Gore Vidal: Bush Could End Like Nixon

[seafan]

Gore Vidal: Bush Could End Like Nixon

December 12, 2006

Havana, Dec 12 (Prensa Latina) Famous US writer Gore Vidal warned Tuesday that President George W. Bush could end as did Richard Nixon, with an obligatory resignation.
Vidal, 81, is visiting Cuba at the head of a large delegation of US intellectuals, historians and politicians.

"We hope he will end up like Nixon, resigning the presidency," the author said in an exchange with professors and students at the University of Havana, adding "it's not impossible."
Comparing the present US leader with Richard Nixon (1969-1974), who was forced to leave the White House due to the Watergate scandal, Vidal said, "When a building begins to fall to pieces it is very difficult to stop its collapse."

The author of 24 novels, considered the most elegant writer of his generation in the United States, has also been called the most lucid intellectual in his country.
"Everyone who listens to this president in the United States knows he is a liar,"Vidal affirmed, saying "it is frightening to have to constantly listen to a man repeating and repeating I m a president in a time of war. "

"Of all human vices, the worst is to lie," noting that at the beginning of the 20th Century it was possible to get rid of a crazy president through a referendum.

snip

[dubykc]

1. I've thought that for months

[whistle]

2. That would be too honorable for Dubya nad Cheney, impeach them both

[Imalittleteapot]

3. Unless they can pull something out of his empty hat,

my guess is that he will break. So far his handlers have done a decent job of keeping him propped up, but how much more can he take? Does he have the strength to finish his unpresidential folly. I do not wish this for him, it's just a feeling.

[madrchsod]

4. i`m not sure if there is enough republicans

to force him to resign. nixon was told to resign by his own party or he would lose in a senate trial. although i disagree with impeaching bush because we have a year and a half to get the country on the road to recovery,i do find this option very interesting....but then we would have dicky running the show...wait- i think he is anyway

[janx]

5. His own father is trying to bail the country out now...

Bush is so much worse than Nixon ever was that Vidal's prediction might come true much sooner than we think.

[Independent_Liberal]

7. I think Cheney will resign first.

Something like this...

Cheney steps down for "health reasons."
Bush is forced to appoint McCain as VP.
Bush resigns.
McCain is sworn in as Prez and is caretaker until January 2009.

[BlueIris]

8. I...don't think it'll be McCain, but--yeah.

It'll be someone horrifying, but acceptable to the fringe right, like...well, I've always said it'll be Frist, but would it even be possible for good ole' Bill to get put up there at this point?

[Geoff R. Casavant]

10. Bush won't get a free pick

Anyone he might nominate to replace Cheney would have to be approved by a majority of both (soon to be Democratic) houses of Congress.

[BlueIris]

19. Oh, that's right. We won a lot.

Somehow that had slipped my mind. Thanks!

[AJ9000]

20. Circumstances may arise before * term is up making impeachment the only rational option.

Yet another scandal could erupt for example. * has made plenty of enemies in the US intel community, and some of them would not mind leaking something to bring him down.

[momster]

6. Walking the WH Halls and

talking to the portraits? He's already foul-mouthed and borderline paranoiac.

[Senator]

9. Only Impeachment Can Bring About His Resignation

Only Impeachment

--

[seafan]

11. "I am the commander, see?

"I am the commander, see?

I do not need to explain why I say things. — That's the interesting thing about being the President. — Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody an explanation." ---Bush to Bob Woodward, 2002

Bush will never change course


It is time to arrest Bush and Cheney for crimes against our Constitution.

[babylonsister]

12. He needs to explain this and what he intends to do:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2650432&mesg_id=2650432

[seafan]

15. He is completely irrelevant to what is happening. He cannot evaluate.

He cannot think critically. He cannot alter strategy. He cannot comprehend what is happening.

He is jerking around in his own tornado of ego, defiance and madness, while unseen dark actors play out their fantasies of absolute power and greed.


Ladies and gentlemen, our country is in rudderless catastrophe right now, and it will continue in a death spiral every single day this man occupies our White House. He is holding every last one of us hostage to his insanity.

[babylonsister]

16. Your observations are so frightening but I suspect correct.

I hope there's someone/someones who 'get it' and try to reverse this course of destruction for all of our sakes. And I do feel like a hostage.

[opihimoimoi]

22. I strongley suspect you are correct....Bush is the Loserman has Losership, and will lose his ass to

History

[tbyg52]

24. The cabal has *never* understood

Who're the *employees* here--THEM!

[SmellsLikeDeanSpirit]

13. I wish he would just resign. Put the country ahead of his own delusions.

But this will never happen. If democrats don't do anything to him I think it would be a disgrace and a shame.

[Phrogman]

14. PLEASE, no pardons for these criminals!

I always thought if the Dick Nixon matter had come to its inevitable without the pardon by Ford, things would have been a little different.
Bushco has to be made an example of, we owe it to future generations to thoroughly crush these people.

[vixengrl]

27. Perhaps--he resigned before the worst could be done--

he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

--Article II Section 2, US Constitution

Seems to me that this means that if impeachment should follow to removal from office--if warranted*, and conviction, then such conviction can not be overturned by the power of pardon.

*The clause on impeachment reads as follows :

Section 4 - Disqualification

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Note this is--"impeachment for *and* conviction of". Depending on the restitution or sentencing--you didn't see them kick Clinton out.

So if Nixon had taken it all the way w/o resigning, he could've faced severe penalties--my guess is this is the reason he resigned. I don't think we know how far it all would've gone--and I have the same feeling about any investigation preliminary to an official writ of impeachment on Bush--we won't really know how far it'll go: somebody like James Baker will say "Son, pack it in before you do yourself a mischief."

But is there a man alive, a modern day Ford, a patsy supreme--who'll pardon this guy? A good soldier and true?


(Disclaimer: not a lawyer, but I really enjoy reading the Constitution. )

[The Doctor.]

17. "Could"??? No, there is no way Bush could end like Nixon...

He will wish he 'could' end like Nixon.

[babylonsister]

18. I hope you're right, Dr! nt

[Proud Liberal Dem]

21. I Now See Things Ending One of Two Ways For Bush

I believe that, this point, we can stick a fork in Bush. His "stay the course" Iraq policy seems to be finished. The only possible way that I believe that he would be able to survive politically and finish out his term would be to alter his Iraq policy along the lines of the ISG report. I realize that it may be an imperfect report and doesn't really conform to my own personal beliefs but I feel that it is at least somewhat grounded in "reality." IMHO Bush would be well-advised to adopt the recommendations of the ISG. However, if Bush wants to stubbornly continue his current policy in Iraq or even seriously pick a fight with Iran, Republicans are left with one of two options: Stay with the sinking ship and go down with Bush or jump ship and hope to salvage what remains of their party and their "prestige". Fortunately, I am beginning to see some signs that Bush is starting to lose members of his own party regarding his Iraq policy and it may be easier for the Democrats to work with the (remaining) Republicans to challenge Bush to substantively change his policy towards Iraq.

[OneBlueSky]

23. Bush's crimes and misdemeanors are FAR, FAR worse than anything Nixon . . .

ever even thought about . . . and believe me, that's something I NEVER thought could happen in this country . . . but here we are . . .

Bush and his cohorts deserve far more than leaving office and writing books . . . their crimes MUST be laid out there for all to see, and they must pay dearly for what they've done to this nation, to mutual respect and cooperation among nations, and to the planet itself . . .

[corkhead]

25. "Stop talking to the paintings George, the helicopter is waiting"

[Lisa]

26. with his usual talent for malapropisms, he will scream "I am not a cook!"

And then he will knock himself out as he forgets to duck, and walks into the doorframe of the helicopter -- Laura will have to drag him inside.