To: J.L. Turner who wrote (16168 ) 8/19/1998 8:59:00 PM From: Enigma Read Replies (1) | Respond to
Yes - some (many here) will not see it this way but Clinton is one of the brightest and ablest to hold the office - his ebulience is what does him in, a reckless, almost gambling, streak. Undoubtedly there were Presidents in the past of the same personality - JFK for one - but there was no independent counsel statute then. LBJ was not only an excessive womaniser but an out and out crook who ended his term far wealthier than when he started. No blind trusts for him or if there were trusts they were transparent. I'm no presidential historian, but it goes without saying that past incumbents have had their share of warts, and all. Now we have the extraordinary situation where a President, elected by the people can then be investigated for past behaviour, and when that comes up more or less empty, the prosecutor can keep a watching brief on his every action, including his sex life. Many a person has lied about an affair - under oath no doubt. The problem here was that both parties agreed to deny the affair, which is the normal state of affairs in such matters, but one party had no idea that the other was spilling the beans to another person, politicaly an enemy, and in league with a bitter enemy, who was tape recording the conversations. Not only that, but the second person kept her dress with a stain in it - for what? - a keepsake?, a momento?, or as an instrument of blackmail?. Of course Clinton was completely dumb to be involved with Monica, walking on the high wire, his own form of hubris. Funny how 'Primary Colors' did so poorly at the box office - I felt it must be pretty near the mark. Very clever, excellent script. Clinton has presided over some pretty good times for America - the good times not necessarily of his own doing, but he has been a highly skilled incumbent lest we forget.
