-=> Quoting Robert Craft to Walter Luffman <=-
 RC> Firstly, you don't *really* think that the Dufus is going
 RC> to resign without assuring a pardon from Gore by blackmail,
 RC> if nothing else?
I honestly don't think the Commander 'n' Cheat will resign,
period.  But assuming he would consider it, I'm certain
he'd take whatever mesasures were available to ensure a
pardon, including blackmail.  Gore would need some sort of
protection against Clinton's coercion, which (depending on
the nature of the coercion) Congress might be able to
provide in the form of immunity from impeachment *and*
prosecution in return for not granting any pardons.
 RC> Secondly, as far as threatening Gore with impeachment for
 RC> pardoning Clinton... ain't gonna happen. Pardon of the
 RC> Dufus falls within the lawful exercise of his Presidential
 RC> powers and is in no way an impeachable offense unless you
 RC> can demonstrate that there was a quid pro quo.  Even if you
 RC> seek an impeachment of Gore, the Democrat minority will
 RC> never go along. 
Gore could never be impeached for pardoning Clinton,
granted. But if Congress accumulates enough evidence from
Templegate (or any other matter involving the Veep) to
proceed with impeachment, a small delegation of
congressional leaders might be able to reach an agreement
with Gore:  "You don't pardon anyone, we let you finish
out your term.  Now, do we have a deal or do you want to
take your chances with your own impeachment proceedings?"
Might work, might not -- it depends on the evidence and
Gore's willingness to gamble.
 
 RC> Impeachment, in addition to removing him from office, also
 RC> prevents him from using his office, as executive head of
 RC> the Justice Department, to obstruct or quash criminal
 RC> prosecution.
 RC> Let me point out, though, that pardoning of the Dufus does
 RC> not grant him absolution. While the pardon does make him
 RC> immune to prosecution, that immunity ALSO strips him of any
 RC> recourse to 5th Amendment protection. After all, if one
 RC> can't be prosecuted then one cannot incriminate oneself.
 RC> IOW, if the Dufus is pardoned, he must then cooperate with
 RC> Starr's investigation without recourse to the 5th Amendment
 RC> on pain of prosecution for perjury or obstruction of
 RC> justice. At a minimum, the full story will be told and the
 RC> Dufus' place in history will be mercilessly accurate.
This sounds GOOD!  But what's to prevent Clinton from
simply having one of those convenient memory lapses
that are so common in his circle of friends these days?
If he just says "I don't recall" to every question, his
worth as a witness is severely limited.  Any
previously-issued pardon won't protect him from being
charged with perjury at that point, but it would be a
difficult charge to prove as well as a big distraction
from the main business of impeaching and trying Gore.
Dang it, I'm starting to think like them!  And let me
tell you, it isn't very pleasant!
Walter, Forked Deer River Ilks
wluffman@usit.net
... After Clinton, *everyone* looks qualified to be President!
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