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Enron 'Scandal' Should Prompt Indictments - for the Clintons
Newsmax ^ | 1/13/02 | Carl Limbacher...

Posted on 01/13/2002 7:21:33 AM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection

No one can say President Bush hasn't tried.

As part of his campaign pledge to move the country beyond eight years of partisan squabbling over Clinton-era corruption, he never mentioned Whitewater or Monicagate or any other of the dozen or so gates that metastasized during the 1990's.

After he was elected, Bush gave his silent approval when, the day before he took office, Independent Counsel Robert Ray announced he wouldn't prosecute President Clinton for blatant and repeated instances of perjury before a federal grand jury and a federal judge.

Days later his Justice Department quietly removed the noose from around the neck of Chinagate kingpin James Riady, allowing the Clinton benefactor to walk away from the most serious scandal in American history in exchange for a token fine and community service that Riady was permitted to perform on the honor system back home in Indonesia.

Bush has kept the prosecutorial dogs muzzled in the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York, as dueling grand juries heard evidence all summer implicating Bill, Hillary and even former first brother Roger Clinton in a pardons-for-cash scam where a fugitive billionaire, a major cocaine dealer and even a Mafia don got White House shakedowns.

It got so bad that when outgoing Clinton staffers vandalized the White House and Air Force One stewards reported items missing after the Clintons' last flight home, President Bush grit his teeth, smiled as though it never happened and refused to let his aides investigate.

In short, in the interest of political comity, George Bush handcuffed justice and allowed the former first family to make a total and complete mockery out of the law.

Now, however, as the partisan squabbling and media hysteria reach a fevered pitch over the Enron scandal, Democrats herald the arrival of "Bush's Whitewater." It's clear the president's strategy to give the Clintons a break and stem the tide of political retribution has failed - and failed miserably.

Without so much as a hint of Bush administration impropriety, the Democrat-media machine has ginned up no fewer than eight federal and congressional probes into the energy giant's collapse.

Politicians who decried the money spent probing the real Whitewater scandal - "Seven years, $70 million dollars - and for what?" they complained - can barely conceal their burning desire for new impeachment hearings that will install a Democrat in the White House in 2004.

How should Bush respond? Simple. Unshackle the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York and let prosecutors there show Washington's political ingrates what criminal wrongdoing really looks like.

It's time to take the muzzle off lead prosecutor Elliot Jacobson, who at last word was heading up the probe and who clearly had enough evidence to file charges against Roger Clinton by last summer.

It's well past time to move against the Clinton family's Golden Girls, Denise Rich and Beth Dozoretz, both of whom told Congress last year that if they told the truth about Pardongate "it might tend to incriminate me."

And it's time to publicly call both Bill and Hillary Clinton before the Pardongate grand juries - and, unlike what happened in Whitewater, let the grand jurors themselves decide if the evidence warrants prosecution.

Democrats now foaming at the mouth over "Enrongate" didn't know when they had a good thing, and in fact, it's now plain that Bush's indulgence only engendered their contempt.

Now that the Washington scandal machine has Bush in its crosshairs, it's time for the president to make sure the rules apply to both sides equally - and if that means prosecuting Bill and Hillary Clinton, so be it.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Democrats now foaming at the mouth over "Enrongate" didn't know when they had a good thing, and in fact, it's now plain that Bush's indulgence only engendered their contempt.

Now that the Washington scandal machine has Bush in its crosshairs, it's time for the president to make sure the rules apply to both sides equally - and if that means prosecuting Bill and Hillary Clinton, so be it.

It certainly seems that one of the Bush administration's early decisions was to try to cool the political climate, and "move on". Doing so required letting Clinton and his crime family off the hook.

IMHO, this was a big mistake. For one thing, re-establishing the principal that even the President is not above the law is essential for our long-term survival as a nation. Second, thugs like the two Clintons and their cronies in Congress always interpret steps like Bush's as a sign of weakness. Weakness invites contempt and further attacks.

Now we have a second chance. I do not know if the investigations Bush closed can be re-opened. But I do know that Enron stinks, and that none of that stink has stuck to Bush. However, some of it clearly sitcks to Clinton. Bring it on.

21 posted on 01/13/2002 8:40:20 AM PST by EternalHope
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To: RJCogburn
Well, a defeatist, fatalistic mentality does us no good, either.
22 posted on 01/13/2002 8:47:09 AM PST by rdb3
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To: EternalHope
Maybe Bush was allowing Clinton(s) to make this so blatant they would simply hang themselves in the public eye. Remember, Bush never made civic decision to pardon Clinton...
23 posted on 01/13/2002 8:50:49 AM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
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To: M. Thatcher
I always stood against a full, frontal assault by the Bush Administration in trying to put Clinton(s) in jail. I, too, want to see them brought to justice, it was just a matter of how.

It is about time for the law of unintended consequences to come back and bite the RATS, and this is one way to achieve that objective. If they push it and continue to overreach, the evidence will point to Clinton more than anyone else.

Wouldn't it be even more sweet if Clinton winds up behind bars by what the RATS do? I think that would be suh-weeeet!

24 posted on 01/13/2002 8:53:59 AM PST by rdb3
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To: rdb3
Wouldn't it be even more sweet if Clinton winds up behind bars

See what I mean? This remains a pipe dream of too many on the right. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

25 posted on 01/13/2002 8:58:32 AM PST by M. Thatcher
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To: M. Thatcher
You didn't finish my sentence.

I said, "Wouldn't it be even more sweet if Clinton winds up behind bars by what the RATS do?

Like I said, I'd love to see Clinton eventually brought to justice, but I don't lose sleep over it. Sometimes it's better to leave well enough alone.

26 posted on 01/13/2002 9:07:12 AM PST by rdb3
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection; rdb3; M. Thatcher; EternalHope; RJCogburn; ex-snook; Donald Stone; evad...
Thanks for the ping!:

Great article, fyi:

Steyn: They can't Pin This on Bush
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/607112/posts

27 posted on 01/13/2002 9:27:41 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
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To: EternalHope
Hi EternalHope
excellent post
I agree with every word you said
Love, Palo
28 posted on 01/13/2002 9:27:48 AM PST by palo verde
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To: Fred Mertz
Hi Fred
thanks for the ping
I see eye to eye with you on this
Love, Palo
29 posted on 01/13/2002 9:29:44 AM PST by palo verde
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To: Donald Stone
Suspending the "Rule of Law" for political convenience such as Presiident Bush has done may be the downfall of both the Democrats & Republicans

perceptive post
Love, Palo
30 posted on 01/13/2002 9:31:39 AM PST by palo verde
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To: rdb3
Enron is a "pop and no kick" for the RATS, but they are salivating so profusely about a chance to down the Bush presidency, they didn't pay attention. Their rifle is about to explode right in their faces.

So, grab some popcorn, a Coke, sit back and relax. The fireworks are about to begin. It's going to be a magnificent show!


BIG Texas DITTOS BUMP to that! ! My feelings exactly. Make sure to check out the article I bumped you to. Aw, what the hey! Here it is again!:

Great article, fyi:

Steyn: They can't Pin This on Bush
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/607112/posts

31 posted on 01/13/2002 9:36:03 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
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$600 Billion Enron Shares May Have Propped US Market Post 9/11-Bill Clinton Could Surface in Probe
32 posted on 01/13/2002 9:44:39 AM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
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To: Christine11; BillofRights; mwl1; habs4ever
Hi guys,
it may turn out that not carrying out the Rule of Law will hurt Pubbies more than carrying it out would have done
In Impeachment, the Pubbies did the right thing, and it brought them political gold
Good is indivisible
Putting the country first would have made this administration invulnerable
Love, Palo
33 posted on 01/13/2002 9:47:53 AM PST by palo verde
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Hi Tumbleweed
thanks for the article
it is filled with food for thought
I read the thread -- and find the posts perceptive
Love, Palo
34 posted on 01/13/2002 9:49:46 AM PST by palo verde
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To: MeeknMing
That's what I mean. Get out of the way when your opponent is beating up on itself.
35 posted on 01/13/2002 9:58:14 AM PST by rdb3
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To: catpuppy; habs4ever
I see I'm not the only poster on the thread who realizes the potential harm to this administration and Republicans
by the decision not to carry out the Rule of Law with regard to the clinton corruption

hi habs, and who do you think is architecting the PR campaign for this
and doing the strategy for the Dems
slick willy, who Heads the Dem Party
Pres. Bush would have been sensible to neutralize him by bringing his corruption to Law
Love, Palo
36 posted on 01/13/2002 9:59:33 AM PST by palo verde
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To: rdb3
Well, a defeatist, fatalistic mentality does us no good, either.

My "mentality" is the product of the facts of what Bush/Ashcroft have done, but I don't think it is defeatist.

Bush/Ashcroft shut down the campaign finance task force which was investigating the criminal corruption of the Clintons and their gang. It was investigating Chinagate, which means the corruption that damaged our national security.

As part of shutting down the investigation, Ashcroft sent Robert Conrad, the head of the task force who had told Reno to appoint an IC to investigate Gore, out of town to NC.

Most recently, Bush/Ashcroft allowed the CEO of Loral, who was the largest single contributor to the DNC at one time, to skate free while they fine the shareholders of the company for making China's missile program better.

What possible evidence is there that Bush is going to "unleash" the DOJ when he and Ashcroft have spent a fair amount of time this past year buying additional leashes?

I think it is the Bush crowd that is the defeatist bunch, convinced that they just can't succeed in doing what is right with respect to the Clintons' corruption. Sadly, for a whole bunch of people, its "Bush....right or wrong, Bush".

37 posted on 01/13/2002 10:13:37 AM PST by RJCogburn
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
There may be more coming. Check this:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/607432/posts

If Ford gets in bad trouble, it will shake things up worse than Enron. Might explain why the Ford family got back in the driver's seat. And, I ask, didn't he say he was going to do it without salary? Desperate to salvage just stock value?

38 posted on 01/13/2002 10:19:54 AM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
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To: RJCogburn
    Sorry, but Limbacher's examples or suggestions of where to go are really small potatoes compared to the criminal corruption associated with the campaign finance task force's area which Ashcroft/Bush let slide.

    Most recently, allowing Loral off with a limp slap on the wrist, which will be paid by the stockholders and not the guilty party. National security, as endangered by the Chinagate/campaign finance corruption is a far more dangerous and serious offense than Roger Clinton, but Bush/Ashcroft closed their collective eyes. I'm nowhere near forgiving Bush/Ashcroft for that.

This is about Clinton(s). The real damage occurred at Impeachment, Clinton walked and the Rats were able to say he did nothing wrong. The smear of foul ugly innocence sticks to our faces today. Purification for the conservatives will only be achieved in the public eye through due process.

39 posted on 01/13/2002 10:28:26 AM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
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To: habs4ever; catpuppy; mwl1
I think the Bush administration is blameless in this scandal
but slick willy is intent on sabotaging President Bush
He still has the media in his thrall
plus the Dems in Congress
he will cause mischief
slick willy was the downfall of the Dem Party when he was in Office
he now presents challenges to the Bush Administration
Love, Palo
40 posted on 01/13/2002 11:03:55 AM PST by palo verde
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