[–] Thisismyvoatusername 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
I disagree Clinton was purely a political hit. But leaving that aside, can you think of a single special prosecutor from the 1970s to now who did less harm than good? I cannot. The system is not built for it. It does structural harm far greater than any ill which it is trying to address. If the executive has done something wrong, the legislature can impeach. Only then under a new administration should a criminal investigation amd prosecution be brought. If Congress refuses to do that because of politics or cowardess, then that problem should be dealt with by voters not ignored by using an extra-Constitutional special prosecutor.
A special prosecutor is never necessary. It is an imposition of a new branch of government outside of the three called for in the Constitution and which operates outside of the checks and balances set up therein. It is as bad as the administrative state that courts have allowed to grow under (and even apart from) the Administrative Procedure Act. Frankly, it is possibly worse. While executive agencies are essentially legislating without the safeguards of the Constitutional system, at least they are usually done pursuant to rule making procedures and underlying legislation. Special prosecutors act almost like ad hoc tyrants subject only to their own appetites.
[–] p0ssum 1 point 0 points 1 point (+1|-1) ago (edited ago)
What was the original charge for? Whitewater right? That was somehow NOT political ... seriously?
I disagree, I see it as a necessary evil. The DOJ is part of the Executive branch ... its a conflict of interest for them to investigate the president. Plain and simple. Leaving it to a partisan congress is no better.
And in the present case, I think it's MORE necessary than it was for even Watergate.
[–] Thisismyvoatusername 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
See, you bringing up Watergate makes my point. There was no need for a special prosecutor then. We have a unitary executive. Article II is pretty clear on the point. He was free to fire Archibald Cox. The issue was then taken care of by Congress threatening impeachment and Nixon resigning. There was no need for a special prosecutor.
Whitewater was about criminal fraud. You can say it was purely political, but a lot of people did not see it that way. Regardless, it should not have had a special prosecutor. It was up to Congress to investigate if it felt that strongly, not some office with no Constitutional validity.
As for your concerns about Russia, Congress can impeach, the voters can elect a different Congress to do so in the midterms. If Trump runs for re-election the voters can vote for his opponent. The next administration can renew any investigations of criminal wrongdoing. None of it requires a special counsel, because none of it is going anywhere. Breaking the structure of the system is a bigger, longer term problem than is the allegation against one elected and term limited politician.
[–] foltaisaprovenshill ago
Fuck off back to Reddit you shill retard.