Vaya con Dios Senorita Reno - Janet's off to Mexico

Vaya con Dios, Senorita Reno
Janet's off to Mexico
by Mac MacArthur

Wednesday, November 26th, 1997 (APJP) -- While world attention is focused on Saddam and what possible strategy the US has to "take him out" -- see below -- we take note of Attorney General Janet Reno's significant departure to Mexico yesterday without making her decision whether to appoint a special prosecutor on the Bill Clinton / Al Gore telephone fundraising "crisis" -- a matter which seems to consume our Republican friends. One can only hope it does.

Reno, our poster cabinet member of the year, is off to the land of tortillas and margaritas for a closed door meeting of the Inter-American Association of Public Prosecutors. The IAPP has 28 member nations. But Ms. Reno will not have to eat turkey tostados for Thanksgiving as she'll fly to her home in Florida for a traditional gobbler feast.

There are some reports that General Reno has already re-booked her return flight - courtesy of "Air America" to return to Washington a couple of days early. She was originally scheduled to remain in Florida through next week end. If I were her, I 'd announce her refusal to play puppet to Republican strong-armers today and sit it out in the Florida sun rather than give "outraged" GOP congressional hacks the chance to berate her -- an ordeal sure to follow.

Rather than repeat my tired analysis of the facts in this case, suffice it to say that the statute congressional geeks like Orrin Hatch, Fred Thompson and arch-villain Bob Barr are counting on to "bring down the White House," has never been used for prosecution of anyone during its 114 year history.

It won't be used this year either. So all you rabid Republicans might as well enjoy Thanksgiving with your families -- and be sure to ask God's forgiveness for casting stones while so full of "sin" yourselves.

Reno must also decide whether to appoint independent counsel to investigate the now infamous Johnny Chung and former Energy Secretary Hazel O'Leary as well as a Chinese executive and others on their roles in what Chung describes as an O'Leary-inspired bribe of $25,000 to be paid to her favorite charity in exchange for an "audience." Reno's decision is due before or on December 2nd, although Justice is already seeking an extension from the three-judge panel of the United States Courts of Appeal. They need more time to prepare.

I think, on this one, she has no choice and will go ahead and appoint a special prosecutor.

Reno must also decide what to do about Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt. You'll recall that Mr. Babbitt has been accused of denying an Indian Tribe a gaming license because he was allegedly told to do so by Harold Ickes who sought a Babbitt veto on the license to help a competing tribe who already had established a gaming concession in the region.

Rumor has it that Ickes is expecting Reno to appoint a special prosecutor in this case. The reason? -- Babbitt himself -- who not only wrote letters which conflict harshly with his congressional testimony on the matter, but who also seemed flummoxed during his grilling in Committee. Babbitt 's reputation is clean, but American Politics has heard from several former constituents of Babbitt that more negatives will come out about him during the Justice Department investigation and that his resignation may be already in the works.

The Babbitt/Ickes allegations are a dismal reminder that White House aides and cabinet members can get "carried away" with their lust to support and impress the Commander in Chief. This is not the first time that key White House officials may have engaged in activity -- unknown to the incumbent president -- which creates havoc.

But the key prize sought by the Republican opposition is Bill Clinton and the President won't be either directly or indirectly linked to the casino "scandal." As a matter of personal opinion, and based in several conversations with experts, I think a special counsel in this case will be hard pressed to come up with much more than circumstantial evidence showing any link between Ickes, Babbitt and the denial of the Indian gaming license.

As an aside - What the heck are Indians doing owning casinos in the first place?

It's a national tragedy to have Native Americans participating in the "fleecing of America" through ownership of money mills which bring misery and bankruptcy to all too many. I don't think we have the right to deny any American the chance to enter any legal business, but I do think US policy should block gaming on all federally controlled land. The next thing you know we'll be shooting craps under tents in the Rose Garden.

As a follow up to yesterday's commentary on "knocking off" Saddam Hussein, my hats off to Mother Jones for providing much the following for your consideration and lament:

HERE IS OUR LAW ON ASSASSINATION

Prohibition on Assassination. No person employed by or acting on behalf of the United States Government shall engage in, or conspire to engage in, assassination.

Executive Order 12333, issued Dec. 4, 1981, by President Ronald Reagan, continuing the policy of his predecessors Ford and Carter. Neither Bush nor Clinton has rescinded it.

HERE IS THE UNBELIEVABLY IRRESPONSIBLE PRESS AT WORK

Newsweek, Nov. 17: "Take him down." (next to a photo of Hussein and a downward-plunging arrow)

A real "little" rag.

Thomas Friedman, foreign affairs columnist, New York Times, Nov. 6: "Saddam Hussein is the reason God created cruise missiles. ...So if and when Saddam pushes beyond the brink, and we get that one good shot, let's make sure it's a head shot."

Friedman, who looks like he'd pee in his pants if a Puerto Rican couple was behind him on a busy New York sidewalk is a joke and this statement should end his career as a serious journalist.

George Stephanopoulos, former Clintonite and current ABC News analyst, on ABC'S "This Week," Nov. 9: "This is probably one of those rare cases where assassination is the more moral course...we should kill him."

Stephanopoulos, disappointment extraordinaire would be better off blow drying his hair less frequently and thinking more frequently before opening his mouth. He makes the President wince.

Sam Donaldson, co-host of ABC's "This Week," Nov. 9: We should kill Saddam "under cover of law.... We can do business with his successor."

Donaldson? Well what can you say about him but that he's the epitome of the Peter Principal, rising to the top of a pile of sewage.

Bill Kristol, ABC News analyst, for ABC's "This Week" Nov. 9: "It sounds good to me."

Kristol was a disappointment, I thought he had more brains, and guts. 'Should've known better.

Cokie Roberts, co-host of ABC's "This Week," Nov. 9: "Well, now that we've come out for murder on this broadcast, let us move on to fast-track..."

The more I see her arrogant face and listen to her poppycock the more I'm reminded that she's a petty prep girl from a very rich family who got her job for just than reason. She ought to go back where she was born -- she'd fit in much better - and take Tony Roberts with you.

Jonathan Alter, Newsweek, Nov. 17: "It won't be easy to take him out. ...But we need to try, because the only language Saddam has ever understood is force."

Fat Boy Prissy Alter ought to volunteer to "take him out" himself-- could you just see that?

Newsweek, Dec. 1: "Why We Should Kill Saddam."

I don't know why - maybe it's a "moral" imperative?

Pathetic, isn't it?