Endemic Sleeze & Deceit

Is sleeze and deceit endemic to certain political doctrines? Does history tend to repeat itself? Will it repeat again? You be the judge (but, please try to be careful what you wish for!): Before the Iraq invasion, administration officials -- including Vice President Cheney, cited intelligence 'information' that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction to make their case for war (amongst many other lies).


Yesterday, Vice President Dick Cheney accused Democratic senators who allege the Bush administration distorted intelligence to justify the war in Iraq of making "one of the most dishonest and reprehensible charges ever aired in this city."

This "Vice" President strongly reminds me of another VP who once famously referred to war critics as 'an effete corps of impudent snobs who characterize themselves as 'intellectuals' " and who complained about the press as 'nattering nabobs of negativism'. Yes, I am talking about good ol' Spiro Agnew, and both these guys sure smell the same to me:

But at least Spiro Agnew chose to resign as Vice President to avoid a White House scandal. He was under IRS criminal investigation for tax evasion associated with his taking kickbacks from contractors while governor of Maryland.


After his resignation, he pleaded 'no contest' and was given a token fine of $10,000. Spiro was subsequently fined $248,000.00 by the state of Maryland. And, Spiro Agnew remains the only VP in history to have resigned under criminal investigation. Ah yes, who can forget good ol' Spiro? Well, the State of Maryland would like to for one example. Today the Maryland Governor's Reception Room is lined with pictures of former governors, but ol' Spiro's likeness just ain't there.

And remember, that Spiro's President, the one and only Richard Milhous Nixon, ALSO resigned the Presidency during his second term to avoid impeachment for his Watergate illegalities.

Now, how's that for a record for an administration! But, it looks like Cheney may try to tough it out in the hope the Fitzpatrick investigation fizzles and Cheney remains unindicted. Time will tell on that. Will history repeat? Well, one can certainly hope. But wait just a darned minute! Dennis Hastert as President? Come on! Lord help us all!

But, even that would certainly be better than having Cheney in the top spot . . . .