Sam Ervin's words on Watergate apply just as much today.

[WritersBlock]

"If the many allegations made to this date are true, then the burglars who broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate were in effect breaking into the home of every citizen of the United States. And if these allegations prove to be true, what they were seeking to steal was not the jewels, money or other precious property of American citizens, but something much more valuable - their most precious heritage: the right to vote in a free election." Sen. Sam Ervin of North Carolina

From what I remember, the initial days of Watergate weren't that much different from what we're going through today, as far as facts being made public are concerned. In fact, I -think- it was a lot slower, but I was still a kid then. What I'm trying to say, though, is this:

Don't. Give. Up.

[Sydnie]

1. Thanks for dusting that off -- it does apply

Watergate was slow to move into the news. With Nixon, Agnew and even Poppa Bush pushing the message that the story was not true coupled with the unrest in the streets, it took a long time before it was mainstreamed. But once it was picked up, it was like a snowball. It rolled over everyone that came near it that didn't believe.

[tsuki]

4. But we had strong people in the house and senate, an independent

press, Kathryn Graham. We lack those elements today.

[WritersBlock]

22. Whereas today we only have

John Conyers and the other House Judiciary Democrats, Cliff Arnebeck and his colleagues, the Cobb/Badnarik recount volunteers, the folks in Washington state & Alaska and about 46 other states, along with people on DU, CGCD, and other sites. Our media is folks like Will Pitt, Brad Friedman, countless progressive sites and blogs, and everyone here and thoughout the country who makes phone calls, writes letters, & sends e-mails, along with everyone else I neglected to mention who just generally don't give the fuck up.

It ain't gonna be easy, and it ain't gonna happen overnight, but all in all, I'd say we're in pretty good shape for being barely six-weeks down the road from Nov 2. :thumbsup:

[impeachthescoundrel]

2. I agree with you

I was a teenager when Watergate started, but I remember it. That's why I can't give up. Every day something new comes up(now and then).

I have read many posts on this forum from people who are ready to throw in the towel. Who can blame them? This election, especially after the last one, was the end of the road. When will the repugs learn no one is above the law?

Try all of you out there to cheer up.You cannot expect intelligent behavior from a president that has never shown any before. I can feel it. It's going to happen. Things are moving slowly, but thay're moving.

[TexasChick]

5. impeachthescoundrel, good morning. Here's a question and maybe

you can help me. I'm not mad at Kerry at all. In fact, I don't see exposing the fraud being about him. I think most are ready to give up because look at what were are fighting. These neocons lied to us about WMD in Iraq (the yellowcake uranium Nigeria document forgery) and the outing of a CIA operative. Why haven't these neocons been impeached yet (and imprisoned for the matter?)? But, here's where my question lies: will they ever be impeached by a Repuketard Congress?

If they haven't impeached them by now for the treasonous things they have done now, why would they impeach them now? I think that's why a lot of people feel tired and hopeless. I posted on another thread that the best that we can hope for is to help take care of each other in the next four years. Let these damn PNACers run their course, bankrupt the nation beyond belief, and then, IF we all survive, then we can take back the nation. I don't feel hopeful about any of this is because of the Congress situation. If there were some Dems in there, I would be more hopeful. What do you think?

[Proud_Lefty]

10. People Keep Forgetting

History always repeats itself. What we're going through has happened many times before and it's now happening again. Whenever any country or person has become too powerful, their egos and pride overtake them and they fall. While it looks like Bush & Co. have gained control of so much of all arms of the government, they failed to observe that they need to keep those arms healthy and satisfied. The best part of this week has come from the inside fighting in D.C. Look at the Republicans going after Rummy. Of course, we're not privvy to all that's happening, but you can't miss all the fur flying out of D.C.

These people will eventually be impeached. As Bush betrays people from his own party more and more to achieve his PNAC agenda, he will and is losing support from them.

[TexasChick]

14. Thanks for your response, Proud_Lefty. I hope that this will be the

case. This is just all so scary and terrifying and I, and many others, want this insanity to end before it gets us all killed.

[Proud_Lefty]

16. This will be the case, no doubt about it

But like you, I just don't know how much damage will be done before it happens. That's why we all need to push as hard as we can while we can. Too many people are feeling overwhelmed and backing off which is dangerous. Allow yourself to be encouraged by that long awaited corner Bush is being back into by everyone around him. I'm still cracking up at how they lied about morals being what elected Bush. Now, the out of control fundies think Bush owes them for the election. Do you think he'll ever make this group happy?

[TexasChick]

24. Do you think he'll ever make this group happy?

LOL! Are you kidding me? Being a fake Christian for the Chimp was a way to manipulate and get these fundies' votes. LOL! Boy, are they going to be shocked!

I can't wait to tell my fundie aunt, God love her, that "Oh my God, do you mean that smirking Chimp would lie to us? What a freaking revelation!!"

Thanks again for your encouraging words. Cheers.


Edited for Freeptardian-type spelling.

[intelle]

23. Hi TexasChick

I know you didn't ask me this question, and I hope you don't mind if I add a comment here.

The * administration got away with the WMD thing because they were able to blame it on faulty intelligence. So, the FBI and the CIA took the brunt of the blame.

But, now that there are many CIA people leaving, we may yet hear some truth on this issue.

In the case of the election fraud, the hope I have is that the evidence will be incontrovertible, and that it will lead directly back to the White House. I am hoping there will be evidence as strong as the Nixon tapes were.

I have hope and belief that we will know the truth, and there will be no denying it.

[TexasChick]

25. Hi, intelle. No, I don't mind your comments. They are certainly

welcomed. And, yes, I hope the truth/evidence will be irrefutable and perhaps justice will be served and these fundies and whatnot will not be able to say we are making all this up to undermind the Chimp.

[VTGold]

3. I can't wait to hear: "Our National Nightmare Is Over"....

...who will say it...

[Sydnie]

18. I hope Dan Rather gets that privilege! n/t

[goclark]

6. Sam Wevin's what a guy!

[eowyn_of_rohan]

7. Does anyone remember how "free elections" tied in to the burglaries?

I should know this but can't remember...

[Senator]

8. They were burgling DNC headquarters n/t

[eowyn_of_rohan]

9. But in what manner did what they were doing affect our rights

to free elections? This is what I am confused about. They were attempting to spy on the Dems by planting bugging devices, I recall...

[Senator]

12. Yes, there were bugs...

...some I think had been there already. Maybe they were repairing them.

But point is that we have a right to free and fair elections, those in which no party commits crimes in order to gain unfair advantage.

Now, those standards have loosened a bit, since the Gipper used stolen debate materials and Poppy lied to the Special Prosecutor about his diary to win. Then Poppy rifled passport files in a futile attempt to beat our last legitimate President, William Jefferson Clinton.

But that's just one more side effect of slouching toward fascism.

___
www.thedeanpeople.org

[eowyn_of_rohan]

15. I see. So our right to fair elections would be ultimately affected

because of dirty tricks that would lead to slander or misrepresentation of an opposing candidate, among other things. Thanks. You know, I wonder if we were told the whole truth about what they were doing in those offices, or what they were trying to do...

[Senator]

19. Many people wonder n/t

[TexasChick]

13. eowyn_of_rohan, both candidates were accused of stealing votes that

election year. This link is the closest I came come up with to answer your question. Otherwise, I'm not sure myself why the burglaries were tied into the "free elections" bit.

http://slate.msn.com/id/91350/
(20th or 21st paragraph down)



Of course, these people think Nixon was robbed. So, this may not be a good link after all.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

17. Thanks for the link. It led me to do a google search where I found this:

"But Watergate was about more than just the break-in at the Watergate Hotel. There were other break-ins, such as the one of the office of the psychiatrist treating antiwar activist Daniel Ellsberg; illegal wiretaps; ignored subpoenas; suspicious transfers of money, including hush-money payments; campaign dirty tricks, such as letters offered to reporters as "evidence" that Henry "Scoop" Jackson was a homosexual and that Hubert Humphrey was patronizing call girls; probable tax evasion by the president (for two years of his first term as president, Nixon had paid less than one thousand dollars in income taxes); and illegal campaign contributions."

http://home1.gte.net/swtally/almost%20america/nixon.html

This is a very good, in-depth article. So far, it seems like slandering opposing candidates (something Nixon had been doing his entire career) was a KNOWN way he cheated in elections. GOP slander sure seems to be their modus operandi, then and now. They just suck.

[sundancekid]

11. a. big. amen. to. that!

[IndyPriest]

20. One of the amazing ironies of Sam's...

leadership of the the Watergate investigations was his ability to show the country that the Dems were the true patriots and moral leaders of the country! He would even occasionally open the bible he brought with him to cite a passage from the prophets or from the NT on what God might have thought about the scoundrels who were appearing before him. He was the foxiest of the "ol' time country lawyers"!

[bush_is_wacko]

21. Very applicable!

This is a fight to regain the right to vote! I really don't care about ANY party goals right now. I only care about my vote, your vote, and every other vote that hasn't been counted for the past 5 years in this country! I suspect we will eventually discover this has gone on far longer than we realize. If you read any books about the people who framed our constitution, you will realize that EVEN they felt only informed wealthy, educated Americans, should make decisions regarding government! That was , in part, the reason why they invented the electoral college. We were a small nation and travel was an issue for those w/ little or no education. Our ENTIRE government is STILL run by the some of the most elite members of our society. Every now and then they let an outsider in, but our government has really never been a democracy. The rich make decisions, pass laws and bills, based on their needs and "educate" the public about how their "pet projects" will do that for us.

[s-cubed]

26. When the repugs in congress realize the * ship is sinking, they'll

vote for impeachment just to save their own stinking hides.

[TexasChick]

27. scubed, keeping my fingers crossed that I hope that this is what will be

played out once these criminals and their evil deeds come to light.