Al Gore-off the Hook?

[TampaFlyer]

> AFAIK, the alleged wrongdoings are these:

I think another was accepting illegal foreign campaign contributions.

[Arnold_Winkelried]

TampaFlyer, I was referring to that (although perhaps not clearly enough) when I said «any illegalities committed during the fund-raising would be a crime on the Temple’s part, not Al Gore’s part, unless someone has any evidence that Al Gore knew about the illegalities, and AFAIK there is no proof of that.»

[lissener]

Sorry, IzzyR; I wasn’t clear. I meant those were the only two rational alternatives. To accept the alternative that you offer–Reagan as the great organizer, but sublimely ignorant of the true nature of his henchmen’s doings–requires a naivete of a scale that is beyond my capacity to imagine.

You see, I will always believe the very worst of RR: I believe he sabotaged the hostage negotiations to get Carter voted out of office; I believe he approved the CIA program of dumping crack in the inner cities to destroy the Democrats’ voting base; and I believe he orchestrated (or at least initiated) the arms-for-hostages crime known as “Iran Contra.” In fact, you could probably convince me, without too much effort, that he could change shape at will, that he and Nancy ate a live human baby every Sunday, and the he was an Anne Murray fan.

[MysterEcks]

Satan said:

Anything is possible, but he claimed to “forget” these things long before he was diagnosed with anything.

At least before such a diagnosis was publically admitted–it wouldn’t be the first time in US history that presidential infirmities weren’t admitted to. (Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt come to mind.)

But I will cheerfully brand Reagan a liar if you like–perhaps he was. I am definitelybranding Gore and Clinton as liars…and we know damn well theyhave no excuses.

lissener said:

It certainly seems plausible to me that if, in this hypothetical situation, a bunch of LAWLESS HOODLUMS were going to commit the HEINOUS CRIME of discussing the fundraising games made necessary by an archaic system the Republicans fight just as desperately to maintain

So are you suggesting that it’s ok to violate laws if we don’t find them convenient? How Clintonesque.

In that scenario, I find it perfectly plausible that Gore was in the bathroom

Would you find it “plausible” if the scenario involved Republicans instead of Democrats? (After your later post we all know the answer to this–I just wanna see if you’re gonna try to Clinton out of it.)

As far as offering Reagan the Alzheimer’s shield to hide behind, shame on you.

I don’t know if Reagan’s Alzheimer’s was a factor in anything or not, but the fact that you hate the man to the point of being nuts about it (and yes, your last post qualifies as nuts) is irrelevant to what I bring up.

And besides, you can’t have it both ways: either he was incompetent and useless as a president and had his “advisors’” arms higher up his ass than a greased up leatherboy in a sling, or he was lying. Take your pick.

You also can’t have it both ways. Either Gore is lying, or he’s dumber than most houseplants. Neither is much incentive to vote for him.

(To IzzyR)

To accept thealternative that you offer–Reagan as the great organizer, but sublimely ignorant of the true natureof his henchmen’s doings–requires a naivete of a scale that is beyond my capacity to imagine.

As opposed to poor, innocent Al Gore not having a clue about illegal acts because he was in the bathroom when they were discussed? Puhleeeease.

[DoctorJ]

Reagan has been out of office for twelve years; the course of Alzheimer’s generally doesn’t last that long. I’m not saying that it’s impossible, but it’s really unlikely that he had AD (at least to any significant degree) when he was President. (Does anyone know off hand when he was diagnosed?)

While I’m posting here…I have a real problem with statements like, “Gore clearly broke federal law, and Reno isn’t even going to prosecute him!” I’m not discounting the effect of party politics here, but I’m willing to say that Janet Reno, being the attorney general, understands federal law far better than anyone here. What may look to the lay person as a “clear violation” may be no such thing to a student of the law.

To make an analogy, you might say, “Dr. J had a patient in the ER who had overdosed on heroin, and wasn’t breathing, and he didn’t even give him oxygen! How stupid is that?” It wouldn’t be stupid at all, because I understand respiratory drives and know that if I gave O2 to this patient, he would have no drive to breathe it. It is much more complicated than the obvious.

Dr. J

[RM_Mentock]

Does anyone have a link to the specific law that Gore broke when making fund-raising phone calls?

[IzzyR]

*Originally posted by DoctorJ *
While I’m posting here…I have a real problem with statements like, “Gore clearly broke federal law, and Reno isn’t even going to prosecute him!” I’m not discounting the effect of party politics here, but I’m willing to say that Janet Reno, being the attorney general, understands federal law far better than anyone here. What may look to the lay person as a “clear violation” may be no such thing to a student of the law.

This is not completely valid. In several instances, career Justice Department prosecutors have recommended special prosecutors. These are people who likely understand the laws as well as Janet Reno. In every case, she has refused. People see a pattern in this.