Bill O'Reilly blasts Ashcroft and Reno for Corruption

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | January 4, 2002 | Bill O'Reilly

[editor-surveyor]

There is something very wrong inside the Justice Department of the United States and there has been for some time.

Various newspapers are now reporting that under President Clinton, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was ordered to stand down on various terrorist investigations.

One of the most egregious examples is the failure of the bureau to investigate fundraising organizations like "The Holy Land Fund," based in Arizona, which allegedly funneled millions of dollars in donations to Middle Eastern terrorists.

Although the Bush administration has now frozen the assets of the fund, it was apparently allowed to operate for 8 years despite the FBI intelligence that was presented to Mr. Clinton and then-Attorney General Janet Reno. One bureau source told the press that Ms. Reno felt any investigation of "The Holy Land Fund" would lead to anti-Arab sentiment and therefore was opposed to such an investigation.

As always, Ms. Reno will not comment on any aspect of her tenure as attorney general that is at all controversial.

There is no question now that under Ms. Reno and then-FBI Director Louis Freeh, Americans were put at great risk. The Wen Ho Lee-Chinese espionage case still has not been explained, and the fact that the 19 Sept. 11 terrorists weren't even on the FBI's radar screen is about as frightening as Janet Reno's passion for political correctness.

The current attorney general, John Ashcroft, has made no attempt to examine Ms. Reno's bizarre behavior or update the public about the Marc Rich investigation or anything else. Mr. Ashcroft specializes in looking dour and stonewalling. While Congress is attempting to get documents about President Clinton's dubious foreign fundraising and FBI abuses in Boston, Ashcroft is refusing to cooperate at all.

And this isn't a political issue. Conservative Congressman Dan Burton and liberal Congressman Barney Frank have actually joined forces to try and pry this information from Ashcroft's hands. If that's not amazing, then nothing is.

The truth is that for nearly 8 years, the Justice Department has been corrupt and inefficient. Janet Reno botched nearly every important decision she had to make including Waco and Elian Gonzalez. Time after time, Ms. Reno refused to approve investigative initiatives sought by the FBI. And time after time, Mr. Freeh sat in his plush government office refusing to let the American people know what was happening.

Now Mr. Ashcroft is doing the same thing. There is no reason on this earth why the public should not know the status of the Rich pardon probe. Or the anthrax investigation. And what about Enron, Mr. Attorney General – are you going to look into that? Millions of Americans were hosed while some Enron executives made millions.

How about a comment on that, Mr. Ashcroft?

Here is the whole article.

[BillofRights]

Actually they [Democrats] are rolling in the aisles laughing their asses off all the way to the bank at the way they suckered the Republicans yet again!!!!

Your post is excellent! I concur completely, however, with one small exception. The Republicans are NOT getting suckered. They are part of the one-party MONOPOLY that has control of our goverment, and with an ultimate Leftist agenda. I am not referring to "conservatives," but instead to the Republican Party which does not have a true Conservative agenda. Republicans occasionally talk a good game, but they govern as moderate Leftists, in contrast to radical Leftists, as do many Democrats.

[BillofRights]

Hi Darlin'! I must inquire, if the most powerful people in our country will NOT go after corruption from other powerful people (present or past), then who is to do it? I realize that it was not a Bush campaign promise or issue, as you stated; and I realize that it may not be best, personally or politically, for Bush to pursue the crimes of the past. However, I also don't think there is anything wrong with others or me, who are disappointed in knowing that corruption, at the highest levels of government, will not be pursued and prosecuted -- that it will be swept unde the rug, or even protected!

If it is not politically expedient for Bush to pursue corruption, then it is safe to assume that it will not be expedient for the next President to pursue it, or the next President after that -- and the beat goes on! When does the corruption stop? We can hope that the electorate is smart enough to figure this stuff out and vote for the right people, but there's no guarantee of that. They almost voted a continuation of Clintonism and we may get one worse in the future. They vote in Mexico, Iraq, and most countries around the world. Does voting stop corruption? If our most powerful will not fight it, then we are doomed to a corrupt society.

[Rowdee]

Probably even a tad more technically correct even beyond your correction would be to say the the grassroots Republicans are getting suckered--like most of the folks here at FR that think the Republican politicans are doing such a great job...after all, they make up the majority of Republicans.

I certainly agree with you about the two-headed one party system currently in the country....just don't know what it is going to take to get others to wake up to that reality.

I, too, make a distinction between being a conservative and being a Republican. I grew up in a Democrat household; always voted Republican; ran for office as a Republican; started doing a lot of research in Bush 1 administration era because "nothing ever changed, except for a few fluffings of the pillows on the sofa, so to speak".

I saw this at state level as well as federal level.

And, of course, the more you learn, the more you want to learn..and at this point in time I am a constitutionalist because the word conservative has been so perverted that it means anything to the right of Teddy "The Swimmer" Kennedy!

This thread was a study in human nature....what we both know was expressed on this thread.

Regards...

[BillofRights]

Now Darlin', you have to say you agree with me in bold, capital letters or I'll hit that "abuse" button.

[BillofRights]

I'm with ya, buddy!

Regards backatcha

[BillofRights]

It's the theory of relativity! When we've got far Leftists (in politics, academia, and the media) setting the agenda and establishing the vernacular to be used in political discourse, and then Republicans postition themselves just barely to the right of them, while calling it conservatism -- it's all relative! You're right! Your term "Constitutionalist" is a better descriptor than conservatism. Many people who label themselves conservatives apparently have no idea how far to the Left they are on the wider political spectrum.

[nopardons]

Whatever. : - )

[palo verde]

Hi Bill
I'm glad you made it
I had tried bringing up this topic on the FReeoples thread for serious consideration
But I was called a left-wing disruptor by someone who had not been on Lcom with us -- and did not know I used every ounce of my mind and energy to get clinton out and Bush in
Also another poster there asked me never to mention the words ''Rule of Law'' again
So I stopped posting political perceptions there
I am reading the interchange between you and Rowdee and find much food for thought in it
Thanks for coming over and for your thoughtful and heartfelt posts
Love, Palo

[palo verde]

Hi habs
I think one-third of the votes for Al Gore in the past election were from non-existent voters
and a million votes for George were ''lost''
it's a miracle the tsunami for Bush overwhelmed this massive organized vote fraud
Instantly after clinton saw he was safe from Impeachment -- he replaced Chairman of the Dem Party with Ed Rendell
a corrupt mayor of Philadelphia
(Union thugs had beat up protesters of clinton during Impeachment there -- rendell and clinton were hand in glove)
I always thought Rendell's assignment from slick was to organize the massive vote fraud
Voting is our single opportunity -- to have power in government
I think George must hire 1000 new Law Enforcement officers -- either under DOJ or FBI
and investigate everything which happened -- and bring it to Law
Maybe elections were always corrupt and I didn't know it
You do realize clinton would be our dictator now if it were not for 5 rock solid honest Supreme Court Justices
Love, Palo

[palo verde]

Hi BAC
I received this in FReepmail two mornings ago
Until this past June I did study every single detail of the Bush administration to see if there was indication he wanted to pursue clinton corruption
Even tho I had ''bit the bullet'' and realized he didn't -- when I saw him let Eric Holder stay on as Acting AG until Ashcroft was confirmed
Janet Reno was a weak and confused figurehead -- Holder was slick's man at DOJ -- he carried out his corruption for him
(Holder tried to put Ken Starr behind bars on trumped up charges
Ken Starr would be in prison now -- if a courageous Arkansas Judge had not thrown out the case against him the summer before this one)
I was positive George would be sworn in at noon -- and at one minute past noon -- this corrupt cop would be fired
It's strange to remember now how white hot I was a year ago -- about justice
I guess I have accepted it that George is gonna sweep it all under the carpet -- which is why my alienation from the Bush administration is total

But if you think swheat's points in her FReepmail are valid, please let me know (swheats gave me permission to post it)

Hi Palo I've just finished reading this thread and it seems the tempers flared greatly. I just wanted to say to you not to give up hope in the Bush Administration.

Do you realize that only about 25% of the administration has been filled. There are so many of the Bush administration that has been held up by the Senate which is under the control of the Democrats until it would appear that Bush's hands are tied.

One thing I love about The Bush administration they are not constantly out spinning information and talking a lot. I would say to you, hold him accountable yes, but at least see what is accomplished after all positions have been filled and he has had an opportunity to replace many of those in positions that are still sympathetic to the Clintons and Democrats. Clinton replaced many in the judiciary and his appointments are sitting on benches now. Do you think that if any trials were to take place the cases would not be thrown out or made just as a show trial.

These are definately my opinions and the 25% was an estimate used months ago. Hopefully many more have been able to replace Clinton holdovers.

Have a good day. I chose this manner in communication because the thread had really went into a shouting match.

I appreciated getting this FReepmail -- because I realized we are all of good will, and want the same thing, we each have our take on what is taking place
and because it helps me to realize those who remain committed Bush supporters share my passion for justice
they believe Bush will do it in his time
Love, Palo

[palo verde]

Hi Bill
On Lcom we united to get clinton out and Bush in
I believe if it were not for FR (and FR's cousis Lcom)
clinton would be our dictator now
The reason I left Lcom in June and came to FR is because the posters there
were completely satisfied with the Bush administration
and I was called ''bush basher'' for continuing to care about the Rule of Law above everything else
I wanted to be on a forum where I could find others who share my perception
Love, Palo

[mwl1]

Hi Palo, sorry for the delay. Some observations relative to your question.

The Bush Justice Dept is tremendously better than the Clinton Justice Dept. Just getting Eric Holder and Reno out eliminated about 60% or so of the corrupt stench.

Bush/Ashcroft are not going to press the Clinton stuff - leaving this to career prosecutors and corrupt holdovers (Mary Jo Whitewash, for example)

Ironically, in my view, under Ashcroft criminals at the bottom of the rung are going to be prosecuted more than the people at the top, because the people at the top have the $$$ to fight back.

Generally, I am satisfied but not thrilled with Bush/Ashcroft. I shudder to think of what a Gore Justice Dept would have been like... especially with Eric Holder as the nation's Attorney General.

[christine]

whatever

hey, that's my line! ;)

[BillofRights]

Hi sweet palo. I don't like to sound like I'm bashing Bush because I realize that he is constrained to some degree by a system that he did not create, but in which he must operate. There are many political, practical, and personal considerations to his taking action against government corruption. But I feel, like you do -- a great disappointment in our government's inability to weed out waste and corruption.

[BeAChooser]

If it is not politically expedient for Bush to pursue corruption, then it is safe to assume that it will not be expedient for the next President to pursue it, or the next President after that -- and the beat goes on! When does the corruption stop? We can hope that the electorate is smart enough to figure this stuff out and vote for the right people, but there's no guarantee of that. They almost voted a continuation of Clintonism and we may get one worse in the future. They vote in Mexico, Iraq, and most countries around the world. Does voting stop corruption? If our most powerful will not fight it, then we are doomed to a corrupt society.

Well said. What is that saying: "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts abso..."?

[palo verde]

Hi Bill
I have to run, will be back in an hour
but turned on machine because I wanted to post I agree 100% with this post of yours I found on another thread last night

If the most powerful among us will NOT pursue corruption in government, then there is no one left to do it. I just find that very disappointing.

it says it all for me
Love, Palo

[Letitring]

Palo, is there one single thing that President Bush HAS done, in the very short time he has been in office, that has pleased you? If so, what is it? Hopefully there is MORE than one, but hearing just ONE from you, right now, would make me feel so much better. I can't post a link, but I found this thread on this site, this afternoon. Have a look. Guns, assisted suicide not just terrorism big issues in Ashcroft's first year as Attorney General Syracuse.com | January 9, 2002 | DEB RIECHMANN Posted on 1/9/02 11:46 AM Pacific by Reaganwuzthebest

[palo verde]

Hi sweetie
The first and foremost thing about Bush being in Office
is he is an honest person
And everyone he chooses to assist him is honest
Our government was in the hands of criminals -- it is now in the hands of honest people
Plus Bush has a genuine talent for governing
the people he appoints are excellent
It meant a lot to me when he decided to let those immigrants who have worked and lived in our country become citizens
George is a compassionate person with a tender heart -- I was never mistaken in his character when I moved heaven and earth to get him in there
He has a beautiful relationship with the President of Mexico -- I think that will benefit both our countries
He handled the crisis with China brilliantly -- no one could have done a better job
Also he took our nuclear missiles off hair trigger alert --and said we do not need so many of them
catpuppy was Air Force Major and concurs
We have an extraordinary man at the helm of our government now -- who is capable of carrying out whatever he wants
I don't think he is a phony and if he truly understood clinton, the clinton corruption, and all that took place
the way BeAChooser does
and that DC Democrats are not Texas Democrats
because they have joined clinton's corruption
he would share my priorities
Love, Palo

[palo verde]

hi mw
as usual, good post
I appreciate you coming over and putting in your two cents
I always learn from and value your perception
Love, Palo

[palo verde]

clinton's relentless corruption caused a lot of changes
there is no one I see the same now as I saw before him
perhaps the best thing our Republican Congress did was not to allow censure
everyone had to stand up and be counted
there was no cover
and it swept George Bush into office
slick's corruption continues -- in the dark now
and will continue to jeopardize honest government
George is wholesome --
but the great lesson of Henry Hyde's Impeachment is that truth is a rock which cannot be budged
it's because Henry hitched his wagon to truth he succeeded in Impeachment
I don't see how we can have stability if compromises are chosen
Love, Palo