John Dean on Broken Government

[CaliforniaPeggy]

It was a great privilege to hear this intelligent and funny man talk about what's happening today. I have some very abbreviated notes on his talk:

Cheney and Bush feel that the presidency was broken after Watergate, and that it needed to be strengthened. They also felt that 9/11 made strengthening it a priority. They wanted (as we already know) an imperial presidency.

The Judicial branch especially troubles Dean. 4 of the current justices are there as payback for constituencies. These 4 are fundamentalist justices. And 5 are needed for a majority ruling. Therefore, if another spot opens up during the * administration, or if a repub gets in in 2008, a fifth judge will come in as a fundamentalist judge. This will radically change the law.

For instance: These fundy justices do not believe that the Bill of Rights applies to the states. The 14th Amendment was supposed to correct this situation, and it does, but if a fifth justice comes in who stands with the 4 already there, then our Bill of Rights will no longer apply to us.

Dean said the Democrats need to bring this subject up for 2008, and to hammer it home for the electorate. There are two very elderly justices on the court, and if they go soon, it will be much the worse for all of us.

He said that the Republicans are bullies. He told us that after Watergate, he had been threatened and spent 18 months in the Witness Protection Program.

He talked about Bush as the Worst President Ever, and how he has taken war profiteering to unheard of levels.

He said the Republicans are very authoritarian, but you don't need to be that way in order to be a strong leader. He thinks that Giulani is off the charts for authoritarianism, and Thompson is the least that way. He also said that the Republicans use fear-mongering very effectively to control the country.

One interesting little factoid: A friend of his jogs often past the Naval Observatory, where Cheney lives. Dean's friend, on a regular basis, sees a truck labelled as a document destruction company going in there. Dean doesn't think that there will be much of a paper trail when these folks leave office.

And lastly, he sees Bush and Cheney as misguided, not evil. Hmmm...

And let me add before my editing period is up:

He did say he didn't think that any impeachment would happen, and here's why: The impeachment of Nixon, and of Clinton, were handled by special prosecutors, and grand juries. None of this is in place now, and it would take months to get it going. So there you are...

And I promised some pics: Here you go:

[NewJeffCT]

1. excellent note taking & good post

recommended

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear JeffR!

Thank you!

I didn't feel my notes were all that great...he did cover some stuff that I didn't catch...

I appreciate your recommendation...

[SeattleGirl]

2. That's so great that you got to go hear him speak, Peggy.

John Dean is someone I admire a lot, and he really has a handle on what's going on. I have one of his books on Nixon and Watergate, and also have Worse Than Watergate, Conservatives Without Conscience, and Broken Government (I haven't read that one yet).

Thanks for the post, and great pic of you and Mr. Dean.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Thank you so much, my dear SeattleGirl!

I have admired him a long, long time...

It was a real treat today to hear him.

I appreciate your compliments! :hug:

[bluethruandthru]

4. Lucky you!

John Dean really sees things as they are. He's a very smart man!
About the document shredding at Cheney's place...I work in DC and it seems every time I have to drive past the observatory ... there's a bulk shredding truck parked there!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. My dear bluethruandthru!

I felt very lucky to have heard about this! I was determined to go as soon as I did...

He pulls no punches at all...very smart man.

I guess the repubs have lots to cover up...so they're busy shredding our history.

[Gregorian]

7. Thanks so much.

You've passed on to us something of great value. He's absolutely correct about the Supreme Court. We have to broadcast this far and wide. We need voter turn out. And we need unity. We must not let another authoritarian into the White House. I've at times thought how fun it would be to just let them inherit the mess they're preparing to leave us. But this single fact ought to scare people into lining up to vote. We're going to see a vacancy soon.

This is the kind of thing that gives me happiness. You, Dean, the community, and people who care and think. Thanks.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. You're welcome, my dear Gregorian...

I really appreciate your input...

[bleever]

8. Thanks for that excellent report.

The next best thing to being there.

K&R.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

11. My dear bleever...

I really appreciate your nomination...

You are too kind, really...I did miss some things he said...

Thank you!

[bigwillq]

9. Great report.

And wonderful pics.

:hi:

Hope you had fun.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. My dear bigwillq!

Oh, you're so very welcome!

I did have fun!

:hi:

[City Lights]

13. Fantastic summation, CaliforniaPeggy!

And great pics to boot!

Very interesting and :scared: stuff. I see him often when he's on Countdown and always look forward to hearing what he has to say. I had no idea he spent time in the Witness Protection Program. :wow: And double :wow::wow: about the document destruction truck at the Naval Observatory. They don't even bother trying to hide it, yet no one (at least that I'm aware of) in the so-called liberal media has bothered reporting this. :grr:

Thanks for sharing with us. :hug: :yourock:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

17. My dear No Surrender!

Wow, thank you!

I'm going to have to start watching KO...

We need to blow the lid off the continuing corruption in this administration...

[UrbScotty]

14. My dear CaliforniaPeggy!

I knew John Dean has been a critic of Bush and Co. for some time - certainly more than one would expect an ex-Nixon official to be... but darn!

This thing about the document destruction company should be HUGE news - or at least it would be if a Dem was President! (That or a Blue Dress Cleaning Team).

[CaliforniaPeggy]

18. My dear ih8thegop...

I've had a lot of respect for him for a number of years...

I so agree about the document destruction...:grr:

[Kurovski]

15. Thanks for the report CalPeg!

I greatly admire John Dean, and really appreciate this, and the photos.

K&R!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

19. Thank you so much, my dear Kurovski!

I've admired him a long time too, and I'm so glad I could be there today to hear him...

Thank you for the rec...and for your very kind words...

[Lionel Mandrake]

16. Very well done! K&R

Your notes are not polished, but they are succinct, and that is what matters. Even a court reporter could not possibly write down everything that is said at a meeting. You hit the high points. Excellent job!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

20. My dear Lionel Mandrake!

Wow, thank you so much...

I really felt inadequate in my note-taking...

Your praise means a lot!

[Jane Austin]

21. Thanks for the report.

I'm listening to the Audible.com download of his latest, Broken Government, which is quite good.

Especially gratifying is Dean's description of the Minority Report from the Iran-Contra hearings, which Cheney points to for people to get a "broader view" of his ideas on Presidential power.

Dean said, that while Cheney invokes the Nixon "Imperial Presidency" as a model, that Nixon had a "fine, analytical legal mind" and knew "nonsense when he saw it" and would have thought Cheney's reasoning was just that.

Dean says Cheney does not have legal training, doesn't understand the concept, and that his reasoning is shoddy.

Every now and then I get lulled into thinking Cheney is an evil genius, and I'm glad Dean reminded me that he's just an evil putz.

Thanks again for the report and the pictures.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

22. My dear janeaustin...

It was my pleasure to be there!

Yes, Dean has Cheney's number, doesn't he?

Thank you!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

23. **There's one other thing that all of you will love hearing!**

As he was signing my book, I asked him if he knew of the DemocraticUnderground...

He said yes!

I told him the pictures would be up tonight!

I hope he'll come by and have a look...



:woohoo:

[PufPuf23]

28. Dean !!!

Thank you so very much for something so real.

Dean is an intelligent and aware man, a canary.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

29. My dear PufPuf23!

You're welcome!

He is amazing!

And....Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[UrbScotty]

37. My dear CaliforniaPeggy!

He should sign up and join!

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

24. K & R. Thanks for sharing that neat experience. nt.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

25. My dear Mr_Jefferson_24!

Thank you so much!

I really appreciate your comments...

[Nutmegger]

26. R and freaking K!

Thanks so much for sharing.

And, if I may say, you look fabulous! :)

:thumbsup::kick:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

27. My dear Nutmegger!

It's always my pleasure to share...

And....thank you! :blush:

[hisownpetard]

30. Thanks for the post, Peggy. I think John Dean is a clear thinker and an excellent writer

and always enjoy listening to him on Keith's show.

Must have been an interesting and informative event. Glad you got to go!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

31. My dear hisownpetard...

You're welcome!

He is both of those things, indeed...

Also very well versed, and a great off-the-cuff speaker...

I'm sooo glad I went too!

:hi:

[hisownpetard]

35. And how's that beautiful grandbaby doing?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

36. He's doing well, thanks!

[asdjrocky]

32. Fantastic post!

A perfect example of a man who views have changed for the better.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

33. My dear asdjrocky!

Wow, thank you so much!

He really has seen the light, and has changed for the better...

He is not afraid to grow...

[asdjrocky]

34. Which is almost the very definition of a liberal.

[JeffR]

38. Great post, CalPeg!!

Other than hearing that he thinksBush & Cheney are merely "misguided". He couldn't be more wrong about that, but no matter. He's right on most things most of the time. It must have been a thrill to meet him.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

40. Thank you so much, my dear JeffR!

I agree he is wrong about Bush and Cheney being "misguided"!

But it was wonderful hearing such an intelligent man talk, and off the cuff, as well!

I was honored to meet him, and I told him so...

[Catchawave]

39. Great report and photos !

Thanks so much for sharing :hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

41. My dear Catchawave!

Thank you!

It is always my pleasure to share!

:hi: