Mainstream and Semi-Mainstream Allegations Against Sitting Presidents
by Mike Kimel
Mainstream and Semi-Mainstream Allegations Against Sitting Presidents
I think back to each of the Presidents who was in office since Reagan,
under whom I was old enough to start paying attention. And I was
thinking of the allegations that were made against each by their
political enemies. I’m going to ignore the real fringe stuff, stuff
you might hear only from, say, the Neo-Nazis on one side or those who
call themselves communists on the other. Call this a list of things
regularly believed by tens of millions of people, regularly stated by
individuals commanding an audience of tens of millions of people, or
regularly stated by political press that commands respect by members
of one of the two political parties.
Its four AM and I am working from memory, so maybe I’m missing
something but here’s the basic worst allegations list:
Allegations against Reagan: October surprise, senile,
prone to making up stories, appointed corrupt officials, support for
dictators in Latin America, illegal wars in Central America, selling
arms to Iran
Allegations against George HW Bush: Involved in Iran
Contra, involved in war crimes while head of the CIA, Zapata Oil was a
CIA front, ties to Noriega while head of the CIA
Allegations against Bill Clinton: a drug dealer,
personally shot several individuals in the Mena airport, ordered the
execution of many of his cronies (Vince Foster et. al.), black
helicopters and UN bases bases on US soil, appointed corrupt
officials, taking away everyone’s guns, multiple affairs and several
rapes, sold military secrets to China, will cancel the elections in
the year 2000
Allegations against George Bush: Used National Guard to
avoid service in Vietnam, used his father’s influence to avoid
National Guard duties, close ties to the Saudi Royal family, did not
really win the election in 2000, ties to Ken Lay, hired known
criminals into his cabinet, knew that Iraq did not have WMDs, will
cancel elections in the year 2008
We’re in the middle of a contentious election, and too close to things
right now for me to list allegations against Obama, so I’ll end my
short list right there. Feel free to expand it in comments, but
please avoid fringe allegations. And one more thing – I think its
worth asking: what do you notice about this list?
I think you missed a couple of W’s greatest hits.
1> Disastrous loyalty to his Secy of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. By overruling the Army’s Chief of Staff, Eric Shinseki, on the number of troops required to put down insurgency in post invasion Iraq, Rummy facilitated the quagmire of Iraq that eventually led to his resignation after the 2006 election. In testimony before Congress on 11/15/2006 Gen John Abizaid said that General Shinskei has been correct, more troops were needed.
2> The 2004 election. Those who think W really won re-election in 2004 ought to read “How to Rig an Election” in this month’s Harper’s. Too many questions about Ohio went completely unasked much less answered (Thanks John Kerry!) If Harper’s has become “fringy” it’s news to me.
Are you suggesting that these allegations were “worst” from the perspective of outlandish or most egregious? Of the four you identify, three Republicans and one not quite Democrat, only the accusations against Clinton have the “ring of truth” about them.
Reagan a senile and corrupt arms dealer? Would Reagan have lied? Would Reagan have known the difference between truth and make believe?
G. Herbert Walker Bush a CIA operative and general all around double dealer? That’s just nuts, I think. What would Uncle Herbie have thought?
And G.W. never met a Texas businessman or mid-east potentate he didn’t fawn over (and/or get paid by).
Some of these allegations are not on the fringe? Are you kidding?
It just goes to show, I guess, how crazy American politics has become. The inmates have taken over.
“And one more thing – I think its
worth asking: what do you notice about this list?”
That only the allegations against Republicans *mostly* turned out to be true in hindsight (with the notable exceptions of Clinton’s philandering and the “cancelled” elections for all Presidents).
Min,
The black helicopter/UN/Vince Foster stuff was regurgitated by Rush Limbaugh. You’d be hardpressed to find another individual on the Republican side who has had a similarly sized audience, much less who maintained it for the past few decades.
Harm,
Kinda my thought too.
I’m not clear about the point of this exercise. Or about what a “fringe” allegation is or why they should be excluded, since in some cases there is reason to believe that what has been declared off limits (Reagan committed rate) while a good bit that is considered non-fringe by large parts of the public (Iraq had illicit weapons) is utterly false.
Odd that Jack finds only those points raised about Clinton to have a “ring of truth”, but then Jack is apparently unaware that the elder Bush ran the CIA – a matter of public record.