Mark Felt died yesterday. Say what you will about this man, but he placed justice and care for this Country above blind loyalty and partisan politics.
The best kept secret in this Country was that this one man, whom remained nameless for 30 years, broke his silence on the corruption within the Nixon Administration, and became an informant to two reporters with the Washington Post.
Mr. Felt believed that transparency in Government was crucial. He believed that abuses in the name of National Security by a president was wrong. He believed that executive privilege used to justify an administration's criminal acts, abuses of power and to hinder investigations of crimes, was deserving of exposure.
Thank you Mr. Felt.
Rest in Peace Sir.
Friday, December 19, 2008
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9 comments:
I'm not as hot on Felt as you are. But damn, that man had a lot of institutional knowledge. Someone ought to have interviewed him before he died...
...oh, wait.
I know there are those who believe Felt had a hidden agenda for exposing Nixon, but regardless, he made the decision to do it. He had to know that he put himself in grave danger by exposing the inner workings of the WH.
He didn't have a hidden agenda. He had a frank and obvious agenda, to which he has admitted. He overthrew Nixon because Nixon had wrested control over the FBI from J. Edgar Hoover. He was defending his agency, which just so happened to be perhaps the most corrupt agency in all of American history.
It still took courage and guts and principles for him to do what he did, of course. But his principles were scarcely less abhorrent than those that motivated Nixon. What fascinates me about the Deep Throat story is that it took a shady and corrupt villain to overthrow Nixon, because the good guys couldn't do it. He saved America, but he was literally the last person on the face of the earth you would have expected to do so. The fate of our country should never again rest in the hands of the likes of Mark Felt.
Actually, your right. Nixon was trying and being successful in taking over the agency.
Some thought Felt had a hidden agenda because he was angry at Nixon for not appointing him as Head of the FBI, although he always denied that. Of course, you can only appoint people who are willing to participate in your criminal activity. Ask Bush about this.
On another note, I had also forgotten that Felt authorized FBI break-ins at homes of the Weathermen Underground in the 60s.
Critics (think GOP) called him a traitor for betraying the Commander-in-Chief. This is the same problem we have had for the past eight years. President first, Country second.
So are either of you going to watch "Frost/Nixon"?
I doubt I will go see it 7o6, although I usually like anything produced by Ron Howard. Wonder if the movie will be as disappointing as the real interview?
Are you going to see it?
I've got some time at the end of next week... the wife and I might take it in.
If you see it, give us your opinion of the movie. Would be interested in your take on it.
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