Posted on 06/21/2002 6:46:21 PM PDT by dts32041
O'Reilly: Bush Insider Claims Clinton Deal Torpedoed Pardongate
A Bush administration insider has privately leaked word that a deal was struck between Democratic congressional leaders and the Bush White House not to prosecute Bill and/or Hillary Clinton on an array of charges related to the Pardongate scandal, Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly claimed Friday on his nationally syndicated "Radio Factor" show.
"A very highly placed source - and I mean this guy knows what's going on in the Bush administration - told me about a month ago that when President Bush took office he had meetings with all of the Democratic leadership.... one on one meetings in the Oval Office," O'Reilly said.
"The Democratic leadership made it quite clear to Mr. Bush that he would not get any cooperation - zero - on the part of the Democrats in the Senate and in the House if he pursued any kind of a criminal investigation against Bill Clinton."
O'Reilly said that according to his source, "Basically they said look, if you embarrass us - by us we mean the Democratic Party - if you, Bush-Ashcroft, indict Clinton on bribery or go after Hillary or any of this - we're gonna shut you down. We're not gonna do anything. You're not going to get any (legislation) passed if four years."
The talk host's highly placed administration source said Democrat leaders then explained to Bush, "If you put this thing on the back track and just play the game the way we've always played it here in the Justice Department since Watergate, where the powerful protect each other - then we'll keep an open mind on your legislation."
O'Reilly never indicated who his source might be beyond describing him as "very highly placed."
On Thursday, U.S. Attorney for New York's Southern District James Comey, a Bush appointee, ended a key part of the probe into whether the Clintons traded pardons for political favors and campaign contributions.
That would be quite a gamble. The unexpected can easily happen in politics. There's no guarantee he will succeed. It's particularly unlikely the Dems will sink below 40 votes in the Senate, and thus lose the power to filibuster. And, in the meantime, four years will have been wasted.
Whereas going after the Clintons from the start could very well have so discredited the Dems that they would do as badly as the Republicans did in the elections after Watergate.
A President caving to wholesale threats is an indication of , among numerous other things, a poor excuse of a President.
Alternatively, if the Democratic Party were to succeed in purging itself of Clintonian corruption and thus in surviving, future Democratic Party presidents would presumably be as little like Clinton as post-Nixon Republican presidents have been like Nixon.
"where the powerful protect each other"
The above excerpt is the whole thing in a nutshell. Once a political criminal reaches a certain level in the hierarchy then it's hands off.
The father said he was not "after Saddam" and let Iraq off the hook when the limited goals of Desert Storm were met.
The son apparently believes that governance is more critical than .... revenge? .... pay back? ... maybe justice.
Taking a look around the world today it's very possible to make the case that punishment of former leaders is a current fad that will lead only to more punishment, false punishment, and turmoil.
As much as I'd personally like to see both clintons in stocks, I'd rather see Milosevic retired on a small farm somewhere.
Or not even all of them, but most of them. (i.e., such a deal could have allowed the Dems to shoot down a couple of the nominees to keep their base and funders happy.) As it is, the Dems are blocking almost all the nominees.
As this stall continues, I am increasingly puzzled by the administration's unwillingness to use its power to make recess appointment to fill those vacant judgeships.
So true, so true. The people I know say ... "what can I do about it?" They feel powerless. As individuals we are one vote, no influence of any consequence and completely overwhelmed by the medias. Bleak picture. This forum diffuses lots of angst and frustraton; yet knowing what we know it is a long way from being effective ... look at immigration, spending programs, especially education, ... anon ad nauseum.
I so agree we 'can', but 'how' ...? the corruption of our legislative branches, bureaucracies, The supreme court making and confirming unconstitutional laws, the power of the lobbists etc. etc. etc. we are so outnumbered by the blind minded who fall for the crap of the democratics and socialists.
It will take a new generation of aware and dedicated youth to replace the current band of hippies and degenerate community, state and national leaders to bring in a wave of effective change.
And we would have all been better off for it! Sigh...what could have been!
Looks like O'Reilly needs a new source. This one is BSing. Timed for the elections also.
I don't think so. People are just tired of hearing about Bill Clinton and his problems and it would turn into a hugh negative for the adm. I think Bush is being advised correctly to leave it alone for future consideration.
Oh, you could tell from the get go that this decision was made, deal or no deal, who cares. What I like about this strategy is if Bush gets a second term, the gloves are off.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.