Wallace Defends Bush’s Abuses Of Power, Says Comparison To Nixon Is ‘A Gross Misreading Of History’

[ProSense]

Wallace Defends Bush’s Abuses Of Power, Says Comparison To Nixon Is ‘A Gross Misreading Of History’

During a discussion period after the screening yesterday of Ron Howard’s new film “Frost/Nixon,” Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace defended President Bush against criticism by Howard that Bush has abused the office of the presidency in way similar to President Richard Nixon:

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So according to Wallace, Bush’s abuses of power in the name of national security are more palatable than Nixon’s because his motives, as Wallace said, were “to protect the country.” Thus he seems to be willing to excuse the disastrous consequences of Bush’s security policies, from the thousands killed and maimed in Iraq to the torture of detainees at Guantanamo Bay and beyond. By that logic, Wallace could excuse the atrocities of some of history’s most ruthless dictators.

But Wallace also seems to ignore the fact that, like Nixon, the Bush White House has also abused power for political gain and to maintain control of government. Some examples:

– Outing of Valerie Plame Wilson: In 2003, the White House leaked the CIA identity of Valerie Plame Wilson as retribution for an op-ed written by Plame’s husband, former Amb. Joseph Wilson, that questioned Bush’s justification for war in Iraq.

– U.S. Attorney Scandal: An 18-month DOJ Inspector General and Office of Professional Responsibility investigation released in September found that the Bush administration fired nine U.S. Attorneys in 2006 for political reasons.

– Hatch Act Violations: In 2003, Karl Rove and Bush re-election campaign manager Ken Mehlman “visited nearly every agency to outline White House campaign priorities, review polling data and, on occasion, call attention to tight House, Senate and gubernatorial races that could be affected by regulatory action.”

Moreover, in one way or another, the Bush White House has politicized numerous federal agencies, most notably the Justice Department, but also, HHS, the EPA, NASA, DOD, the GSA and the Interior Department.

But maybe the real difference between Nixon and Bush is that when Nixon abused his power, it didn’t cost people their lives.

[groovedaddy]

1. It isn't a fair comparison. Bush is FAR worse than Nixon. Reagan was worse too.

Bush, the bottom of the barrell.

[xxqqqzme]

2. Nixon is where these criminals cut their teeth.

St ronnie gave them their power blood lust. * opened the gate and let them pursue their fascist fantasies.

[ProSense]

4. Agree. "Nixon tapes: Ruthless, cynical, profane"

Nixon tapes: Ruthless, cynical, profane

Posted: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 1:39 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: White House

Richard Nixon's reputation takes a fresh pounding every time the National Archives releases another batch of audio tapes from his presidency, and today's opening of nearly 200 hours of Nixon White House recordings is no exception.

Again and again, Nixon comes across as ruthless, cynical and profane in conversations with staff members.

more

[karynnj]

7. I remember how shocked I was

when the transcripts first started coming out. I was working for the research arm of a large company where I could not imagine anyone using the language he did or saying the awful things he did. All three of us in the office I was in started the day reading those transcripts in the NYT.

[Forkboy]

3. Gromit had no comment on the matter.

[Ozma]

5. Is it just me?, or is everyone at Fixed Noise totally delusional? and if

it's just me, be nice when you answer, ok?

[RollWithIt]

6. Hate to say it, but after listening to the Nixon tapes, Wallace is right...

Nixon was just a complete scumbag. Those tapes are absolutely amazing. It's like listening to a bad prison movie. There are hours and hours and hours and hours of Nixon basically breaking the law, expressing support for clearly dishonest policy proposals (the day before he introduced his new private healthcare bill, he was advised that the system was great because it made money because they didn't have to supply as much care to the buyers because the insurance companies wouldn't payout so doctors would only do the more necessary jobs. Nixon loved it and the next day he was on camera saying the system would improve the quality of healthcare for everyone.

Dozens of times he basically dissolves into these rants about his enemies.

The Watergate parts are amazing, he's like a prison house mafia leader or something.


Now Bush, he's just a moronic criminal. The man is not guilty by reason of retardation.



Nixon on the other hand, he was the real deal when it came to pure crime.

[ProSense]

8. Wallace was right that Bush's torture and other war crimes were nothing compared to

Nixon being a scumbag?

Bush's illegal political activities are already on par with Nixon's, if not more extensive, and there is no telling what else will be discovered. The fact that the Bush knowingly engaged in war crimes makes him an evil bastard.

[Ozma]

9. RIGHT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[RollWithIt]

10. I think the point I was trying to make...

Was that Bush is the kind of person to just listen to his advisors. Like a dumb parrot.

Nixon was an arch criminal hellbent on destruction. You want to talk torture and indiscriminate bombing? Try Nixon 69-74.

[ProSense]

11. I understand the point you were trying to make, but

that's not the point Wallace was making. He is using Nixon to justify Bush. In effect, he's saying that Bush didn't intentionally do what he did, but that he did it to protect the country. That's BS.

Also Nixon, although he may have been capable (who knows?), did not start the Vietnam war. Bush also failed to heed the lessons of Vietnam so it's possible that he is both stupid and evil.

[SwampG8r]

12. each of the

darth lords builds on the legacy of the previous

darth nixon laid the groundwork
darth reagan furthered it
darth bush pushed it even further
and darth w has gotten it to the edge of planetary war

each building on the others works

i lived during the nixon days and i remember him as satan