator, absurdly, for "opening up the social and political life of your country" and suggesting his nation lead Europe's chief security agency- which would confer legitimacy on Nazarbayev's regime.
They also recount how Giustra, at the time a newcomer to uranium mining, won a deal with Kazakhstan to buy into three of its uranium projects- just two days after the dinner.
And how Giustra, after letting a few months pass, gave $31 million to the Clinton Foundation- and later pledging another $100 million.
Now, it would be unseemly enough if Clinton were merely trading on his credentials as a former US president to raise funds, be they for his foundation or personal bank account.
But with his wife, Hillary Clinton, serving as a US senator and running for president, any such fund-raising prompts serious questions about conflicts of interest and influence-peddling.
It's absolutely unacceptable.
The Clintons must decide:
* Will he give up his wheeling and dealing - and any activity that creates questionable appearances?
* Will he sever his relations to the foundation, and to business enterprises to which he's been linked? (He's already begun to do the latter.)
* Will he at least disclose the names of his foundation's donors, so the public can judge his shenanigans for itself?...
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Change? They change for every speech and photo-op! Everyday another “stance”. Don’t like today’s? Maybe tomorrow’s will be mor eto your liking!.............
Will the Clintons change?
Only for the worse. Once in power again, the facade drops. The true Marxist/Leninist/Stalinist tendencies of Hitlery will shine forth. Corruption kings they will always be. As a criminal organization, CRIME is WHAT THEY DO!
All mankind is redeemable, and that includes the Clintons.
However, it isn’t very likely at all, and I wouldn’t bet on it or take their promise to change at face value.
I must have missed the exhaustive coverage of this important Clinton news story on the televised news. /sarc/
Why would they change? They have been richly rewarded for their crimes and with the exception of Bill’s embarassing impeachment episode, have faced no recriminations whatsoever. What motivation do they have for changing, except for getting worse?
This story alone proves to me that the fix is in for the Democrats: it's either Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama. If this weren't so, Obama would have jumped all over this in last week's debate. The worst that Hillary could have countered with is Rezko, which is minor compared to the Clinton Library and the conflicts of interest.
THEY only “change” for CHANGE....i.e. MULLAH, MONEY!!!
Many criminals will not change unless incarcerated or eliminated.
That’s an excellent cartoon.
Sure they can! They can change your paycheck into free health insurance for illegals and they can change this country into a welfare state.
And that my friend, is my nightmare scenario as well. We are in deep dudu if that happens.
“Many criminals will not change unless incarcerated or eliminated.”
Or lobotomized.
February 6, 2008 — THE ISSUE: Bill Clinton’s business dealings and his refusal to disclose his charity’s donors.
The Post’s editorial, “Can the Clintons Change?” (Feb. 4) is a serious piece of rhetorical wit.
What is most amusing is that, regardless of how much slime they add to the headlines, there’s a 50/50 chance that this dog-and-pony act could occupy the White House again.
It’s like the OJ Simpson murder trial. Let’s not let the truth get in the way of the facts.
Most troubling is the public’s approval of these two dishonest people. Somehow, this society thinks that lying and cheating are admirable traits.
It’s a sad day in America if this is the best we have to offer. It cheapens the very foundation that makes this nation special.
Wake up, America. Scandals are second nature to the Clintons - and apparently to a large segment of voters.
Theodore Miraldi
The Bronx
****
Bill Clinton’s apparent influence-peddling in Kazakhstan pales in comparison to the mysterious funding sources for his $165 million presidential library.
I am appalled that a man, twice sworn to the presidency and whose wife now seeks that office, refuses to reveal the names of the donors.
These are funds that were solicited from the Oval Office while he was a sitting president. Who does he seek to protect with such secrecy, and why?
We should withhold federal funding for the operation of any library named for any president, Republican or Democrat, if that library has been built with funds from secret sources.
If Bill is going to campaign on Hillary’s behalf, and if she wants to be the candidate of change, Hillary should show some leadership and use her newly found voice to demand full and immediate disclosure.
No wonder voters don’t trust the Clintons: The pervasive scent of “quid pro quo” follows them wherever they go, even to Kazakhstan.
Lisa Barlerin
Manhattan
****
If Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton becomes president, will First Hubby Bill be forced to register as a foreign agent due to the mysterious uranium deal in Kazakhstan and overseas contributions to the Clinton Library and Clinton Foundation?
Bob Tufts
Forest Hills
****
Clinton uses his political muscle to get a millionaire businessman a lucrative mineral deal in Kazakhstan, the guy donates $31 million to the Clinton Foundation and this only looks suspicious?
If Hillary Clinton wins the election, this kind of behavior might continue.
Are these people for real, or do they just pretend to be naive?
Chris Michaels
Morganville, NJ
.
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