The American Spectator

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1.12.07 @ 12:01AM

BUSH SOFT ON SANDY
Re: R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.'s Berger Again :

Regarding the Clinton legal legacy (or lack of it), having followed The American Spectator, the Washington Times and talk radio during the Clinton years, I am amazed that Hillary Clinton is remotely considering running for President in 2008, for the negative, even indictable, information revealed about her during the 1990s is mountainous. Yes, not everyone got the message back then and we do have a great many new voters since 2000. Still, somebody in the Hillary camp needs to take notice before that mountain falls upon them: A decade ago, the Internet was in its infancy. Today, it is so advanced that the Limbaughs of the world have become stale and derivative because of its speed and breadth of coverage. Ms. Clinton, you can Rodham all you wish in your Socio-Centrist posturing. But the facts about your past are all going to be re-reported all over again with mega-wattage and lightning speed via news sources that did not exist when Mr. Foster slipped and fell on his gun in the park and which now far exceed the Obsolete Media both in reach and credibility. The event will make the Swift Boaters seem like canoe campers, leaving you far up your Whitewater without a paddle. Suggestion: Maybe you could get a Reality TV deal; If Ozzy could do it, how about you and Bill? I hear your language (plus some other stuff) is right up there in Rosie O'Donnell's league.
-- Gene Wright
Laguna Niguel, California

Enjoyed reading your most recent column regarding the Sandy Berger National Archives Caper. During his book signing tour several months ago, I brought up this subject with former Clinton advisor Dick Morris and got his take on this caper. He stated quite firmly that "Hillary's fingerprints were all over this." I'm surprised that nobody is bringing up the proposition that Sandy Berger was acting under the direction of a higher up with his reward being a position in the upcoming probable Clinton administration. Am I missing something, or should we be ready to point the finger at somebody bigger than Mr. Berger behind this breach of national security?
-- Dan Trimmer
Enterprise, Florida

The bad thing is that no matter what crimes the Clintons and their ilk do the MSM finds a way to make it into nothing. I still do not understand why the "JUSTICE" Department did not throw the book at Berger. Just think if the Queen of Slime becomes President, Berger can become National Security Adviser again, since his slap on the wrist was only a three-year ban on his viewing secret items. It will end just in time for a Democrat President.
-- Elaine Kyle

Yeah, yeah, yeah -- the leftists won't do anything to shine the light of truth on Sandy Berger's treason. So what else is new?

The question you should be asking is why the hell the Bush Justice Department didn't even bother to throw his treasonous rear in prison for 20 years, instead of letting him off with a slap on the wrist?

And when he's Hillary Clinton's National Security Adviser, it's a pretty sure bet his treason will be buried even deeper.
-- Jim Switz
Port Townsend, Washington

This episode reminds me of a scene in Casablanca; where Claude Rains is "shocked to find gambling going on here." You expected something different from a Clinton Administration official? Surely you jest! Real problem; Berger shouldn't have been allowed a plea deal. The thought of a long drawn-out trial followed by a few years in say Lewisburg might have given him pause to reflect and possibly, just possibly tell the truth.
-- Bob Montrose
Fort Lee, New Jersey

Mr. Tyrrell, your article does a reasonable job of chronicling what is fairly publicly on the record. You steadfastly refuse, however, to ask the most relevant question.

Why did President Bush allow his Attorney General prosecute Berger on a misdemeanor plea bargain with an inconsequential light tap on the wrist? Why did not President Bush insist, in no uncertain terms, that Mr. Berger be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and be subjected to a significant prison term for a felony conviction, with all that comes with that conviction?

You may say that Berger might have beaten the rap in court, and they would have gotten nothing. Well, that is the chance you take in all prosecutions. Besides, the punishment handed down to Berger is as near nothing as can be imagined short of him getting a medal for his activities.

Once again, Bush wimped out when confronted by his domestic enemy's misdeeds. That has been the consistent Bush response since day 1 of his first term. Stomp on anyone among your base that dares to criticize, and let your real enemies skate.
-- Ken Shreve

R. Emmett Tyrrell laments the "culture of corruption" evidenced by the comical and tragic saga of Sandy Berger's visit to the National Archives. Now, it seems, months after the legalities of the matter were wrist slapped into the darkness under the carpet, we have a Congressional Report acknowledging that maybe Mr. Berger was a very naughty fellow indeed. Case closed; questions remain open.

Recently there appeared in these pages what I saw as an apologia for our President's leadership shortcomings. It was based on the assertion that he's driven by collegiality in working with the Democrats, rather than by any perceived duty to do political battle with them. I have to wonder if it's that same spirit of collegiality that causes Mr. Bush to decline to demand that the Justice Department take an aggressive tone in answering the questions left unanswered even after the aforementioned Congressional Report's release. Did he, perhaps, advise his underlings at the DOJ to tread lightly on the subject, or did he merely allow them to do as they pleased? Mr. Tyrrell himself alleges that officials in the DOJ were apparently corrupted. Has anyone alerted Mr. Bush?! What was his response?

After all, this is the same president who upon election announced his intention to "move on" from the alleged scandals of the Clinton years. Unlike Mr. Clinton, who fired legions of U.S. Attorneys after taking office, Mr. Bush kept on almost all functionaries from the Clinton Administration. What a pal! He tolerated, or even brokered, his father's humiliating love-fest with Bill Clinton on national TV, after Clinton had savaged the old man during their election campaign.

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