Don't forget that Ford's pardon of Nixon probably cost him re-election.

"It will act only when the national jurisdiction is unable or unwilling to genuinely prosecute, or in the case of referral by the Security Council."

http://www.un.org/millennium/law/xviii.17.htm

What that usually means in practice is that if the country whose leaders could be charged has a functioning and honest judiciary it's unlikely the ICC would take up the case.

I'd be embarrassed to see former officials of my country in the dock in The Hague, but I do think there's a case against them. Won't happen, though.

And correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the US not a part of the ICC?

Clearly you disagree vehemently with Will's opinions, his blog, and for all I know, his existence on earth, but accusing him of not making sense is a little silly since your own post is the one that best fits that description.

If Obama wants us to think of him as real, now is the time. Snark and sarcasm are not the hope and change we can believe in.

Just found out my 78 year old parents voted for a Democrat in a national election for the 1st time since Lyndon Johnson. It is a strange thing to hear them talking about George W Bush in such demeaning terms.

A chronicle of the 'scandal' and the BS the Bush administration fed to the press about it is detailed here:

http://archive.salon.com/politics/feature/2001/05/23/vandals/index.html

Regarding the pardon, as previously stated, a pardon is a tacit admission of guilt. The pardoned party is essentially declaring their guilt. Obama should let the investigations fall to the congress and the Justice department.

4 - What "closing a chapter and moving forward"?

It's fun seeing your blood pressure shoot up, though.

http://articles.latimes.com/2001/jun/03/news/mn-5996

What is clear is that the 'horrible acts of vandalism' were pretty minor-league stuff, but it is also clear that some childish pranks were committed at the White House that betray a level of classlessness.

Fair enough.

I, too, hope that the current administration can restrain itself during the transition from creating a similar mess...of course the mess they've left outside of the White House is big enough.

Yep, that is consistent with what I said in 10 (sophomoric prank). I made a point about Obama and GWB being above such petty stuff, and you flipped out.

I thought Obama's 3 AM stunt of the VP pick was a childish move, too. I hope he is now rising above that. Look, this is small stuff, and enormous expectations have been placed on him. If he really wants to heal America and be the transformational guy the Donks have been waiting for--the Reagan for the new generation (as Peter Beinart hopes)--then he's got his work cut out for him. All this pardoning, investigating, etc., is a bad precedent and will only serve to further divide the country. I am curious to see if the lofty Obama campaign rhetoric is for real.

That, and I think he should put Jerry Brown on his cabinet. AG? HUD? ED?

To be clear, I agree that the Clinton people were poor sports, but that was pretty much it---it wasn't some gigantic scandal.

I overreacted.