This clever ploy clears the way for Bush to put someone more malleable into that position. And Jack Abramoff isn't the only reason for the Hillman elevation.
Hillman also spearheaded the probe into the claim that a businessman named Peter Paul illegally gave Hillary Clinton a personal contribution disguised as a donation from his company, Stan Lee media. (Yes, we're talking about Stan the Man, True Believers. They were once partners. ) This falling out stems from a fundraising event back in 2000; the New York Times offers a good summary here. The allegation made some headlines in 2004, as Paul pled guilty to an unrelated charge of manipulating company stock. The right tried their damnedest to use this controversy as a cudgel against Hillary, although nothing really stuck:
In March of 2005, Paul had a falling out with his advocates at Judicial Watch. He accused them of using his name to raise more than $15 million from people who disliked the Clintons, while doing little to advance his case. He has threatened to sue them for $1 million, and announced his plan to replace them with a "dream team" of Republican lawyers...Side note: I find it of some interest that the SEC went after Paul when they allow so many business crooks to escape. Certainly, Ken Lay can be accused of misrepresenting Enron's finances to the stockholders. Why put Paul in the pokey and leave Lay on the loose?
For their part, Judicial Watch has filed papers seeking to formally sever all ties with Paul...
At any rate, now Bush can appoint a new chief corruption "watchdog" who, like Starr, will refuse to let an old scandal die. Prediction: The New Guy will offer Paul a very sweet deal, and headlines will proclaim Clintonian perfidy at just the right moment in 2006. That moment will occur before the election, but after the point when someone else could run in Hillary's place.
Abramoff will be a mere rumor.
4 comments:
Can anyone imagine the uproar from Republicans, if Clinton had tried to side-track an investigation already rich in criminality, by making the presiding investigator an offer he couldn't refuse?
If we lived in a real democracy, this alone would be an impeachable offense. Anyone ever heard of "obstruction of justice"?
And where's the goddam "free press" in all this?
The end of democracy isn't formally announced. As long the elites which set national discourse continue to collect their pay checks, they don't give a damn.
The REAL reason Dubya went after Saddam:
Dictator Envy
anon 8:59... The free press is enjoying its last days. This country is heading rapidly toward a military coup, which will not only depose Bush and his gang of incompetents, but also shut down their media propaganda stooges. All those MSM jokers are going to be out of work or in prison.
Can't you guys just leave poor boy George alone for awhile. If he spends all his time scheming to cover up his misdeeds, how is he going to have time to run the country (and clear shrub on the ranch)?
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