Jokes aside (really, though, was the first inclination actually to take a shot at Bush?), though the public tends to be rather ignorant, we’re not stupid. Ford’s pardon probably (just a guess) helped lead him towards defeat in 1976 against Jimmy Carter (whom the people then threw out four years later when they had enough of him) and the citizens of Virginia decided that Ollie North wasn’t fit for public office, as well, so that’d be two (three?) cases of the public declaring that each of those men were not worthy to be elected. That should give us all faith in the system, as cluttered as it may be.

As far as North not paying his “debt”, you can thank the Democratic senate committee that gave him immunity for his testimony when they thought he was going to turn rat on Reagan & when they found out that they were dupes they tried to get someone to prosecute anyway & the conviction was later rightfully overturned because of the deal. I don’t think he shapes opinion…..I used to listen to his radio show a bit and after a while I learned that while he was immensely articulate and well suited for the medium, his predictions were grossly inaccurate. Apparently, many of his ’sources’ in the political world are about as adept as your pal Duncan “we’re gonna win” Black, whom I bring up because you point to him in the post….I’m reminded of why I stopped reading him, as he’s usually so wrong that it’s a waste of time & thus I find other lefties to scan. Good gosh, now he’s psychoanalyzing the nation’s attitude about Iran-Contra and guessing that Watergate affected the public’s response? Crikey, was he too desperate for a legit post instead of the non-stop “open thread” entries piled on top of “________ is stupid”? Anyway, I digress, North seems to have righted his path & as a Christian (and human) we’re all supposed to give people a second chance but I’ve always fallen back on the words of Nancy Reagan when she was asked about North: “liar”.

Seems like a pleasant fellow to have dinner with and I’d trust him to watch my daughter while I went to get my car from the parking lot, but I wouldn’t believe him if he said that he were sitting on a political bombshell that the press might leak.

On a good note and nonpolitical side, no one can deny that he loves his country and the military and his “war stories” segment on Fox News gives our service men & women the spotlight that they richly deserved. That today’s school kids would watch that show & learn about our military’s efforts throughout our history and learn about actual battles instead of whether or not Britney Spears wore panties….

“The rest of us, I think, would feel that the presidency is strengthened when the office-holder is held to the standards of the office and to the same standards as every other citizen with regard to the law.”

Barbara Battalino could not be reached for comment (circa, 1998). Sorry, couldn’t resist. Have a merry New Year.