Christine, Just getting ready to sign off on my lap top, and saw on the Home SI Page the "Express your feelings" Thread pop up. So I double clicked on it out of curioisity, dropped in, and had to laugh at all of these messages. Indeed as I speak I am just finishing a business meeting here in Dallas, Texas. I am right now looking out the window of a mid-town office building right at a funky brownish kind of zig-zag office building across the way on Inwood and I-35 where Ms. Lewinsky's attorneys are based (I am told by my hosts) and where she will be depositioned I believe next week.
I served as a former Honors Program Attorney in the Carter Administration. But like many people, I changed my party affiliation a few years back and registered as a Republican.
Seeing both sides of the streets, I'd offer this advice to the Republicans: If these allegations are at least partly true, then don't impeach Pres. Clinton. Just leave him where he is, in office, twisting helplessly "in the wind" for the next 2 1/2 years. Politically his ability to influence events domestically is shot.
In addition Al Gore's reputation has been seriously damaged by this whole affair. In fact he should not be making public statements suporting Pres. Clinton until he knows all of the facts- his political career is on the line too. A misplay here and he will be at the point where he may seriously have to consider publicly announcing that he will not run for President in the Year 2000- the allegations of what really came down at the Buddhist Temple in California are now looking IMO more likely to be true due to the latest develpments in "Zippergate".
What you do not want to do as a Republican is to put Al Gore in the Presidency right now and to allow him 2 1/2 years to "rehabilitate" the Democratic Administration before the Year 2000 elections. Better to let the Republican-led Congress set the agenda and priorities now. The Clinton Administration willbe in no position to oppose them.
That then allows you set up the potentially delicious irony of say Gov. George Bush Jr. of the State of Texas running for President on the Republican ticket in 2000 and "zapping" the guys who knocked his Father out of Office in 1992. (And being the first Father/Son team in the presidency since the Adams). With his strong support amongst moderates and Hispanic voters, he would be a good choice for the Republican ticket. (Humorously even the popular Lieutenant Governor of Texas, who is Democratic recently endorsed Gov. Bush for reelection- much to the dismay of the Texas Democratic Party apparatchiks.
As a Democrat rapid damage control is very critical now. The Democratic Ship-of-State has just taken a "torpedo" directly under the Bridge. TheBridge is non-functional and no one is in control of the ship- and the ship is beginning to list and fill with smoke. Time to start cataloging (and financing) important local/ state elections to the Party in the Year 1998 elections ahora mismo! (right now). Control of local offices is very important in getting out the vote on election day. For e.g., if say Jeb Bush wins Governorship of Florida, then the Presidential election in Year 2000 may already be lostfor the Democrats with Republican Governors sitting in all three major Sunbelt States of California, Florida,and Texas. It would be very difficult to win two of three of those States- something you must do to be elected President. (As a Democrat you cannot count on two Republicans, i.e., Ross Perot (former Republican anyway!) and whoever else running for president again,and splitting the vote).
President Clinton is a very intelligent man, and a top-notch politician. If these allegations are true, you have to wonder why he would take such crazy risks with his career, life......
Sincerely,
Doug F. |
