Baingate -- I am having the most delicious Watergate flashbacks this morning:

[coalition_unwilling]

Modified, limited hangout:

PRESIDENT: You think, you think we want to, want to go this route now? And the--let it hang out, so to speak?

DEAN: Well, it's, it isn't really that--

HALDEMAN: It's a limited hang out.

DEAN: It's a limited hang out.

EHRLICHMAN: It's a modified limited hang out.

PRESIDENT: Well, it's only the questions of the thing hanging out publicly or privately.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limited_hangout

***********************

Inoperative statements:

"This is the operative statement. The others are inoperative."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Ziegler

************************

Third-rate burglary:

"Certain elements may try to stretch the Watergate burglary beyond what it is."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Ziegler

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Please feel free to add your own Watergate-era references to this thread. As Marx noted, history repeats itself, the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce

[Submariner]

1. Tricky Dick and Slick Willard are alike

"I'm not a crook" - Nixon

"I wasn't in charge" - Severely conservative Mountain Meadows Mitt.

[coalition_unwilling]

3. OMG. I just flashed on Deep Throat's advice to Woodward:

"Follow the money":

Bob Woodward: The story is dry. All we've got are pieces. We can't seem to figure out what the puzzle is supposed to look like. John Mitchell resigns as the head of CREEP, and says that he wants to spend more time with his family. I mean, it sounds like bullshit, we don't exactly believe that...
Deep Throat: No, heh, but it's touching. Forget the myths the media's created about the White House. The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.
Bob Woodward: Hunt's come in from the cold. Supposedly he's got a lawyer with $25,000 in a brown paper bag.
Deep Throat: Follow the money.
Bob Woodward: What do you mean? Where?
Deep Throat: Oh, I can't tell you that.
Bob Woodward: But you could tell me that.
Deep Throat: No, I have to do this my way. You tell me what you know, and I'll confirm. I'll keep you in the right direction if I can, but that's all. Just... follow the money.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074119/quotes

[msanthrope]

2. Ratfucking? You better believe it. nt

[coalition_unwilling]

4. If only his first name were not

'Willard'

[coalition_unwilling]

5. One shameless self-kick for Watergate buffs - n/t