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Objectively, the current scandals surrounding the Obama White House are worse than Watergate. But in important ways the situation is different. Impeachment seems unlikely.
1. Nixon was unlikeable. Obama is likeable.
2. The press hated Nixon. The press loves Obama. The press was primarily responsible for Nixon's resignation.
3. Obama's air of aloofness works in his favour. It is easy for the public to believe he was not personally involved.
4. There was an air of tawdriness about the Watergate scandal that we do not see here, and it more than the actual seriousness of the crimes made the public fed up. The Watergate break-in was indeed a "third-rate burglary," and tactically unnecessary. Margaret Mitchell's late-night ramblings to the press. The ham-fisted obviousness of the Saturday Night Massacre and the gap in the tape. The foul mouths of Nixon and his cronies. The patronizing spectacle of the president saying "I am not a crook." Obama's scandals so far lack that gag factor, that nausea factor.
5. It's been done. Does anyone have the stomach to go through something like that all over again?
No, Obama will limp along, and the Democrats will probably be crushed next election.
1. Nixon was unlikeable. Obama is likeable.
2. The press hated Nixon. The press loves Obama. The press was primarily responsible for Nixon's resignation.
3. Obama's air of aloofness works in his favour. It is easy for the public to believe he was not personally involved.
4. There was an air of tawdriness about the Watergate scandal that we do not see here, and it more than the actual seriousness of the crimes made the public fed up. The Watergate break-in was indeed a "third-rate burglary," and tactically unnecessary. Margaret Mitchell's late-night ramblings to the press. The ham-fisted obviousness of the Saturday Night Massacre and the gap in the tape. The foul mouths of Nixon and his cronies. The patronizing spectacle of the president saying "I am not a crook." Obama's scandals so far lack that gag factor, that nausea factor.
5. It's been done. Does anyone have the stomach to go through something like that all over again?
No, Obama will limp along, and the Democrats will probably be crushed next election.
1 comment:
Plus, there's nothing to directly link Obama to any of this. He was too busy campaigning and fundraising. Underlings will fall on their swords, and he will keep his distance from anything that might implicate him.
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