j-b, very interesting post, but "let's be honest," not quite fair.
Specifically, your characterization of the "throw him outers" and "keep him inners" is not quite fair.
On the one hand, you give us good citizens filled with righteous, and rightful, indignation. On the other, you give us (clearly bad) citizens, Clinton-lovers "who 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."
What's up, j_b? You usually try to be more even-handed than that.
You know that a careful reading of the "Clinton-loving" posts reveals quite a broad range of attitudes towards Clinton and the basic issues involved here.
Take me, for example, a very reluctant "keep him inner" (closer to a "fence-sitter", really). As I have noted in previous posts, even though I am a life-long Democrat, I voted AGAINST Clinton in 1996, and I have BIG PROBLEMS with some of his policies (especially foreign policies). Never particularly trusted him..
BUT......
1) I distrust the motives, the political agenda, and the tactics of the gung-ho anti-Clintonite groups even more. (I stress that I am not referring to individuals, but to evidently well-organized, well-financed, "radically conservative" groups that have been after Clinton's head since he first took office.) In other words, I find myself here "between the Devil and the deep blue sea."
1-b) To elaborate on the above: I note that some anti-Clinton groups/individuals believe that his views/policies in themselves are impeachable. See, for example:
impeachclinton.com
The minute that we view the advocacy and/or adoption of policies we don't like as cause for impeachment, this democracy is in real trouble...
1-c) On the religious right, specifically, you write: 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.
That's pretty funny, j_b, and not entirely off target. But the reason people like myself are indeed worried about the "bible wavers", is that some among them state, as their goal, the establishment of an authoritarian theocracy, where competing views would quite literally be outlawed. (Would be happy to supply URLS, if asked.)
2) Like yourself, j_b, I am not convinced that there is anything impeachable in Monicagate. And if there is something impeachable in any of the other gates, Starr has so far failed to turn it up. Of course, this will not keep anyone from TALKING about the various gates. What I see as a possibility is an endless (and inevitably sleazy) talkfest that will polarize the electorate still further, sap the authority of both the Presidency and the Congress still further -- and result in nothing.
3) Meanwhile, the rest of the world is going to hell in a handbasket. If we don't keep our eye on the ball, we are likely to join them. It is crucial that there be consistency and continuity in American policy at this point. I don't think that the dump-Clinton camp realizes just how crucial this is.
4) Impeachment proceedings are nevertheless going ahead. I, for one, might favor the President's resigning at this point, simply in order to spare the country, and the world, any more trauma. There are several objections to this, of course. For me, the most important one is:
Will "they" leave Gore alone?
As you have no doubt noted, some of these "Impeach Clinton" groups that have multiplied on the Internet advocate impeaching Gore, too. (Check out the URL posted above.) My opinion: we simply can't take any more of that!!!! Give it a rest!!! (You see, I can get hysterical, too.)
Finally, let me stress that I am not trying to debate anyone here. I am simply trying to lay out what my concerns are, and I will happy if anyone else out there can address them, and hopefully alleviate them.
But -- no zingers, no self-righteous rants, please! Again, I can't take any more of that!!! :-)
jbe
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