Watergate 'pales' compared with Trump, says former US intelligence chief

[canetoad]

Source: The Age

June 7 2017 - 2:35PM

The infamous Watergate scandal "pales" in comparison to the allegations about the Trump administration's links to Russia, former United States intelligence chief James Clapper has said in an explosive set of remarks in Canberra.

Mr Clapper, who served as Director of National Intelligence under Barack Obama and in senior roles with Republican leaders as well, also said he would "understand" if US allies such as Australia withheld intelligence from American counterparts because of Mr Trump's demonstrated lack of discretion with such sensitive secrets.

The 50-year veteran of the military and the intelligence community painted a picture of disconcerting dysfunction in Washington with "assaults on American institutions coming from both external and internal sources" and most strikingly said the Trump-Russia links were much worse than the notorious scandal that toppled former US president Richard Nixon in the 1970s.

"I lived through Watergate. I was on active duty then in the Air Force as a young officer," Mr Clapper said following a speech to the National Press Club in Canberra. "It was a scary time . . . I have to say, though, that I think you compare the two that Watergate pales really in my view compared to what we're confronting now."

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/watergate-pales-compared-with-trump-says-former-us-intelligence-chief-20170607-gwmb0g.html

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Clapper is in Australia as a Visiting Professor at ANU.

[Stonepounder]

1. That's gonna leave a mark.

I agree with him.

Nixon obstructed justice, but he was trying to save himself not destroy the country. He had been a popular governor of California. He was the first President to visit China, and was working on establishing a National Health system. Whether you agreed with his policies or not, he had what he considered to be the best interests of the country at heart.

Trump is doing his damnest to destroy our country, has absolutely NO ethics or morals and thinks being President is 'so let it be written, so let it be done', doesn't understand anything about government. He thought he would simply hob-nob with other foreign leaders, tell them what to do (and extort them if at all possible), make a lot of money for himself and his family, and play lots of golf. Where most Presidents work 12+ hours a day, he works 2-3 on heavy days and takes long weekends to go play golf.

[Basic LA]

5. Nixon wasn't governor of California.

That was Reagan. But you're 100% right on every other count.

[DeminPennswoods]

9. Nixon was our last liberal president

on a lot of things if you think about it.

[LeftyMom]

11. The closest Nixon ever got to being Governor of CA was losing to Pat Brown in 62

[Stonepounder]

16. Oops. Sorry. Sometimes I think my age is catching up with me.

Nixon was a US Representative and then a US Senator from Calif., but was never Gov.

My bad.

[LeftyMom]

17. It happens. My dad and I spent way too long recently trying to remember who the

governor between Wilson and Davis was.

The wasn't anyone to remember.

[Tactical Peek]

2. Nixon never got in bed with the Russians.

I'll give him that.

[furtheradu]

3. James Clapper is right on.

Thanks for this post!

[SunSeeker]

4. K & R

[Duppers]

6. K & R

Thanks for posting this.

[pnwmom]

7. Wow. I remember when they were using Clapper to say there was no evidence.

Though the truth was that he hadn't been in a position to see what the FBI had on DT's team.

Well, DT's people aren't going to be able to use Clapper anymore. He's furious with all of them.

[Hekate]

8. I completely agree. Nixon was a twisted bastard, but he didn't try to sell us out ...

...to the highest bidder and/or Russia.

He had smarts, which Trumpty manifestly lacks. Nixon opened China and signed off on the EPA, among other genuine accomplishments.

In addition, there were men and women of honor (remember that concept?) in Congress, on both sides. People who actually put country before party when push came to shove.

The current situation is way worse, in part because Trump is deranged and he and the GOP are both incredibly corrupt. We could actually lose our democracy.

[BadgerMom]

10. Kick!

[BumRushDaShow]

12. Look what just happened with Qatar. U.S. base there thrown under the bus.

Due to idiotic stupidity showcased with abject bravado.

[miyazaki]

13. kick n/t

[riversedge]

14. Good on Clapper. Had to go down under to make that comment.

[yellowcanine]

15. Well yes it does. Nixon used Liddy and Howard Hunt. Trump used Putin.

So yes, it pales in comparison.