Spinning History
As far as I can tell, the apologias written for Gerald Ford and his decision to pardon Richard Nixon are an attempt to rewrite history that does a disservice to the nation, and to posterity.
A lot of time and energy has been spent saying that the pardon was the best thing for this country, and this attitude simply continues the long standing tradition of awarding the spoils to the victor.
Much as Gerald Ford was a nice man, the pardon of Richard Nixon was a bad decision. It sent the message that if you are the President, you are in fact above the law. It is against this historical backdrop that the current administration is issuing signing statements that essentially say they won't be following newly passed laws they do not agree with, and in other cases just ignoring the various other laws that seem inconvenient.
This administration has done more damage to America's image abroad and to the rights of the average U.S. citizen than all the administrations to precede it, and I blame Richard Nixon, and Gerald Ford.
Justice averted is justice denied, and we all suffer when well intended lies are told to excuse bad ideas. It is a sign of the strength of this Republic that the pardon of Richard Nixon, who was most assuredly "a crook," has not led to the complete downfall, yet, of our form of government, rather than an affirmation of the quality of the decision to pardon him.
Future presidents look at it and see that they can get away with criminal acts if they have enough power, young people see that the system seems to be based on the lie of equality for all where, just like in Orwell's Animal Farm, some are more equal. I expect that many will wonder why would it be worthwhile to even try to participate in an apparently corrupted system, and this is a loss to the nation of the most precious natural resource we have, brainpower.
Gerald Ford was, I am certain, a nice guy and a well intentioned public servant. I am equally certain that his decision, while not wholly responsible for the downfall of Western Civilisation, did nothing much to prevent that downfall that allowing due process would not have, and likely much less.
A lot of time and energy has been spent saying that the pardon was the best thing for this country, and this attitude simply continues the long standing tradition of awarding the spoils to the victor.
Much as Gerald Ford was a nice man, the pardon of Richard Nixon was a bad decision. It sent the message that if you are the President, you are in fact above the law. It is against this historical backdrop that the current administration is issuing signing statements that essentially say they won't be following newly passed laws they do not agree with, and in other cases just ignoring the various other laws that seem inconvenient.
This administration has done more damage to America's image abroad and to the rights of the average U.S. citizen than all the administrations to precede it, and I blame Richard Nixon, and Gerald Ford.
Justice averted is justice denied, and we all suffer when well intended lies are told to excuse bad ideas. It is a sign of the strength of this Republic that the pardon of Richard Nixon, who was most assuredly "a crook," has not led to the complete downfall, yet, of our form of government, rather than an affirmation of the quality of the decision to pardon him.
Future presidents look at it and see that they can get away with criminal acts if they have enough power, young people see that the system seems to be based on the lie of equality for all where, just like in Orwell's Animal Farm, some are more equal. I expect that many will wonder why would it be worthwhile to even try to participate in an apparently corrupted system, and this is a loss to the nation of the most precious natural resource we have, brainpower.
Gerald Ford was, I am certain, a nice guy and a well intentioned public servant. I am equally certain that his decision, while not wholly responsible for the downfall of Western Civilisation, did nothing much to prevent that downfall that allowing due process would not have, and likely much less.
Labels: backbone, conversation spin, friendship, lame marketing campigns, political ploys, politics, relationships, stupidity, venality, White House
posted by Fuzzy2k at 2/06/2007 09:24:00 AM
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