This is Not Your Grandfather's Watergate

Some prognisticators and commentators are bring up Watergate. Some conservatives are embracing the idea. Let’s recognize reality: Fast and Furious, Benghazigate, APgate, and IRSgate, will not result in the removal of President Obama from office. Yet, the scandals of President Obama are as great as though of President Nixon. Obama’s Chicago Rules are more sophisticated and heavy handed than Nixons’ Dirty Tricks. Both wanted to win reelection at any cost. Both had a enemy’s list with President Obama’s avowed enemies including conservative media voices, such as Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Fox News. Nixon wanted to use the IRS to go after political enemies, but the IRS Commissioner balked. Obama’s IRS ramped up to warp speed against conservative organizations. President Nixon’s ace in the hole was Vice President Spiro Agnew. He didn’t realize that VP Agnew would be tossed from office before President Nixon. President Obama’s ace in the hole is Vice President Joe Biden. He’s not going anywhere. President Nixon faced overwhelming Democratic majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. President Obama faces a Republican House, but a strong Democratic Senate, at least until 2014. Watergate involved massive campaign violations, but President Obama’s prolific fund raising is not illegal. The mainstream media loves President Obama. They may be engaged in a shot term lover’s spat, but their love will last. The media loathed President Nixon; the hatred was mutual. Watergate was pursued by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodruff of the Washington Post. The Washington Post and New York Times are not going to run President Obama out of the White House. The Post had “Deep Throat.” Is there a Deep Throat in the current White House? President Nixon secretly recorded White House conversations. These tapes were the final nail in the President’ political coffin. The odds of finding a “smoking gun,” hardcopy, digital, or video, against President Obama are fairly slim. He is a hands-off manager, preferring to spend his time golfing and fundraising. President Nixon tried to staunch the bleeding by tossing John Ehrlichman and H.R. Haldeman under the bus, while John Dean voluntarily jumped. President Obama will throw trusted advisors under the bus if necessary, but he can rely upon Eric Holder as Attorney General to block any meaningful inquiries. The Attorney’s General’s recent responses to Congressional inquiries is “I don’t know.” President Nixon was forced to accept an independent counsel. Congress will be unable to force one unto President Obama, even if the Republicans control both houses of Congress after the midterm elections. President Nixon was never personally liked and popular. President Obama maintains his personal popularity with the American public. “Tricky Dickie’s” reputation caught up to him. Vietnam and the draft were an albatross around President Nixon’s neck President Obama faces no such socially divisive issues.