<<After posting the link twice, I note that no one — in over 200 messages - has seen it appropriate to take up the discussion of what constitutes an impeachable offense as originally envisioned by the Framers.>>
The reason no one has bothered to reply, is that we had already beaten the subject to death a week or so ago. Re-hashing old arguments has proven to be a waste of time on this board. The short answer to your question is that there is a great difference of opinion as to the severity of the effects of Clinton's actions on the country.
<<or had acted from some corrupt motive or other>>
This is really the crux of the debate. Clinton obviously acted from selfish motives regarding Monica. He used his official position to add power to his denial, and to cover up the affair. He used his position to stall the investigation and to undermine the credibility of people that spoke out against him.
<<By way of explanation, Iredell referred to a situation in which "the President has received a bribe . . . from a foreign power, and, under the influence of that bribe, had address enough with the Senate, by artifices and misrepresentations, to seduce their consent to a pernicious treaty.>>
Of course, this is what Clinton is accused by some of doing in regards to China, both with the transfer of missile technology and the granting of the use of bases in Long Beach and other U.S. cities. It is also what he is accused of doing as regards the coal deposits in Utah. That's why the Republicans want to extend the hearings past Monicagate.
Let's be honest here boys and girls - unless you want to stretch the perjury issue into some form of undermining the rule of law in this country, Monicagate is small potatoes. I am still not convinced there is anything impeachable here. For example, when one of Clinton's people came out with a statement that perjury was not that big a deal, a judge that was ruling on a perjury case related to the Espy bribery scandal sentenced a perjurer to a stiff sentence, basically shaking his finger at the Clinton administration and saying don't tell ME it's no big deal! They system will adapt. Parents will hopefully use this to teach their kids that lying is wrong, etc.
You people that want Clinton out (and I'm one of them) are angry at the constant stream of obvious corruption that has either been whitewashed or ignored by most of America. You want him impeached for Filegate, Travelgate, Chinagate, renting the Lincoln bedroom, illegally taking Chinese and Indonesian money (we had to do whatever it took to stop the Republican juggernaut!), giving missile technology to the Chinese, etc. etc. etc. As irritating as Monicagate is, it is NOTHING compared to the other issues. The ridiculous excuses that Americans have bought off on are infuriating, and if it takes a sex scandal to bring Clinton to justice, you're willing to use it. Hopefully the other issues will be brought back out to be looked at in the light of day, with no obfuscation allowed.
I've spent a fair amount of time trying to come to grips with the anger I feel toward Clinton, and that's what I've come up with. He's the spoiled rotten bully, that steals your money, beats the c*** out of you every day, and gets away with it. When you complain, people tell you to quit whining - everyone knows Billy is a good boy - you're just jealous because he's more popular than you.
To those of you who support Clinton - be honest also. You support his policies, and you would support Jeffrey Dahmer if you could find a way to justify doing so, as long as he pushed a pro-choice, pro-affirmative action, or whatever your favorite issue is, agenda. The supporters of Bill are afraid that if they stop supporting Bill, their agenda will be overrun by screaming bible-waving fanatics that are trying to return women to the 18th century, and want to make sure that people only have sex through a hole in a sheet that's draped over the woman, so the man isn't sullied by that wanton.
Sorry for the long post, but it is really tiresome to see bright people on both sides of the issue continue to avoid really discussing the issue. It's not about sex - it's about corruption, abuse of power, the security of the nation, and individual freedom, IMHO. |
