# Why Doesn't the Media Report ON CLinton Pardoning Terrorist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 18, 2001, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-the-media-report-on-clinton-pardoning-terrorist/88215 "2001-10-18T14:55:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-the-media-report-on-clinton-pardoning-terrorist/88215/21 "2001-10-18T16:22:45Z")
> [@](#): > > I did not say he had anything to do with that writer being killed I just thought it was ironic. _ahem_ Ironic **how**? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-the-media-report-on-clinton-pardoning-terrorist/88215/22 "2001-10-18T16:26:39Z")
> [@](#): > > This was a not troll post. > [@](#): > > This was a not troll post. > [@](#): > > This was a not troll post. > [@](#): > > This was a not troll post. Is it true yet ? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Red\_Menace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/82dd89/32.png) [@The\_Red\_Menace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Red_Menace)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-the-media-report-on-clinton-pardoning-terrorist/88215/23 "2001-10-18T17:25:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Philster \* > \*\*Why don’t we call Bill Clinton an ass and leave it at that? > > _…Bunch of crap here deleted…_ > > When you are the leader of the free world, failure is NOT and option. \*\* Why don’t we call Clinton an ass and leave it at that? Because some (read: many) people think that the characterization of Clinton as an “ass” is inaccurate and untrue. I also enjoy your statement about what presidents are or are not allowed to do. Do think that Clinton was solely responsible for detaining Bin Laden? Seriously, if you’re going to start going down that path why don’t you start talking about all the murders that went unsolved during Clinton’s term? In addition to those attrocities, I got a C on an English paper when I should have got a B on it during Clinton’s term. Obviously he should be faulted for that, too. Get a clue Philster. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-the-media-report-on-clinton-pardoning-terrorist/88215/24 "2001-10-18T17:29:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wildest Bill \* > \*\*Duck Duck, > > I like you. I think you are a nice person. What I can’t figure out why you like this guy? He is bad news. PERIOD. This was a not troll post. It was to find out if he really pardoned people that blew things up. And it looks like he did. So where is trolling please tell me. > > I did not say he had anything to do with that writer being killed I just thought it was ironic. \*\* Bill-George Bush Sr. pardoned Caspar Weinberger, who was working with the contras in Nicaragua, AND was in on the selling of weapons to terrorists in Iran. What are your feelings on that? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-the-media-report-on-clinton-pardoning-terrorist/88215/25 "2001-10-18T17:38:51Z")
The only thing I can contribute that stands even the slightest chance of keeping this in GQ is that whoever Clinton, or any other president, pardoned, it was for the purpose of political expedience. Surely, that is axiomatic. ---
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-the-media-report-on-clinton-pardoning-terrorist/88215/26 "2001-10-18T17:50:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > \*\*The only thing I can contribute that stands even the slightest chance of keeping this in GQ is that whoever Clinton, or any other president, pardoned, it was for the purpose of political expedience. Surely, that is axiomatic. \*\* I don’t think it is axiomatic, or even true. It is true that there are many people who can make a case for being pardoned, and that those who have a plitical sponser are far more likely to have their case considered (and approved). What aggravated people about Clinton’s pardons is that many of those pardoned seemed to have no cause for pardon at all. In this particular instance, they were apparently designed for the purpose of helping Hillary out with the large Puerto-Rican constituency in NY. ( **Gadarene** , why do you keep harping about this “ironic” bit? It seems ironic to me. A guy writes a bok accusing Clinton of being soft on terrorism and then dies himself in an unrelated terrorist action). ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-the-media-report-on-clinton-pardoning-terrorist/88215/27 "2001-10-18T18:01:15Z")
> [@](#): > > In this particular instance, they were apparently designed for the purpose of helping Hillary out with the large Puerto-Rican constituency in NY. And is that something _other than_ political expedience? ---
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-the-media-report-on-clinton-pardoning-terrorist/88215/28 "2001-10-18T18:18:17Z")
I agree with you about that instance. I was disputing your statement about “whoever Clinton, or any other president, pardoned”. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-the-media-report-on-clinton-pardoning-terrorist/88215/29 "2001-10-18T18:35:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bup \* > **2) When someone gets pardoned, it’s always someone convicted of a felony. You can’t pardon people who haven’t broken the law.** Apparently, no one told Gerald Ford. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-the-media-report-on-clinton-pardoning-terrorist/88215/30 "2001-10-18T18:37:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wildest Bill \* > \*\*What I can’t figure out why you like this guy? He is bad news. PERIOD. \*\* You are making me even more angry. What the HELL does how I feel about Clinton have to do with anything at all in this thread? Don’t change the subject. :mad: This is General Questions, not IMHO or Great Debates. You have been here for nearly a year–you know PERFECTLY WELL which topics go where. How I, or you, feel about Clinton, are **opinions** and **opinion** threads go in IMHO. Or the Pit. Or GD. **Opinions** do NOT belong in GQ, ESPECIALLY when there is a CLUMSY attempt to disguise them as a request for information. > [@](#): > > **This was a not troll post. It was to find out if he really pardoned people that blew things up.** Here’s today’s vocabulary word–“disingenuous”. (Because I’m assuming you already know what the word “bullshit” means.) > **[Dictionary by Merriam-Webster: America's most-trusted online dictionary](https://www.merriam-webster.com/)** > > The dictionary by Merriam-Webster is America's most trusted online dictionary for English word definitions, meanings, and pronunciation. #wordsmatter > [@](#): > > dis·in·gen·u·ous > Pronunciation: "di-s&n-'jen-y&-w&s > Function: adjective > Date: 1655 > : lacking in candor; also : giving a false appearance of simple frankness : CALCULATING It is stunningly disingenuous, it is “giving a false appearance of simple frankness” for you to come back and say, with wide-eyed innocence, “Why, I was just looking for some information.” That’s bullshit. You were looking to pick a fight about Clinton. The second half of your OP is nothing more than that. Not to mention the thread title itself: “Why Doesn’t the Media Report ON CLinton Pardoning Terrorist?” You’re not asking, “Did Clinton Pardon Some Terrorists?” You’re taking it as a known fact that Clinton did pardon some terrorists, and you’re insinuating that the media is covering it up. Your question, “did Clinton pardon some terrorists?” would have been acceptable if THAT HAD BEEN ALL THERE WAS, just a simple question. But you couldn’t leave it at that, because that’s your “shtick”, isn’t it? > [@](#): > > **And it looks like he did.** If you’re still around tomorrow, you can go start another thread about this. I’m too angry to address it now, and I’m certainly not gonna waste any more Googling time on you. > [@](#): > > \*\*Ok it was Rush. I understood Duck Duck some of these people were also bombers. Is that not true? > > There is a book coming out on all of it. Ironically by a writer that was killed on one of the hijacked planes. Supposably Clinton was trying to stop the book from being published.\*\* > [@](#): > > \*\*I did not say he had anything to do with that writer being killed… \*\* No, you’re right, you didn’t come right out and say, “Clinton tried to have that writer killed”, but this is still more disingenuous bullshit. So it’s not bad enough that you’re trolling for a fight about Clinton, you have to add conspiracy theories to it, too? Give me strength. > [@](#): > > \*\*So where is trolling please tell me. \*\* Trolling is defined, as you know perfectly well, because you’ve been told, as “deliberately posting inflammatory remarks solely to get a rise out of people”. The second half of your OP would have been inflammatory even if it had been posted in the Pit as a stand-alone thread, but in GQ it’s unforgiveable. Go play somewhere else. ---
**Author:** ![45ACP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/e5b9ba/32.png) [@45ACP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/45ACP)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-the-media-report-on-clinton-pardoning-terrorist/88215/31 "2001-10-18T18:40:14Z")
I hesitate to post anything else, for fear of taking sides in this bizarre bazaar of finger pointing and eye gouging, but for what it’s worth, the book and author in question is The Final Days: A Behind the Scenes Look at the Last, Desperate Abuses of Power by the Clinton White House by Barbara Olson. Olson is the late wife of Solicitor General Ted Olson. She was on the airplane which struck the Pentagon, speaking to her husband in the minutes before the crash by cell phone. The NewsMax website has an article [http://www.newsmax.com/showinside.shtml?a=2001/10/12/81033](http://www.newsmax.com/showinside.shtml?a=2001/10/12/81033) written by Carl Limbacher (and staff) on October 12, 2001. The NewsMax article cites an article by Tom Winter of the Human Events newsletter ([http://www.humanevents.org/home.html](http://www.humanevents.org/home.html)) in which Winter asserts that Bill and Hillary Clinton and their friends tried to stop publication of Olson’s book, due to its unflattering portrayal of the former President and First Lady. The Human Events website does not have this particular article by Winter archived, but if anyone here subscribes, I assume they can confirm if this was said. [soapbox] The fact that the Clintons tried to stop publication is pretty meaningless in the overall scheme of things. People try to restrict publication of unflattering stuff regularly. And for what it’s worth, irony would have been had the planes been hijacked by the pardoned FALN members, and they crashed into Clinton’s office building just as Clinton was receiving a FedEx package containing his autographed copy of Olson’s book. What actually transpired was horrendously sad and pitiful, and nothing we say or do now change that. Hopefully, we can at least agree that no matter the putative “reason” for this tragedy, and despite the recriminations which have followed, it is an event which begs for some dignity to be shown to those who died. [/soapbox] ---
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-the-media-report-on-clinton-pardoning-terrorist/88215/32 "2001-10-18T18:56:29Z")
In light of the preceding post by **45ACP** , I retract my previous agreement that it was ironic. As it now turns out that the book by the writer was not about terrorism and Clinton’s dealing with it, but about the general issue of Clinton’s last minute pardons - an unrelated matter. ---
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-the-media-report-on-clinton-pardoning-terrorist/88215/33 "2001-10-18T18:59:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Philster \* > \*\*Pardoned terrorists? How about “Facilitated the Stock Piling of Biological Weapons in Iraq” > > This thread doesn’t belong in GQ, but who gives a rats asshole when someone calls Clinton out for the fool he is. \*\* Yeah… Lets just pretend that Bush Sr didn’t have a golden opportunity to put Hussein out of business for good, but passed it up, and let him stay in power! Lets just blame Clinton for everything bad that happened when he was in office, and give him no credit for the good stuff. Note: I’m assuming this is going to the pit or GD relativly soon. ---
**Author:** ![DPWhite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DPWhite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPWhite)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-the-media-report-on-clinton-pardoning-terrorist/88215/34 "2001-10-18T19:02:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wildest Bill \* > \*\*Duck Duck, > > I like you. I think you are a nice person. What I can’t figure out why you like this guy? He is bad news. PERIOD. This was a not troll post. It was to find out if he really pardoned people that blew things up. And it looks like he did. So where is trolling please tell me. > > I did not say he had anything to do with that writer being killed I just thought it was ironic. \*\* What do you mean you like Duck Duck? Cite please. You think Duck Duck is a nice person? Cite please. What guy is bad news EXCLAMATION POINT. What the hell is a troll post QUESTION MARK. It looks like he did pardon people who blew things up. Cite please. (No he didn’t, these were all convicted of being accomplices, and if you don’t have to CITE and Rush doesn’t have to CITE, then neither do I.) I’d tell you where the trolling was if I knew what trolling was. (And don’t tell me fishing, I see any fishing going on here.) Gee, I’m sorry all the people were killed, but I view it as a tragedy, not irony. The only possible irony is see is that someone who was terribly interested in terrorism was a victim of terrorism. Had he been an apologist for terrorism, then that would be ironic. William Jefferson Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States is a great man and was a good President, his cheating on his spouse notwithstanding. The fact that the people who want this country to be completely controlled by corporations didn’t like him (to put it mildly) and propagandize the ignorant masses through “entertainment” like the Limbaugh show actually speaks highly of Clinton. If he had been running for his second term in 2000 and all this had happened, I would have cheerfully voted for him. The kind of attacks launched against Clinton have always said far more about the people attacking him than Clinton himself. Powerful Politician Cheats on Wife is not exactly a breaking story. I’m not happy about it, but if they are good at their job, I’ll let them keep their job. After all if I have to fire every man who cheats on his wife, I have a very small workforce to choose from. I have nothing against WB and wish him well, but from what I’ve seen from all his posts, he is a very unhappy, bitter and hate filled man, seeking to inflame others at every opportunity. Clinton does actually have more formidible enemies, but virtually all of them share the same ugly prejudices that WB exhibits in the threads he starts. This says a lot about Bill Clinton. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-the-media-report-on-clinton-pardoning-terrorist/88215/35 "2001-10-18T19:12:37Z")
This is not a general question. This thread is closed. bibliophage moderator GQ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-the-media-report-on-clinton-pardoning-terrorist/88215.md?page=1)