Reply #24: I think it is a combo of "hindsight = 20/20 vision" and anger with

[salin]

the current crop of Nixon and Ford retreads in the WH today - and pent up frustration over-taking the moment of graciousness or at least dignity that is due at the time of passing.

The 20/20 Vision thing - who knew how many of the officials of the Nixon and Ford era (esp Cheney and Rumsfeld) would come back again and again - and that the "lessons" they would have taken away from Watergate and Nixon's demise would be those of seeking MORE presidential/imperial power rather than humbleness in terms of the constraints that the Constitution puts on the president to prevent an Imperial office.

While I wish there had been no pardon, his act was not the only one done 'to spare the Nation' and/or 'to prevent such widespread disillusionment with our democratic system as to threaten its future'. Democrats and Republicans alike took a similar stand during the Iran Contra hearings - backing off some of the most serious investigations because of concern that on the heels (okay - 15 yrs isn't "heels" in realtime, but in historic eras - pretty much = "heels") of Watergate, the public distrust could undermine the foundations of democracy/repesentative government. Many of the retreads today who are high officials acting out historically harmful, imperious policies come also from the Iran Contra era (Gates, and Negroponte, and countless others.)

Again, who knew that 'national disgrace' would be so fleeting and these folks could reemerge in current times to do so much harm. Hindsight is 20/20 vision.

Hopefully, today, the public is becoming more savvy - and officials who might take on serious investigations will see them through, rather than back off "for the public's good." Hopefully more than just the folks at DU recognize that without serious accountability for actions - those players, and those just under the key players will be kicking around near the seats of power - only to reemerge as top players in the next republican administration whenever that happens (2012? 2020? whenever).

I really think that is the confluence of anger at the above, that is leading to the bashing at this inopportune time. I understand it - but I think it is misplaced. I honestly think that the backing off of the Iran Contra - because of the "watergate/impeachment pain caused to the country" was much more serious than the pardoning of Nixon. Why? Because the not pardoning of Nixon would not have led to knocking the folks out of power who reemerged under Reagan/Bush and Bush/Quayle, and later under Bush/Cheney. Seriously - not much would have been different. But the backing off of the more serious aspects of Iran-Contra could have knocked more of these folks out of power and would have given a serious civics lesson to the public about the ongoing efforts of the Administrative branch to defy (and outright ignore) the legislative branch (the govt was by law prevented from funnelling any more money to the Contras... the whole operation was about defying Congress and acting extraConstitutionally. What we have today is an extreme version of what happened then - but now it has spread far beyond a single area of international relations - and seems to be insidious to all parts of govt. THAT is where our anger should be. That is where our vigilence should be. When John Dean called for serious hearings and investigations into the major/high up players in different branches of govt - in order to prevent them from reemerging in the future as "public servants" - rather than starting with Impeachment hearings - it was about really prevennting future bad acts of govt that threaten our system - and it was about really educating the public about the extent of the bad-acts policies to instill vigilance in the future.

Okay, I am rambling. Far afield from the Bash Ford or Don't Bash Ford theme of the OP. Woops.