4 ms·

Nixon shouldn't have had to turn over his tapes? Let me guess, you feel that situation was somehow different. For reasons other than each president's political

Nixon shouldn't have had to turn over his tapes? Let me guess, you feel that situation was somehow different. For reasons other than each president's political affiliation?

nrb 13y ago
Difference being that Nixon ordered the tape recorders be installed. He was not compelled by anyone to record his conversations and they were recorded with his permission.
- johngalt 13y ago
  I guess I don't understand how this is different. Are you taking the position that the NSA gathers data without Obama's permission? Nixon chose to wiretap the White House so he's fair game. Obama wiretaps the entire country and he's not?
  - nrb 13y ago
    I made no reference to Obama, I was speaking to the point that people whose communications would be included in this subpoena are not in the same position that Nixon was in when he knowingly and approvingly recorded his communications. Logs of all communication on the private lines of the IRS and White House employees could expose some very embarrassing or otherwise "culturally sensitive" activities that have absolutely nothing to do with the intent of this subpoena. To repeat the point made by peterwwillis: "Politicians can use their position to go on fishing expeditions and publicly persecute whoever they wish with flimsy reasoning."
peterwwillis 13y ago
Nixon was the President, whose particular office recorded phone calls because a previous President made it standard practice. For him alone. The White House and the IRS are large organizations with many employees, none of whom have 'tapes' of their calls, except POTUS. There was no warrant required to make those tapes. POTUS is a special case. This guy wants every record of every communication by every staffer of both the White House and the IRS. This is going much much farther, and for seemingly no reason whatsoever. The Senator is basically suggesting the interns were part of a conspiracy, so we should find out what they had to hide. If, for example, one person at either the White House or IRS was a closeted homosexual, and unwarranted recordings proving that are made public, the person's life could be ruined. All because some douchebag Senator wanted an unnecessarily broad fishing expedition for political reasons. But yes, Nixon should have had to turn over the tapes, because there was already clear evidence he had something to hide. That's why we're supposed to issue warrants - if there is due cause.
- socillion 13y ago
  "all records of every phone call made from all public and private telephones of all IRS personnel to all public and private telephones of all White House personnel." It's not every single phone call, only the ones from the IRS to the White House.
- johngalt 13y ago
  '...for seemingly no reason whatsoever' Perhaps you missed it. The IRS specifically targeted groups likely to oppose DNC policies.

Nixon shouldn't have had to turn over his tapes? Let me guess, you feel that situation was somehow different. For reasons other than each president's political affiliation?

nrb 13y ago

Difference being that Nixon ordered the tape recorders be installed. He was not compelled by anyone to record his conversations and they were recorded with his permission.

johngalt 13y ago
I guess I don't understand how this is different. Are you taking the position that the NSA gathers data without Obama's permission? Nixon chose to wiretap the White House so he's fair game. Obama wiretaps the entire country and he's not?
- nrb 13y ago
  I made no reference to Obama, I was speaking to the point that people whose communications would be included in this subpoena are not in the same position that Nixon was in when he knowingly and approvingly recorded his communications. Logs of all communication on the private lines of the IRS and White House employees could expose some very embarrassing or otherwise "culturally sensitive" activities that have absolutely nothing to do with the intent of this subpoena. To repeat the point made by peterwwillis: "Politicians can use their position to go on fishing expeditions and publicly persecute whoever they wish with flimsy reasoning."

peterwwillis 13y ago

Nixon was the President, whose particular office recorded phone calls because a previous President made it standard practice. For him alone. The White House and the IRS are large organizations with many employees, none of whom have 'tapes' of their calls, except POTUS. There was no warrant required to make those tapes. POTUS is a special case. This guy wants every record of every communication by every staffer of both the White House and the IRS. This is going much much farther, and for seemingly no reason whatsoever. The Senator is basically suggesting the interns were part of a conspiracy, so we should find out what they had to hide. If, for example, one person at either the White House or IRS was a closeted homosexual, and unwarranted recordings proving that are made public, the person's life could be ruined. All because some douchebag Senator wanted an unnecessarily broad fishing expedition for political reasons. But yes, Nixon should have had to turn over the tapes, because there was already clear evidence he had something to hide. That's why we're supposed to issue warrants - if there is due cause.

socillion 13y ago
"all records of every phone call made from all public and private telephones of all IRS personnel to all public and private telephones of all White House personnel." It's not every single phone call, only the ones from the IRS to the White House.
johngalt 13y ago
'...for seemingly no reason whatsoever' Perhaps you missed it. The IRS specifically targeted groups likely to oppose DNC policies.