Hi Michael,
Somehow living in the Washington metro area I feel like I have a ringside seat on the Clinton/Starr/Lewinsky debacle. We get the Washington Post and the Washington Times every day, not to mention the local news, etc. Then there is the stuff we all see, NY Times, Wolf Blitzer, and so on. As a trial lawyer, when I gauge whether I am successful in selling a case to a judge or a jury, I go by what we call "atmospherics." You could call it spin, you could call it intuition, you could call it "reading tea leaves," but call it what you will, I rely on some meta perception of how something is "going down" in the eyes of the consumer, AKA judge or jury. Must. Have to. Dead otherwise.
Going by "atmospherics" AKA intuition, Starr has the goods on Clinton. He is smiling like a possum in the peach patch, and Clinton is frowning like he has to swallow something too bitter to take. Would I bet my children's future? No, but I would bet good money if someone wants to take the bet. Anyone?
Even though I hate his politics, I must admit that I feel sorry for Clinton. All he has to do is admit that he lied, that he and Monica were lovers, and I think it would all go away, at least in the sense that most of us would recognize as acceptable. There may be people who are shocked that a rich, powerful, important man would have sex with a young, nubile, available woman, but I suspect that they are in the minority. Duh?
If I were advising Clinton, he would not have come to this critical turning point. I would have told him to tell the truth months ago. We may not like the fact that Clinton avails himself of the local talent, but it isn't news.
What is important is whether he used/abused the power and majesty of his office(s) to victimize the powerless. That is a bad place for him, don't go there, I would tell him.
Well, if I were Starr I would present his testimony to the grand jury, and then I would call Monica.
Monica goes last.
If there are any prosecutors on the thread, please refute me, but if I were prosecuting, Monica goes last. Let Slick Willie talk, and then call the one person who has no reason to lie. Who has every reason to tell the truth, because, if she doesn't, she is going down. (Have you ever been in jail? Even as a lawyer, I can promise, you never want to see the inside of a jail again.)
On the other hand, if I were representing Slick Willie, my question would be, why did she keep the famous dress with the famous stain? I can't think of any innocent reason. The only reason that comes to mind is that which Linda Tripp advanced, to protect herself when the stuff came down.
All too weird. Family and I drove to Silver Spring to look at a potential new car (Land Rover Discovery, didn't buy) and we took the George Washington Parkway and went past Fort Marcy Park, site of Vince Foster suicide/what have you. A peaceful place to blow your brains out, if you have a mind to. All too weird.
OK, all for now, BYE
Sincerely,
CobaltBlue |
