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Politics : Bill Clinton Scandal - SANITY CHECK -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: MulhollandDrive who wrote (3675)	9/18/1998 5:07:00 PM
From: dougjn	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 67261

Betty, you are right, I do not know what is on the tape. I do not know exactly how the prosecutors conducted themselves. What I do know is what could have been, and the absolute lack of any guarantees of fairness or a process to provide for it. Some of what you say about the President's background as a lawyer who has been through depositions is a mitigating factor, but I dare say he had never been through a grand jury proceeding before. In any event, the point is the grand jury process is not fair. It is not designed to be. It is designed to make the worst case and see if that is enough to bring a trial. I believe in fair processes. This is not a fair process. It is entirely possible the President is even helped by this. Who knows? What I do strongly believe is that it is not a fair process. And I really imagine if it was being used against say Reagan, for some different sort of alleged offense that you found a lot less morally objectionable, say perhaps Iran-Contra, you would be very upset at the unfairness. ANd you know what? I would still think it was most unfair and say so. (Actually, I voted for Reagan, but even if I hadn't, same result.) Doug

To: MulhollandDrive who wrote (3675)	9/18/1998 5:58:00 PM
From: dougjn	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 67261

While I think the wholesale release of raw grand jury evidence, worst stuff for the President first, is most unfair, here is what I think will be the actually effect. It will tend to throw some more newspaper editorial pages over the edge and demanding resignation or impeachment. It will only affect the public's view a little bit, if at all. And it will also absolutely inoculate the public against any further erosion of support after the current info has sunk in as much as its going to, say by the end of next week. Because the worst will be out. And further retelling of the worst will not impress. I think there will be a widespread view that there's nothing new here. We know the relevant outlines of this already. And the public will refuse to have its face rubbed in the dirt about it. Go away, will be the mood. The one wildcard is that video tape. People will be unable to avoid the evening news excerpts from that, at least. The media will as always be drawn to the most sensational moments, at least if they are moments such as great anger, rather than really explicit sexual detail. While there is also some media ideal of balance, neither the limitations of time, nor the imperatives of ratings will push the press towards running the long minutes of relentless, needling, intrusive and demeaning questioning, say. The TV media may mention it, and show a very brief example, but it will not convey the emotional impact. A furious outburst will be very emotionally powerful, however. And frequently replayed. That is the inherent danger, and unfairness, of this video grand jury testimony release. Very few people are going to sit through 4 hours of testimony, even though it may be broadcast on some channels. Doug

To: MulhollandDrive who wrote (3675)	9/18/1998 10:53:00 PM
From: jlallen	Respond to of 67261

Clinton's GJ testimony was unlike a regular GJ. Clinton was allowed to have his lawyer present with him. Also, unlike a usual grand jury proceeding, since the subpoena had been withdrawn he was not required to either answer questions or plead the fifth. However, I think releasing the tape is a mistake. We all know he's a liar, perjurer, etc. I don't think the tape adds anything. Congress needs to make the decision as to whether he should be impeached. Releasing the tapes plays into the notion that public opinion has some role in a Constitutional process. It does not and should be avoided. JLA