Why is it "I Don't Recall" is such great get out of jail free card?

[Toots]

Common sense and logic would dictate that any person with such a lousy memory would either be lying or incompetent. How is it that those people are allowed to go on to prestigious positions in either government or education? Or even just held up in very high regard in some other public position...Are Americans truly that derelict in decency and honor? Is it entirely about one side winning no matter what tactics are deployed? Just one more thing to be really proud of about America I guess...:shrug:

[annabanana]

1. Did you. . rob that bank, kill that kid, grab that purse,

"I dunno... I forget"

Oh, OK then, You're free to go. . . .

[elocs]

2. Let's just hope there is more evidence than asking an accused criminal if they committed the crime.

It that's all there is then generally it doesn't go to well for the cops or the prosecution.

[Toots]

7. I am not referring to the little people

We all know the same Laws don't apply. You could NEVER get away with refusing to comply to a subpoena but most of the Bush* Cabal did just that. When Cheney or Rove or Gonzo say they don't recall 75 times during a fifteen minute questioning period no one blinks and they go on to bigger and better things..

[elocs]

13. Unless when they say "I don't recall" it can be proven they are lying there's not much can be done.

That's the way the system works.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

15. I say that we use this method when questioning anyone connected to the previous administration.

They didn't believe in the rule of law, so why not use the same methods on them?

Sodium thiopental


After all, William Webster wanted to use it to get answers.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002/04/26/torture.htm

[Gman]

3. I refer you to my tagline and what Jesse Ventura said

"You give me a waterboard, one hour and Dick Cheney and I'll have him confessing to the Sharon Tate murders." -- Jesse Ventura

[Fumesucker]

14. ROFL.. How true.!!!1!1!

I like Jesse, he's a whackaloon but my kind of whackaloon.

[Catshrink]

4. It worked for St. Ronnie.

[treestar]

5. It is pretty bad for your credibility

to keep saying that.

[Politicub]

6. Because politicians cover each others asses

At the end of the day, they let one another off with a song. It's sad and immoral, but that's the reality it seems.

[Cyrano]

8. I wonder if "I don't recall" would have worked at Nuremberg?

"I was only following orders" didn't seem to work out too well. Then again, it's fairly apparent to a sane, impartial person that Cheny/Bush/Rumsfeld were the ones giving the orders over the past eight years.

And their crimes are so incredibly obvious, "I don't recall" should be treated as being in the same league as "The dog ate my homework."

[elehhhhna]

16. Nurenberg is sooo last century! Old Europe! Just waterboard the m'fer 'til he remembers.

[Bitwit1234]

9. He probably

doesn't recall the oil people who attended and the ones he made deals with when they were jacking up the prices of our fuel oil and gasoline and making the rest of the energy policies.

For someone who doesn't recall a darn thing HOW does he know Obama is dithering on Afgan. since he can't recall does he know what in the He** he did.

[Uben]

10. And why isn't.........

...."Here's some jail time to help you remember." a legitimate response?

[Joanie Baloney]

11. Maybe they should be assigned to a class

Maybe when one of these high-powered, politically savvy operators such as Cheney for example, gets up in front of a committee or a judge and tries the old "I don't recall" gambit, the chairperson/judge can assign them to a mandatory memory class. You know, one of those annoying seminar/class thingies that regular people have to go to when they are thought to have an anger problem or a substance abuse problem, or depression. A mandatory, six week session with a teacher from hell who speaks like Ben Stein in a cramped room with no A/C to tutor and coach them in how to have better memories. They will not be able to continue their jobs, drive a car, write books, give speeches, etc. until they have successfully completed the class. I mean the memory-loss epidemic in high-level politicians is reaching crisis level - we must take action!!

:sarcasm:

Jumping Jesus on a Segway.

-JB

[DavidDvorkin]

12. Doesn't that only (or mostly) work for Republicans?

If a Democrat says he doesn't recall, he's assumed to be guilty.

[bridgit]

17. Not from a control freak like Cheney. From Cheney's mouth, "I don't recall" is contempt of court

At that point in time he should be extended no-less than two options, 1) accept the consequences of his contemptuous behavior toward the rule of law, or, 2) consider being handled as a hostile entity willing to obstruct justice on a routine basis, and subject to those pointed treatments

[Birthmark]

18. I'm very concerned for such people.

It's my understanding that an inability to recall much of the past could indicate a serious medical or psychiatric problem. I think that judges should be able to have such people evaluated in a medical facility, for no more than 30 days, in the interest of the person's own health. It only seems prudent.

[FormerDittoHead]

19. The risk you take doing this is you can't DENY / DISPROVE other evidence...

On edit: If something comes up against you, you CAN'T say, Oh, wait, I remember!...

so it's a one-way defense.

[JonQ]

20. Only if you're well connected

otherwise it doesn't work so well.

For instance:

Q: Mr. Senator did you take that bribe money?
A: I don't recall
Oh well that's all good then, you're free to go.

vs.

Q: Mr. car thief did you steal that car?
A: I don't recall
You're going to jail for a long time mister.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

21. How do you propose conclusively proving otherwise?