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Fineman: Bush is pushing for a McCain administration to ‘cover over’ the misdeeds of his presidency.

Yesterday on The Chris Matthews Show on NBC, Newsweek columnist Howard Fineman revealed one of the reasons President Bush is pushing so hard for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) to win the election in November:

FINEMAN: There’s also fear. If you’re in this White House, you want another Republican administration to follow. You don’t want a Democratic administration coming in there while the evidence is still fresh, so to speak.

MATTHEWS: With the subpoena power.

FINEMAN: With the subpoena power. And looking through all the records and looking through all the decisions that were made. You want cover over your two terms with a third term, the way Ronald Reagan did with George H.W. Bush.

Watch it:

(HT: C&L and TP commenter Marie)




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52 Responses to “Fineman: Bush is pushing for a McCain administration to ‘cover over’ the misdeeds of his presidency.”

  1. Dr. Hussein Matt Says:

    If/when Obama wins in November, Iran is finished. Herr dubyah and his perverted administration will no doubt throw this country into an even bigger spin and provide more distraction by blowing up yet another country in the Middle East.


  2. misshusseinmolly Says:

    Hmmm --- housecleaning by sweeping under the rug. No wonder they want one of their own to do it.


  3. Mugsy Says:

    If Obama wins, they know those "sealed documents" they've protected under "privilege" can be unsealed and invesigations could land W in the ICC.



  4. StratRat Says:

    But Fineman, as well as all the other MSM pundits, looked the other way all during the 'era of the misdeeds'. Misdeed - that is a quaint word for illegal behavior, isn't it? I guess it helps the MSM cover their tracks as well if we simply call the damage the current president has done misdeeds and not criminal activity.

    It's nice he should let us know now, but why not report on it when it happens, as it happens? More revisionist history.


  5. tom Says:

    GDumbya is doing lots of things to cover up for the mistakes, misdeeds and outright criminality of his regime:

    1. invoking executive privilege ad infinitum

    2. smothering all White House records in perpetuity

    3. setting up GDumbyaLand on the SMU campus to showcase the "glory" of his presi-dunce-y

    4. moving to Paraguay to escape the long arm of the law

    5. politicizing the Justice Department to paper the files with memos rationalizing all his illegal torture, wiretapping, etc.

    6. stacking the Supreme Court just in case it should ever have to rule on anything related to charges against him

    7. preparing (I am sure) a long list of pardons to issue next January . . . including himself, Darth Cheney and every member of his Cabinet, Pentagon officials, Homeland Security Department officials and anyone else in a position to know about the dirty laundry

    Pushing for McNumbNuts to be president is almost a "belts-and-suspender" effort for GDumbya. Looks to me like he already has everything under control.


  6. shoeless Says:

    If/when Obama wins in November, buy stock in this company:

    Link


  7. nanlichi Says:

    Keep Bush out of jail, vote McCain

    Hell of a slogan, hell of a platform for the Repugnicunts.

    Obviously it works for JK, it will work for the the other 25% of the pseudo-Americans too, but 25% won't win an election.

    President Obama. Has a nice ring to it.


  8. Dr. Hussein Matt Says:

    By the time the RNC convention comes around, Finemen and Tweety will have their reich-wing cheerleader uniforms on and will be rooting for McGrampa 110%. They will be oozing with joy as they the freely and willingly call McGrampas a "hero", "Maverick", and "an average guy you'd like to have a beer with".


  9. Bobwurst Says:

    If bush sets things up so he can't be held accountable by ordinary means, then he will be held accountable by any means necessary. (With apologies to Malcom X for the paraphrase.)


  10. Juan C. Says:

    Yeah, because under Pelosi things have gone straight up!


  11. Bobwurst Says:

    Dr Hussien,

    Yup. The only question still unansered is, will Joe lieberman challenge tweety to a duel?


  12. Dr. Hussein Matt Says:

    Keep Bush out of jail, vote McCain

    Not bad.

    I like, "Let's shoot down McCain one more time"


  13. CitiDC Says:

    McCain has already demonstrated willingness to do so.

    He was in charge of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee up until Democrats took over in 2007. Senate Indian Affairs was the lead investigating committee in Congress over Jack Abramoff's illegal doings.

    The result? Abramoff is serving jail time for his casino boat operation. No time or convictions for the abusive lobbying or bilking of the indians.


  14. StratRat Says:

    Bobwurst Says:

    If bush sets things up so he can’t be held accountable by ordinary means, then he will be held accountable by any means necessary. (With apologies to Malcom X for the paraphrase.)

    A trapped and frightened animal is the most dangerous - no matter how clueless it has appeared to be. Survival is a very strong instinct.


  15. Dr. Hussein Matt Says:

    Bobwurst Says:
    up. The only question still unansered is, will Joe lieberman challenge tweety to a duel?

    Unlike Zell-the-yell, LIEberman is too much of a coward to fight his own fights.


  16. RUCerious Says:

    How about:

    Go directly to jail, do not pass go, do not collect shit.


  17. leftcoast Says:

    This goes along with the Raw Story:
    Author: Officials against torture memo feared wiretaps, physical danger
    "According to Jane Mayer, author of The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned Into a War on American Ideals, two top lawyers in the Justice Department who attempted to push back against the authorization of torture by Vice President Cheney's staff became so paranoid that they worried they were being wiretapped and even feared they might be in physical danger."

    http://rawstory.com//news/2008/Author_Officials_feared_wiretaps_over_opposing_0721.html


  18. oldtree Says:

    Purchasing Representative Conyers for cash, and legal favors perhaps?
    Mr. Conyers should resign right away, but he is going to probably be working on that "legal defense fund" growth mechanism that other candidates also call "donations"
    How much did you sell out for Rep. Conyers? Was it worth it, this treason? You are not alone. Looks like 75% of our elected federal officials have committed treason, why not join them instead of the remainder trying to salvage democracy?


  19. McWars Says:

    Vote for McCain: Close the empty cell and swallow the key.


  20. Saint Augustine Says:

    Shorter John Kerry:

    We're F**Ked!

    Too bad Johnny boy. Stop being a whiner.


  21. Arn Gunnutes Says:

    7. preparing (I am sure) a long list of pardons to issue next January . . . including himself, Darth Cheney and every member of his Cabinet, Pentagon officials, Homeland Security Department officials and anyone else in a position to know about the dirty laundry

    I called Waxman's office on Friday, and was told that a "president" CANNOT pardon HIMSELF.

    As well as pardoning those who are covering for HIS CRIMINAL activity (i.e. HIGH CRIMES). If issued, they can be OVERTURNED.


  22. Saint Augustine Says:

    Dr. Hussein Matt Says:

    I like, “Let’s shoot down McCain one more time“

    Experience at being shot down is what makes McSame the ideal republiscum candidate! :}


  23. stewarjt Says:

    Covering this administration's "misdeeds" requires nothing less than electorshock therapy for the entire nation, a total memory wipe!


  24. wijg Says:

    btruthful Says:
    I hold Pelosi responsible for Bush. She’s had a 1 1/2 to remove this man from office.

    No doubt, Pelosi has been horrible, but I hold bush responsible for bush.


  25. MCMetal Says:

    John Kerry Says:
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Yep, Howard knows everything that George Bush thinks!! Oh yeah!

    July 21st, 2008 at 1:05 pm

    So does a retarded slug ..............


  26. Buckie Boy Says:

    As far as that goes I don't see Democrats doing much in they way of going after these Reichwing Criminals now or after the election.

    They would prefer to not rock the boat and just forget Bush ever existed, but I would prefer them go after these WAR CRIMINALS with everything they have, both barrels, nuke the Reichwing party in oblivion.


  27. dbadass Says:

    So John Kerry:
    Gonna stick around for a minute? There is so much you have to share with us...


  28. Zooey Says:

    Someone hijacked btruthful's name.


  29. Bob Says:

    The permanent republican majority is merely an effort to keep republicans unaccoutable forever? I thought they were just phychotic about their appetite for power, but in that case you would need plenty of cover.

    How do republicans manage to perpetuate the high moral ground myth? They all seem so morally bankrupt, willing to sacrifice morals for any little bit of power.


  30. Zimzone Says:

    The McCrash legacy:

    'I've lost more war planes myself than the entire Iraq invasion'


  31. Paul W Says:

    There’s also fear. If you’re in this White House, you want another Republican administration to follow. You don’t want a Democratic administration coming in there while the evidence is still fresh, so to speak.

    It's certainly true that McCain would do everything he could to thwart investigations of Bush's war crimes. However, because he's planning on repeating all off Bush's mistakes, it won't be much of a "coverup."

    http://progressiveworldreview.com


  32. Max-1 Says:

    .

    When I watched this yesterday, I thought Howard Fineman was very astute at pointing out what guilt looks like...
    ... Get some other "dog" to crap in the yard to cover the stench left behind by the turds of the current pit bull.

    .


  33. Shayne Says:

    Why do you think McCain is spending the day with Bush Sr. and his financial backers?


  34. MCMetal Says:

    Shayne Says:
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Why do you think McCain is spending the day with Bush Sr. and his financial backers?

    July 21st, 2008 at 1:50 pm

    They're exchanging proper Depends etiquette.........


  35. alphainfinityomega Says:

    Someone hijacked btruthful's name.
    Comment by Zooey

    ROTFLMAO !!

    ¶ AIO


  36. MapleStreet Says:

    I see 2 possibilities for a demo administration: a) continue the "cone of silence" used by Pelosi et al - in which case, the facts will come out slowly and prolong the pain. OR b) Open the curtains and let the sunshine in and take care of the problems quickly.


  37. Hussein McCain Says:

    McCain 08
    Just Lay Back and Enjoy It


  38. Hussein McCain Says:

    J. Kerry, you're quite a stinker with those shit and run tactics.


  39. 5th Estate Says:

    Ann Gunnuntes : I called Waxman’s office on Friday, and was told that a “president” CANNOT pardon HIMSELF.

    As well as pardoning those who are covering for HIS CRIMINAL activity (i.e. HIGH CRIMES). If issued, they can be OVERTURNED.

    The trick is in the overturning.

    Bush Sr. pardoned Cap. Weinberger for his Iran- Contra involvement, even though Weinberger hadn't even been indictedet alone convicted --ergo the "pardon" was invalid, but it was nonetheless allowed to 'pass'. Weinberger had all the dirt on Bush's deep involvement in Iran-Contra of course so the 'pardon' was supposed to bounce-back as it were on Bush himself.
    By the time Clinton got into power any re-examination of Iran-Contra was a low priority and by the next mid-term elections the GOP took the Congress and the opportunity to learn the truth was lost.

    If the Dems take overwhelming control of COngress this time around, may be we will see some serious accountability, but I'm not holding my breath.


  40. hanshiro Says:

    Fineman: Bush is pushing for a McCain administration to ‘cover over’ the misdeeds of his presidency.

    Why? Isn't that what "Impeachment of the table" Pelosi, "Telecom immunity" Reid, "Fund the war" Webb and "Yeah, Telecom immunity" Obama are for? Oh, right, bush didn't push them, they just chickened out voluntarily.

    Obama's a chickensh*t fraud who sold out the Constitution.



  41. misshusseinmolly Says:

    I thought I'd take a look at the historical scorecard for the aftermath of scandal-ridden presidencies. The two cases that truly stand out are Harding and Nixon.

    When Harding died in 1923, he was still very popular with the American people, and Teapot Dome was only just starting to come out. When Coolidge took office, he didn't ask for the resignation of any of Harding's cabinet officers -- believing that the American people had voted for a Harding administration, and so he would keep things the way they were, at least until the end of the term. However, he didn't obstruct the Teapot Dome investigations and trials, allowing justice to take its course.

    When Nixon left office in disgrace, he was replaced with a "good guy" veep -- someone untainted with scandal, just as when Harding was replaced by Coolidge. But Ford "pardoned" Nixon, thereby ending the Watergate affair. Why? Ford could have just wanted to remove an obvious distraction from his presidency, or maybe he made a deal before becoming veep, or maybe he just thought everybody was tired of the whole thing. Whatever the reason, he wasn't elected in 1976, and many scholars believe that his pardon of Nixon was a significant factor.

    So what would McCain or Obama do if elected? Issue pardons and attempt to make the whole thing go away -- a la Ford? Sit back and allow the natural course of justice to take place unimpeded, a la Coolidge? Or actively press for a full accounting of Bushco activities, saying no one is above the law -- a la nobody so far?

    It remains to be seen, of course. I suspect that McCain will aid with covering up "for the good of the party". Obama will probably be all about "moving forward" unless the Congress we elect this November has other ideas.


  42. Linus Says:

    Re #24:

    btruthful Says: I hold Pelosi responsible for Bush. She’s had a 1 1/2 to remove this man from office.

    Not quite. She's had the time to impeach Bush, true. But successful impeachment (aka indictment) is only half of it. The next is the actual trial -- in the Senate!! How do you think that vote would go?


  43. katy Says:

    does anyone remember the TP story about the bush family's preference for romney as the repug prez nominee?

    he WILL be the v.p. "choice", the mcFAUST (great!) running mate...

    cause the repugs, they gotta show SOME respect to the old flyboy... he won't last long though, and the mitt can take over the "duties"...

    heard richard vigery (sp?) earlier on ed... he says it's mitt too...

    just some thoughts...


  44. dbadass Says:

    Hi Jim...


  45. nycbassist Says:

    "the way Ronald Reagan did with George H.W. Bush" is in error. What he meant to say was "The way vice-president George H.W. Bush did with President H.W. Bush." Ronald Reagan, in my opinion, really didn't know about the arms for hostages deal.. oh, but Bush Senior and all of the names who, remarkably are STILL here imbedded in our government, were planting the seeds of this neo-con facism that we are experiencing today. And believe me, they may not get in this term.. but they're far from done. They have an agenda.


  46. nycbassist Says:

    #47.. Please tell me you're not the great jazz DJ from Seattle. I love his radio show and would like to go on respecting him.


  47. katy Says:

    nycbassist - read it again... i was confused the first time i read it... it sounded backwards:

    "You want cover over your two terms with a third term, the way Ronald Reagan did with George H.W. Bush."

    but, in other words:

    You [reagan] want cover over your two terms [reagan] with a third term [h.w.bush]...


  48. kasinca Says:

    John Kerry Says:
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Howard Fineman?? You mean the former gray haired lib??

    Yep, Howard knows everything that George Bush thinks!! Oh yeah!
    -----------------------------------------------------------

    That is easy to figure, John. Dubya is the head of a crime family. Most Americans, 72%, realize that Dubya thinks of his thugs and his crimes. That 28% is not very reliable because they were stupid enough to put a chimpanzee in the WH twice.


  49. ctcadguy Says:

    Screw Fineman and all the Main Stream Media for not exposing the fascist war criminals.

    They are complicit in many crimes against humanity.

    Zionists and hard core neo-cons own the Main Steam Media.


  50. nycbassist Says:

    Hi Katy. Thanks, but I understood what was meant. I was just implying that I really feel that it was George H.W. Bush who was in control for most of the Reagan Presidency. It's not really all that significant a point, though.



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