This is not the first time in my life that a president has decided obeying the law is just optional. Nixon’s administration didn’t even shy away from breaking and entering.
I also haven’t forgotten that Reagan and his top people were warned by James Baker, George Schulz and even Caspar Weinberger that their Iran Contra operation was clearly illegal.
Reagan told them he was willing to face that charge. I also remember that before he ran for president Reagan said the only thing Nixon did wrong was to not destroy the tapes. Reagan was clearly OK with a president obstructing Justice. (Sounds like WaPo publisher Will Lewis. )
True, but it does seem like in those cases (at least Reagan more than Nixon) there was a particular project they were engaged in, one that they decided to break the law for. This time, it's over a wide range of issues and areas. And maybe the biggest difference: Reagan and Nixon tried to keep it secret. Trump is doing it right out in the open.
That is true but it was normalized by the media after an initial uproar. I was gobsmacked when most of the media accept Reagan’s bizarre pseudo-apology. He explicitly said that facts told him he had traded arms for hostages — which was clearly illegal — but his heart and best intentions still told him he hadn’t.
The media even refused to demand answers from Bush when he ran for president even though It had become clear had repeatedly lied to the American people when he adamantly claimed he had been “out of the loop”. By the time Clinton was elected Republicans were carrying our multiple investigations of the insane, vicious and deeply cruel lie that the Clintons had murdered their close friend Vince Foster. Brett Kavanaugh conducted the last (fourth?) investigation of that slander for Ken Starr which cost us taxpayers over $2 million. That same media then went bonkers when Clinton lied about a consensual affair.
Apparently many in our media think violating your marriage vows is far worse than violating your oath to uphold the constitution. By treating Republicans’ increasing extremism as normal instead of seriously damaging to our democracy, Republicans became more and more emboldened and extreme. Trump being able to get away with being openly and proudly dismantling our democracy is the result of decades of media normalization of Republicans’ radical anti-democracy behavior.
I really appreciate you joining in the discussion here. Your podcasts are also very informative but I will miss listening to your discussions with sister. Your discussions about life in the West Bank and the situation in Gaza were more informative than most things I have read or listened to. Maybe you can get her on as a guest?
OK Lynn, since you asked, I've created a transcript that is now in the post.
Sorry to hear that your sister has retired from podcasting: I used to love the interaction between the two of you.
well, i read faster than i listen, and i don't have a "phone".
Oy, vey iz mir.
This is not the first time in my life that a president has decided obeying the law is just optional. Nixon’s administration didn’t even shy away from breaking and entering.
I also haven’t forgotten that Reagan and his top people were warned by James Baker, George Schulz and even Caspar Weinberger that their Iran Contra operation was clearly illegal.
https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/irancontra-20-years-later-and-what-it-means/
Reagan told them he was willing to face that charge. I also remember that before he ran for president Reagan said the only thing Nixon did wrong was to not destroy the tapes. Reagan was clearly OK with a president obstructing Justice. (Sounds like WaPo publisher Will Lewis. )
True, but it does seem like in those cases (at least Reagan more than Nixon) there was a particular project they were engaged in, one that they decided to break the law for. This time, it's over a wide range of issues and areas. And maybe the biggest difference: Reagan and Nixon tried to keep it secret. Trump is doing it right out in the open.
That is true but it was normalized by the media after an initial uproar. I was gobsmacked when most of the media accept Reagan’s bizarre pseudo-apology. He explicitly said that facts told him he had traded arms for hostages — which was clearly illegal — but his heart and best intentions still told him he hadn’t.
The media even refused to demand answers from Bush when he ran for president even though It had become clear had repeatedly lied to the American people when he adamantly claimed he had been “out of the loop”. By the time Clinton was elected Republicans were carrying our multiple investigations of the insane, vicious and deeply cruel lie that the Clintons had murdered their close friend Vince Foster. Brett Kavanaugh conducted the last (fourth?) investigation of that slander for Ken Starr which cost us taxpayers over $2 million. That same media then went bonkers when Clinton lied about a consensual affair.
Apparently many in our media think violating your marriage vows is far worse than violating your oath to uphold the constitution. By treating Republicans’ increasing extremism as normal instead of seriously damaging to our democracy, Republicans became more and more emboldened and extreme. Trump being able to get away with being openly and proudly dismantling our democracy is the result of decades of media normalization of Republicans’ radical anti-democracy behavior.
I really appreciate you joining in the discussion here. Your podcasts are also very informative but I will miss listening to your discussions with sister. Your discussions about life in the West Bank and the situation in Gaza were more informative than most things I have read or listened to. Maybe you can get her on as a guest?
I don't listen to podcasts. Is there a transcript? or did I waste my subscription fee?
Let me work on that, Lynn - and thanks for subscribing!
I listen while I do boring tasks. It’s great to learn something new while cleaning a toilet!