Gerald Ford robbed Americans of information

[stevebreeze]

Information is what was lost in the pardoning of Nixon. We the public were not allowed to find the depths of the conspiracy to overthrow the election.

The Nixon machine was very effective in picking off one after the other strong democratic opponents, until they faced the opponent they wanted and perceived as weakest, George McGovern. I do not in any way mean to disparage George McGovern, just pointing out that this is who the Nixon political machine wanted as an opponent.

If the public had learned all of what went on in the Nixon white house would we have all the Nixon Ford re-treads in the current administration? Cheney Rumsfelt? I don't know. I only know that the pardon robbed us of much information on who the system was rigged, and robbed us of the chance for true reform. The partial public funding of the presidential raced worked well, for only 1 election. Were we better informed perhaps congress would have been forced to put all federal elections on a plan to federally fund election. This is how we should proceed now.

[liberal N proud]

1. They tried to make Ford a saint today with

all this bullshit about his pardon of Nixon as saving the nation.
Next thing they will be trying to get his face on money.
They also attempted to capture a JFK Jr moment with Ford's grandkids after the funeral. The camera focused on one of them as Jerry's box was loaded into the wagon.

[eleny]

2. A copycat thread!

I never had one of my threads copycatted. Thank you for the honor. I think.

[stevebreeze]

8. Your thread was well written and similar to what had been buggin me.

please consider it a complement.

[eleny]

9. I did consider it as such!

Sometimes I don't post in a thread when it gets very long. Thoughts can get lost once the discussion is lengthy. So I was glad to read your take on the issue. And that's why I recommended your thread.
:pals:

[illinoisprogressive]

3. I remember the era and ford

I think everyone here is making too much of something. The info came out and Ford quietly released the tapes.
He was a decent guy. Nixon resigned because the congress told him he would be impeached. There was no conspiracy and the country needed to move on. It was a terrible time and everyone agreed.
You must take things into the context of the era and time.

[eleny]

4. Spare us the lecture

I'm part of the context of those times having lived through them. Ford robbed us of the process of our Constitution. And I resent it.

[stevebreeze]

7. not true to my memory, there are still small bits leaking out

even after his death the Nixon family fought release of some tapes.

[kath]

5. Perhaps we can't (or shouldn't) entirely eliminate the Presidential

pardon. But dammit, the "pre-emptive" pardon, before there has been a FULL investigation AND trial(s) should NEVER be allowed.

If Watergate, Iran-Contra, and other Repug wrongdoings had been fully investigated and brought to court, we wouldn't have the gang of thugs in charge that we have now.

[cascadiance]

10. I like that idea!

I do think there are some limitations that should be made on pardons. It will probably take a constitutional ammendment for this to happen, but if we push the Republicans hard enough in the Senate that are up for re-election (and there quite a few this time running in 2008), I think we might be able to negotiate that (in such a way that Bush can't veto it away either). And if the SCOTUS rules on and supports a Bush signing statement that tries to immunize him from such an ammendment, which he very likely will try to do, then we can go after impeaching those judges voting for that too.

[Lars39]

6. Agreed.

[opihimoimoi]

11. Wha happon isFord de facto protected the Pub Party. Look what happened since....