Nixon's the One
How desperate is the Trump White House? Well, in fairness, there are a lot of answers competing for the honor of being #1, and while any of them would be a good choice, I'm going with this one --
Trump is having the Department of Justice preparing a report to show that Richard Nixon was railroaded out of office by the "Deep State."
It seems childishly clear that Trump is doing this because, as the warped thinking seems to go (though trying to understand Trump's warped thinking is an exercise in futility), if Nixon was unfairly treated and did nothing wrong, then the standard for impeaching and indicting Trump must have no merit.
By the way, understanding the warped thinking behind the reason for having an investigation to rehabilitate Richard Nixon isn't important whatever the reason. It's the end result -- Nixon's resignation in disgrace -- that shows Trump's desperation and utter foolishness.
To explain why, I could, if it please the court, go through all the history of Watergate. And all the evidence. And all the court convictions of so many of Richard Nixon's White House inner circle who went to prison, starting with his Chief of State, Attorney General, top Domestic Affairs Advisor, and White House Counsel. And the Nixon tapes he himself recorded that his own voice discussing crimes and obstructing justice. And also...
But not only is all that not necessary -- as deeply damning as it all is -- but explaining all of it gives a level of credence that there's an argument. So, instead, I'll make it simple why Trump trying to show that Richard Nixon was railroaded out of office by the "Deep State" shows how desperate he is.
As simply as possible --
On July 29-30 in 1974, a bipartisan House Judiciary Committee voted three article of impeachment against Nixon. The totals were 27–11, 28–10, and 21–17. A week later, on August 7, Republican Hugh Scott, who was the Senate Minority Leader, and Republican Barry Goldwater, one of the most conservative members of the Senate and the GOP's former presidential candidate, went to see Nixon in the White House to tell him he had almost no support in the Senate. Including by Republicans. Including, when Nixon asked him, by Goldwater. The very next day, August 8, Nixon gave an address to the nation that he would be resigning. That's why Nixon resigned.
That -- to repeat, in case it wasn't clear -- is why Richard Nixon resigned.
All those other factors had an impact in the decision, no doubt. But even with all that, Nixon could have stayed in office. Except that there had been bipartisan investigation by the House that condemned him, a bipartisan vote to advance articles of impeachment, a bipartisan lack of support in the Senate, and a high-ranking pushing by Republican leaders of Trump's own party who told him he should resign.
And all this came after the U.S. Senate held bipartisan hearings for six months, with 51 days of the questioning of witnesses broadcast live on every national television network for everyone in the riveted country to openly see. That's why Nixon resigned. With a 24% approval. It's wasn't the Deep State that did Nixon in. It was Nixon.
And suggesting anything to the contrary of this reality shows Trump total desperation. And complete foolishness. Because whatever maniacal twists they try to come up with, the reality is profound and crushing. And any new attempt at an "investigation" only ties Trump's name to the only president in U.S. history to resign. Leaving office in disgrace, with that 24% approval. Who needed getting a pardon for himself to avoid prison -- like his top aides.
And Trump is doing this days before early voting starts for the Mid-Term election! If you think you're doing great in the election, you don't do this. For that matter, if you think you're doing terribly, you don't do this! You only do this if you're flailing. Because this shows that it's the best campaign strategy that Trump -- with a treading-water-above-Nixon 32% approval -- thinks he has: "Nixon did nothing wrong, and I'm not as bad as him."
Trump has two problems with this "strategy."
First, even Nixon's own party thought he was a crook and pushed him to resign.
And second, Trump is sort of right, he's not as bad as Nixon. He is profoundly so much worse.
Comments