To: StockMan who wrote (8254 ) 10/8/1998 8:10:00 PM From: Borzou Daragahi Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 67261
Hey, Bill himself admitted playing fast and free with the truth by making misleading statements to avoid embarrassment. Of course he lied. The big questions are: a) Did his statements in the Paula Jones deposition and/or the Ken Starr Grand Jury constitute perjury? b) Did his actions after the deposition constitute obstruction of justice? c) If a) and/or b) are true, do such actions constitute "high crimes and misdemeanors?" If they're smart, the Republicans will stay away from the complicated perjury issue because it involves lying about sex as opposed to a land deal or a slush fund or politically motivated break in. Plus the more serious crime of lying to a Grand Jury, which is not so clearcut as his alleged lies in the deposition, will be extremely hard to prove. The smart Republicans will focus on the obstruction of justice allegation. They have a pretty good circumstantial case against him. Check out all those phone records in the Starr investigation. As I said before, they don't appear to have a smoking gun--i.e. a letter, tape, or even a witness showing he tried to use the powers of his office to obstruct Paula Jones' lawyers or Kenneth Starr Chamber. But they don't need to meet courtroom evidentiary standards. All they need to do is build a case that can a) muster up enough support among Senate Democrats and b) silence enough swing voters or keep them home in November, and they've got their impeachment. Your belief--and the belief of other hearfelt Clinton loyalists--that he didn't lie ultimately means nothing unless the Democrats gain the majority in the house. Unfortunately for those of us who wish this whole thing would die away, that is unlikely.