Some journalists are starting to project parallels between the media-fueled controversy over the Bush administration replacing eight of 93 U.S. attorneys and Watergate, what many reporters see as their glory days of the early 1970s. A brief video snippet in David Gregory's story on Tuesday's NBC Nightly News showed Fred Fielding, Chief Counsel in the Bush White House who worked in the counsel's office during the Nixon administration, walking down a Capitol Hill hallway as a male voice off-camera, presumably a reporter, asked: “Does this bring back memories of Watergate?” NBC didn't play Fielding's reply. And that most likely took place before President Bush's address at 5:50pm EDT in which he promised to turn over more documents, have Justice officials testify before Congress and to allow Senators to interview Harriet Miers and Karl Rove.
Bush's offer only antagonized a couple of media figures. On MSNBC's Countdown, Keith Olbermann proposed that “the President sounded awfully like President Nixon during Watergate.” Newsweek Senior Editor Jonathan Alter readily agreed: “That is a great point. You know if you go into executive privilege land, you do take us on a kind of a return trip to Watergate.”
Earlier, Alter reminded viewers of the special “bond” between Bush and Gonzales: “Remember that it was Gonzales who saved Bush's career when he was called for jury duty as Governor of Texas. Gonzales used a technicality to avoid public disclosure of Bush's arrest for drunk driving.”
The Watergate exchange on the March 20 Countdown:
Keith Olbermann: “This statement he made tonight upon returning to Washington, talking about free exchange of ideas being thwarted, being quashed inside a White House. He sounded, the President sounded awfully like President Nixon during Watergate and I can't be the only one to have made that comparison. Is that really a comparison he wants to invoke if the subpoenas come? Would it not be better to blink than look like you're covering up -- especially when it may be covering up makes this look bigger, perhaps, than it really is?”
Jonathan Alter: “That is a great point. You know if you go into executive privilege land, you do take us on a kind of a return trip to Watergate. Look, this idea that somehow presidential aides don't have to go up and testify under oath on Capitol Hill -- this is a very modern and really Nixonian notion. If you go back, say, to the 1930s, Franklin Roosevelt's top aide Louie Howe, there were irregularities in the New Deal Congress wanted to know about, they called him up on Capitol Hill, a Democratic Congress interestingly, they grilled him. There wasn't even the slightest suggestion that somehow he shouldn't be required to testify. So this is a new idea. It will be shades of Watergate if they want to go to court to test it.”
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
When discussing Iraq, mention
March 20, 2007 - 21:03 ET by SMGalbraithWhen discussing Iraq, mention Vietnam; when discussing other issues, mention Watergate. Vietnam, Watergate, Watergate, Vietnam.
Such is the depth of the knowledge of history of our esteemed press corps. Especially from clowns like Keith Olbermann and Jonathan Alter.
Mature, sober analysis and reporting? Serious interpretation of events backed with facts and enlightening historical examples?
Not from this press corps.
Forget about liberal bias in the press; it's a silliness bias that's the problem.
The MSM have finally become w
March 20, 2007 - 21:07 ET by Sonny LykosThe MSM have finally become what the Dems have always been - pieces of sh*t!
On a positive note, by two daughters and the husband of one have finally decided enough is enough, and contrary to previouosly, intend to vote strictly "R" from now on.
The MSM have finally become w
March 20, 2007 - 21:08 ET by Sonny LykosThe MSM have finally become what the Dems have always been - pieces of sh*t!
On a positive note, by two daughters and the husband of one have finally decided enough is enough, and contrary to previouosly, intend to vote strictly "R" from now on. That makes 8 registered Democrat that will vote R. The rest of us have been voting R since '92. Still can't believe Clinton was elected.
Sonny, You probably can't bel
March 20, 2007 - 21:10 ET by OttoSonny, You probably can't believe Clintons approvals are at around 64% but it's true.
I can't belive one thing Otto
March 20, 2007 - 21:30 ET by SportPoliticsI can't belive one thing Otto, that the press continues to cover up Clinton's firings, that displaced and removed the Whitewater US Attourney,and replaced him with Hillary's friend,whopromptly closed the case.
That's hard to believe.
Nice try! Try these poll resu
March 20, 2007 - 22:13 ET by Del DolemonteNice try! Try these poll results archived at Polling Report.com
http://www.pollingreport.com/wh-hstry.htm
CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll. Jan. 5-7, 2001. N=1,018 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (total sample). .
"In your view, will Clinton mostly be remembered as president for [rotate] his accomplishments, OR, his involvement in personal scandal?"
Accomplishments: 28%
Scandal: 68%
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. Jan. 3-7, 2001. N=1,258 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (total sample).
"Thinking ahead, what do you think Bill Clinton will be most remembered for after he has left office?"
Scandals 74%
Economy/Budget 14%
Actually, you are being intel
March 20, 2007 - 22:33 ET by Del DolemonteActually, you are being intellectually dishonest here-Clinton can't have an "approval" rating as he's no longer President. He can only have a "favorability" rating, which several recent polls have addressed:
http://www.pollingreport.com/clinton1.htm
Here's the most recent poll, so supposedly the most accurate one:
ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Feb. 22-25, 2007. N=1,082 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3. Fieldwork by TNS.
.
"Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Bill Clinton?"
2/22/2007 thru 2/25/2007:
Favorable: 55%
Unfavorable: 42%
In their previous poll, done a month earlier, Clinton's favorable rating was at 61%, meaning he dropped 6 points in one month. His unfavorable rating went up 5 points.
Sonny, You probably can't bel
March 20, 2007 - 21:11 ET by OttoSonny, You probably can't believe Clintons approvals are at around 64% but it's true.
Sonny, You probably can't bel
March 20, 2007 - 21:11 ET by OttoSonny, You probably can't believe Clintons approvals are at around 64% but it's true.
LOL, what time do the triple
March 20, 2007 - 22:17 ET by Del DolemonteLOL, what time do the triple suns rise on your planet? See my post above with some other Clinton "public opinion polling" results.
watergate. vietnam.
March 20, 2007 - 22:02 ET by BlameTheMediaThat is silliness. I agree. Just like that whole: Iraq, 9/11. 9/11, Iraq thing.
go on, just a bit more...
March 20, 2007 - 22:13 ET by Pragmatic-Manblama, go on, just a bit more.... just a bit...
Nice try! This is a Clinton J
March 20, 2007 - 22:52 ET by Del DolemonteNice try! This is a Clinton Judge, by the way NEW YORK — A federal judge in New York City on Wednesday found Iraq among those liable for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and awarded nearly $104 million to the families of two men who died in the World Trade Center.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Harold Baer marked the first time that a court had pinned some blame for the attacks on Iraq.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-05-07-911-judge-awards_x.htm
I forgot to mention that Bill
March 20, 2007 - 23:02 ET by Del DolemonteI forgot to mention that Bill Clinton's own Justice Department handed down a Federal Indictment against bin Laden in 1998. In it, they specifically stated that Ozzy and Saddy had a working relationship.
Here's the indictment document (See item #4) thanks to the anti-Bush Federation of American Scientists:
http://www.fas.org/irp/news/1998/11/98110602_nlt.html
The Republicans are between a
March 20, 2007 - 21:08 ET by OttoThe Republicans are between a rock and hard place on this one. Do all those Republicans with vulnerable seats really want to go to the stake to save Gonzales and presidential privilege. Second consideration, if they defend presidential privilege to the death and Hillary wins the next election where does that leave them. This was a big time dumb move today which is the implication from this posting. It keeps it on the front burner for months, all the underlings in the DOJ have to give evidence under oath anyway and they could say anything, and Congress is going to completely withdraw cooperation on everything. Having already turned a drama into a crisis, Bush is now going on to turn it into a disaster. The only benefit will be to reduce the amount of Iraq coverage.
You say "all the underli
March 20, 2007 - 22:22 ET by Del DolemonteYou say
"all the underlings in the DOJ have to give evidence under oath anyway and they could say anything"
You're implying then that lying under oath is to be expected from these people. How come, then, when Bill Clinton, who admitted it, does the same thing, you give him a pass?
And don't give me the stock DNC phrase that he was lying "about sex". Lying to a Federal Grand Jury is a felony, no matter what the lie is about.
don't let him frame it
March 20, 2007 - 22:34 ET by Pragmatic-ManDel, don't let him frame it. He is wrong and he knows it. How to know? He is lightly batting at too many points, trying to pepper the argument. No content behind the birdshot approach. Deconstruct him one bite at a time and it all falls down. This is the exact tactic that will be used to throw this whole silly issue under the bus. You watch, in a week, when all the moonbats on the hill have worked up subpoena blisters, we will be back to hearing polling numbers and body counts. DOJ? Oh that was sooo 'last-week'! It's the drive-by democrats in action. Just sit back and watch the show. Three rings under the big tent and lib clowns in all of them.
I call bull****
March 20, 2007 - 22:27 ET by Pragmatic-ManAl Otto, I call bullcrap. The disaster is the left reaching WAAAAAY down into the bag of tricks to pull out such a dud. Yes, plenty of press, but of course the media is going to bash W anyway, even if it is over his sock color choice. They loathe him almost as much as they loathe the military. But really, you need to read the constitution and respect the separations and priviledges between the branches of government. Congress no more has a right to intrude into executive dealings than the White House has to request a list of lobbyist visited by Schumer or any other bad patriot. Really, Al Otto, do you want to stand on such shaky ground? I've got you cold on a platter on this one. The US attorneys serve at the pleasure of the President... they are appointed and can be fired at will. W has really been overly fair to these subpoena hounds, and now he is standing his ground. I say good for him. Watch the libs stalward house of subpoena cards come crashing down.
I swear to God, I feel like
March 20, 2007 - 21:12 ET by bobthemanI swear to God, I feel like I'm living in an alternate universe with what is going on in Washington these days. Never before have I seen so many blantent attempts at making something out of nothing from the dimocrats and press corps.
But in the end, I believe it's going to backfire on the libs. It's akin to the boy who cried wolf. The continued attacks by the press and dimocrats are pushing the sensibilities of fair minded Americans and it's paper thin illusion that challenges basic fairness.
I don't agree, bobtheman. Y
March 20, 2007 - 21:19 ET by Sonny LykosI don't agree, bobtheman. You forget the importance and impact of the ignorant masses and theier greed, and our masses is quite numerous. Two more years for lies to be repeated over and over and over again, until to the masses, they become true. Works every time.
Got this from Neal Boort's site:
This is one of my favorites. From Alexander Tyler. No, he wasn't writing about the United States. This quote is well over one hundred years old. Tyler was writing about the fall of the Athenian Republic.
"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves money from the public treasure. From that moment on the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most money from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's great civilizations has been two hundred years. These nations have progressed through the following sequence: from bondage to spiritual faith, from spiritual faith to great courage, from courage to liberty, from liberty to abundance, from abundance to selfishness, from selfishness to complacency from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependency, from dependency back to bondage."
I don't know Sonny, but I s
March 20, 2007 - 21:24 ET by bobthemanI don't know Sonny, but I see your point. I just think in this day and age, when we have a credible alternative in fox news and conservative pundits who can frame the debate to counter the KO's Chris Matthews of the world, we have a fightin' chance.
One of my concerns is the inability of the Republicans to get pissed off about this and take these idiots on. They need to grow a pair and take this crap head on instead of this apologist attitude I see out of some them.
Before Alexander Tyler There Was Aristotle
March 20, 2007 - 21:32 ET by CGatton"...quote is well over one hundred years old..."
While the quote may be only 100 years old, if you read the work cited in my signature, you will find that your quote is based on it. Aristotle was more blunt, however, though the end is the same. Essentially, a democracy fails when the poor realize they outnumber the rich, and can take money from them at will, by voting it so. Hence, the only way to stabilize a democracy is to increase the size of the middle class, who have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. I seem to remember that an older, useful definition of a conservative was one who sought to maintain the status quo...
By the way, according to Aristotle, demagogues were the ones who roused the poor to tax the rich to death...
V/R
Clyde
"...the aspirants to tyranny are either the...men of the state, who in democracies are demagogues,... or those who hold great offices, and have a long tenure.." - Aristotle, Politics, c350BC
alexander tyler
March 20, 2007 - 22:11 ET by BlameTheMediaFrom this quote I see us in the complacency/apathy stage, slowing becoming more dependent as the government grows. We are apathetic to so many things happening in our country that one day we will turn around and wonder how we lost our freedoms and have a dictator in office.
This is an extremely prophetic quote. Very chilling.
Actually I don't concider O
March 20, 2007 - 21:33 ET by radiofitz34Actually I don't concider Olberman main stream media. He's more like lamestream media. I can hardly believe what the democrats are getting away with here. If I didn't know better, I'd say this amounts to democratic Coup De Tat (sp?)
The libs say they smell a foul when actually they are smelling their upper lips. Like they really care about these 8 federal prosecutors. They are just playing dirty pool and the MSM as usual is right there to help them.
The dems warned the country b
March 20, 2007 - 21:28 ET by MidAmericaThe dems warned the country before the last election that this is what they would do to the country; drag it through one crisis after another.
Ever since the sixties the dem party has been unable to lead this country. All they can do to win elections is to coordinate with the media to create scandals that smear their opponents.
JFK was the last real patriotic American democrat president. He cut taxes, helped a invasion of Fidel's Cuba, and sent advisors to Viet Nam. The current anarchists and socialists who dominate the democrat party would revile such a president
You said: "All they can do t
March 20, 2007 - 22:27 ET by Sonny LykosYou said: "All they can do to win elections is to coordinate with the media to create scandals that smear their opponents. "
But remember, the MSM is huge, and watched or read by many - not even counting the left wing web sites. Me thinks the USA s cooked.
we thought the same before
March 20, 2007 - 23:03 ET by Pragmatic-ManWe conservatives thought we were cooked before... remember Jimmy Bin Carter? There is a mandate for conservativism welling within the belly of this great country. Never forget that the vast majority of Americans, even many democrats, consider themselves conservative. All they need is exemplary leadership. It will come, soon. The vine is too ripe not to yield fruit.
Well of course this is where
March 20, 2007 - 21:33 ET by bigtimerWell of course this is where the media has planned on taking anything they could as far as trying to impeach this President and his administration, Waxman did his best last night to involve Cheney and Rove in the GWing hearing...they have had this planned since the Nov election...if the leftist media repeat it often enough...they will come.
Backfire comes to mind for me.
Alter is a walking piece of shite...always has been. He has already made a defense for any on the dem side if they are named in Palfrey's little black book, which some leftist media network already has...and has not released the names or numbers for yet...believe me, if they can they will withhold this until the '08 election is possible it can drag out that long...like they did with Foley..better yet Rahm Emanuel did...makes one wonder if it is ABC again that has obtained the info...CBS is a close second...whatever network it is...makes no difference, we know they will be working to protect the left and hurt the right...as usual....Fox has already stated they do not have it.
Alter has stated about a week ago on some msnbc show that the left already have been charged with prostitution and such with the likes of Barney franks...using him as an example and stating the dems constituents don't care about this, that is why the keep getting voted in time after time...but the right...well now thats a different matter as they always preach family values and such...blah blah blah...
No Alter..it is because the right in congress do not know how to grow a spine and fight back in unison...I have seen them do this time after time, thinking the media and others will carry their water....well, you had better wake up republicans...because I for one am sick and tired of your silent wimpy ways...
In every single circumstance you have had to fight back..you remain silent...like wussies.
If you do not fight...how in the hell do you expect to win if you do not fight to carry your own message...loud and clear.
Btw...Schumer is a sleaze ball who should immediately recuse himself from the judiciary committee, I have only heard two republicans say anything about this and call for it...where are the rest...the man works for the political part of the Senate DNC to gain potential candidates and money...look what he did to Steele and got away with.
No silence isn't golden in all cases and politics isn't one of them.
"Does this bring back me
March 20, 2007 - 21:34 ET by BillAdkins"Does this bring back memories of Watergate?" This administration makes Richard Nixon's look pure, virtuous and honest. I've said it before - Take the corruption of the Nixon Administration and stir in the incompetence of Jimmy Carter - multiply by 100 and you have closely approximated the Bush Administration.
I used to think Jimmy Carter was the worst president in history - then along came George W. Bush.
Wait until you see Presiden
March 20, 2007 - 21:46 ET by zhombreWait until you see President Hillary.
By what measure do you claim
March 20, 2007 - 21:50 ET by NL207By what measure do you claim this administration is corrupt?
Gee, Billy....
March 20, 2007 - 21:58 ET by RJGee, Billy, your ridiculous hyperbole balances the rest of you so well...
BA is full of BS.As usual.
March 20, 2007 - 22:13 ET by bigtimerBA is full of BS.
As usual.
I'll give you the carter bit
March 20, 2007 - 22:48 ET by Pragmatic-ManBilly, you get to keep the Carter bit, but your further hyperbole is ill served. Try again...
The Whatever Gate
March 20, 2007 - 21:54 ET by pbthinkerAH, we have a new "gate"this week, what will the Democrats call it? I wish that Bush had said the same thing he said today, last week.
Has anyone asked why a political party would try and screw up a power the President has, when they seem to believe they will h ave one of their own in office in a couple of years?
Clinton was a moron for losing certain "understood" priviledges for the Office of the Presidency, now we have Democrats trying to take away priviledges of the Office of the Presidency. By the time the Dems are done, they will get a President elected, but he'll only have as much power as a Republican Congress allows him or her.
These people are crazy in their quest for power. I certainly hope, all those people that voted for them to make a change in Washington, are getting their votes worth.
Keith Olbermann proposed th
March 20, 2007 - 22:01 ET by motherbeltKeith Olbermann proposed that “the President sounded awfully like President Nixon during Watergate.” Newsweek Senior Editor Jonathan Alter readily agreed: “That is a great point. You know if you go into
executive privilege land, you do take us on a kind of a return trip to
Watergate.”
Which is exactly what you want.
Ah, yes, reliving the Glory Days when you were 17 and Captain of the Football team.
Yes let's see. Watergate:
March 20, 2007 - 22:33 ET by radiofitz34Yes let's see. Watergate: the "plumbers" or republican operatives broke in to DNC headquarters and then the cover up by Nixon et al.
2007: DOJ fired 8 federal prosecutors out of 93. Oh yeah the parallels are shocking.
If Bush and Ashcroft had done this in 2002, it would be nothing of a story.
Davey Thugory
March 20, 2007 - 22:57 ET by Pragmatic-Man"Reporting live tonight from the tool shed of the White House, I'm Davey Thugory... it seems as though disputed President Bush has broken into the Oval Office from his West Wing outpost and used government property to conduct business for the good of the nation. Critics of the administration (read: any lib) are blaming the President for executing the duties he solemnly swore to do upon his inauguration. Subpoenas for his top advisors and his barber are sure to follow. Film at 11."
And the latest parallel, whic
March 20, 2007 - 22:57 ET by Del DolemonteAnd the latest parallel, which you will NEVER hear the media report, is that Jimmy Carter fired one US Attorney in the middle of his term as President. The Attorney he fired was a Republican, and he fired him for investigating a Democrat Representative from Pennsylvania. Said Democratic Representative asked Jimmuh to do it, and he obliged.
Yep, NO story there.....
Justice Is Served?
March 20, 2007 - 23:40 ET by Daniel DiRitoSee a satirical visual lampooning the Bush administration's version of "Justice Is Served"...here: www.thoughttheater.com
DD.....Ummm....Is that all th
March 20, 2007 - 23:46 ET by bigtimerDD.....
Ummm....Is that all there is....
LOL!
This is going to come down to
March 21, 2007 - 04:54 ET by old croThis is going to come down to a question of presidential privilege. All the comparisons will be made with past presidents and such, why it should be so or not so. The left media is bringing up their old nemesis Nixon, and the right will shoot back with clinton and his exercising that right. It will go back and forth, months, even years of debate. In the end nothing will happen, a new president will be elected, we will still be fighting the war on terror and hopefully still be able to protect all freedom loving people in this world. The left is a cancer that is impervious to radiation, they keep on infecting the body of the people and spreading out their lies and venom until before you know it, we will be a socialist society. That is their aim, one in which they as the ruling class have all the privilege and power to live as they see fit and to set the agenda for you and me. True conservatism is the antidote to this cancer that has infected the media, the democrat party, hollywood, ect.....
"Fear the goat from the front, the horse from the rear, and the man from all sides."
- Russian Proverb
"... he promised to turn
March 21, 2007 - 06:30 ET by Indiana Joe"... he promised to turn over more documents, have Justice officials testify before Congress and to allow Senators to interview Harriet Miers and Karl Rove."
I wish Bush would stand up to this nonsense. By promising the above, he just legitimizes this type of meaningless attack, and gives it weight in the minds of most people, who are woefully unaware or uncaring about politics.
He should have just pointed out that 8 firings is nothing compared to the 93 firings by Clinton, and left it at that. Offering all this "openness" only fuels the "Watergate" comparisons, and the feeding frenzy of the MSM.
More and more I'm coming to feel that, whatever else he may be, George Bush is a lousy politician. By letting the opposition frame every debate, he's making it harder for conservatives, both now and in the future.