Amy Goodman: Ford should not have pardoned Nixon

CommonDreams.org is featuring an article by Democracy Now's Amy Goodman:

Impeaching, Prosecuting Nixon Could Have Elevated the Nation
by Amy Goodman

One of the high points of the U.S. media was the investigation into the Watergate scandal. Now, 30 years later, with President Ford's death, the media are contributing to the cover-up they once exposed.

Most people get their news from television, yet there has hardly been any explanation of what the Watergate scandal was. This is of particular concern, given that roughly half the U.S. population was born after President Nixon resigned on Aug. 9, 1974. Gerald Ford would pardon him a month later. Rather than explain Watergate, we hear the same chorus from all the networks, that the nation needed to move beyond Watergate, needed to "heal," and that the pardon, while controversial, was needed. The pundits agree that prosecuting Nixon would have led the country in a downward spiral.

But there is another scenario. Impeachment and/or prosecution could have shown Americans that no person is above the law, that all governments must be held accountable. MORE

While the Bush-Cheney cabal sets up the stage for their own future pardons for their own crimes, we must become more vocal that impeachment can be healing. On my to-read list is a book by John Nichols entitled The Genius of Impeachment: The Founders' Cure for Royalism. Ford should not have impeded justice and the new Democratic legislative majority must not impede justice. Impeachment MUST be on the table, Nancy Pelosi -- and we must tell her and our congressmembers that they cannot, for the sake of what is left of our democracy, rule out this cleansing, indeed healing, option. This is more crucial given the news of the latest Bush outrage, the signing statement he placed on the postal reform bill wherein he claims the right to open our mail without warrant. God help us. (And remember God helps those who help themselves.)

As for Gerald Ford, he was no healer in his lifetime. But at least in death he spoke up about some of today's outrages. I blogged about this on a post of The Young Turks' Cenk Uygur's at HuffingtonPost.com:

Yes, Ford was affable, but he was also complicit. And he closed a festering wound which has resulted in today's horrific ulcers. That said, at least he had the grace to finally say something, however late -- at least, THIS dead man told his tale. Now if only we can get America to pay more attention and more Americans to speak up and demand that we end this mess. End the occupation of Iraq -- and make some reasonable restitution.

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And I would add that we must also speak up to Congress that they must also give serious consideration to the impeachment of George Bush and Dick Cheney. We must heal the nation and restore integrity and restraint to the Executive Branch.

Call Congress: 202-224-3121

Peace Hugs,
Kate Anne