July 11, 2002

Thank God For Larry Klayman? Say What?

A BUZZFLASH EDITORIAL

BuzzFlash never thought we'd say this, but thank God for Larry Klayman.

While the Senate Democrats seem to be paralyzed in fear of seriously investigating the ethical and corporate malfeasance of the likes of George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and Thomas "Enron" White, Larry Klayman did to them what he did to Bill Clinton: he started filing lawsuits.

The Republicans forced taxpayers to spend more than $70 million dollars investigating a nonexistent Whitewater scandal, and on having Ken Starr voyeuristically explore the contours of Bill Clinton's private parts. In 2002, the Democrats are handed the greatest financial misconduct scandal since "Teapot Dome" and they, for the most part, politely threaten to issue subpoenas as if they are inviting the White House over for tea.

Even Forbes magazine printed an article the other day asking, in astonishment, "Where are the indictments?" Heck, the Senate is still negotiating for White House documents.

Of course, the bulldogs of the House of Representatives -- Henry Waxman and John Conyers -- would be putting the cuffs on the White House den of corporate thieves right now, but they have one little problem: Tom "I Sniffed Too Many Insecticides" DeLay controls everything in the House of Representatives. And that guy is whacked out from inhaling too much roach spray. He isn't going to allow the remotest chance that a hearing would actually expose the corporate malfeasance of the Bush/Cheney/White "cook the books and enrich ourselves and our friends" squad.

The Senate Democrats, on the other hand, could call the White House to account for the "big lie" it is trying to get away with -- but we hear barely a peep from them. And there aren't really any public interest groups on the Democratic side comparable to the right-wing legal foundations (like Klayman's Judicial Watch) that made mincemeat of Bill Clinton in the courtrooms with all sorts of legal shenanigans. Remember that Paula Jones, Linda Tripp, and the like were all assisted by right wing "legal foundations." It just took the Rehnquist court to give them the green light to go ahead with the sham lawsuit.

So the right-wing had a triple play: a legal assault on Clinton, a media assault, and a legislative investigation assault. Right now Bush is not subject to serious attack on any of the three fronts. Except, we hate to admit, by Larry Klayman.

Klayman is garnering headlines in the United States for a series of suits against the Bush Administration.

On Wednesday, even the foreign press was taking note of Klayman's latest suit: "Suit Claims Fraud by Cheney, Oil Company" (see: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=5
14&ncid=716&e=7&u=/ap/20020710/ap_on_bi_ge/cheney_lawsuit_22).

Klayman knows how to do something that still mystifies the Democrats: create a legal and public relations news peg by filing a lawsuit (or, in the case of the Senate, holding a hearing):

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Suit Claims Fraud by Cheney, Oil Co.
Wed Jul 10, 4:43 PM ET
By SUSAN PARROTT, Associated Press Writer

DALLAS (AP) - A watchdog group sued Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) and Halliburton Co. on Wednesday, alleging fraudulent accounting practices at the oil services company he ran for five years.

The lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch accuses Halliburton of overstating revenues by $445 million from 1999 through the end of 2001. Cheney was chairman and chief executive of the company from 1995 to 2000.

"Halliburton overstated profits that many American citizens relied upon. That's fraudulent security practices and it resulted in those Americans suffering huge losses," said Larry Klayman, chairman and general counsel of Judicial Watch, a nonpartisan group based in Washington.

The lawsuit was announced in Miami and filed in federal court in Dallas.

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The Democrats seem forever timid and hesitant to hold the Republicans accountable for their behavior. But you can't hold the respect of the American people if you aren't willing to take on the town bully who is making a mockery of the town's laws through intimidation and "the big lie."

The Democrats in the Senate are generally decent and just, but right now we need someone who is willing to do battle on behalf of justice. We need someone who understands that it is not enough to be a "just" senator during the reign of an administration reeking of hypocrisy, corrupt business ethics, and the big lie. We need someone who is willing to risk his or her future to save democracy. We need someone who can fight like a junkyard dog.

Bush has gotten as far as he has gotten because, basically, whenever Dick Cheney has snarled, the Democrats have retreated back into their corner. That's not just being politically cautious; that's running scared from the town bully.

Rest assured that if the Democrats stumble back into power because the Bush/Cheney ethical lapses become so blatant that people start tripping over them, which is starting to happen, the Republicans will be right back filing lawsuits, unleashing the Rush Limbaugh alien creature, and demanding investigations whenever a Democrat sneezes.

So it doesn't pay to play the role of the polite gentleman. With the Republicans, gentlemen are looked upon with contempt. They only understand the conduct of the streetfighter.

So, we are left -- ironies of ironies -- with Larry Klayman, for the moment, to hold Richard Cheney and George W. Bush accountable for their corporate misconduct.

BuzzFlash wishes that weren't the case, but he's the one putting up the fight. Even if he's a bit batty, he knows how to go for the jugular. That's the kind of man the Republicans understand and -- ultimately -- fear.

As for most Democrats, the White House knows that if the Dems ever start asking too many probing questions, Karl Rove just sends out Dick Cheney to growl and that puts an end to any calls for justice.

So, Larry, you may be a goofball, but, for the moment, keep filing those suits as long as the Republicans are in power.

Then, when the Democrats return, it'll be about time for you to retire.

A BUZZFLASH EDITORIAL