Reply #65: The break-in at Watergate

[H2O Man]

was the part of the iceburg that the American public saw. The larger section lay in the cold dark recesses, but it absolutely had the capacity to sink our ship, so to speak. I have frequently said that everyone should read "The Imperial Presidency," by Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. Nixon was taking part in a coordinated effort to destroy the balance (or separation) of powers that our federal government depends upon. I do not mean to imply that if all three branches are separate and have a balance, that this alone guarentees a healthy federal government. But I know that without question, an imperial, or revolutionary presidency, makes democracy impossible.

I share your outrage with the tactic used by this administration, in its attempt to reach the same approximate goal as Nixon et al. Clearly, the exposing of Plame -- and hence the sting operation that she was working on -- goes way beyond the Watergate break-in.

But in many ways, they were avenues that lead in the same direction.