THE FEDERALIST® DIGEST
The Internet's Conservative Journal of Record
In the BIG news this week, paving the way for his
apocalyptic ''GloBullGore 2000'' global warming campaign
theme, Mr. Gore signed us up for the Kyoto Treaty. This
treaty is based on faulty science, and represents Mr. Gore's
most reckless folly to date. It is expected to increase
American energy prices and eventually put nearly 2 million
Americans out of work.
Bill Clinton is back in the saddle. He is claiming
resurrection after last week's election and the resignation
of Newt Gingrich. ''The American people sent us a message
that would break the eardrums of anybody who was listening,''
he says. We suppose he means they yelled, ''STATUS QUO''!
Mr. Clinton added, ''They want their business tended to. They
want people and their issues taken care of.'' This comment
betrays the core of Clinton Sociocratic doctrine --
convincing the public that government should be ''tending to''
and ''taking care of their business.'' Find that one in the
Constitution.
Mr. Al Gore came out hiding with this original observation:
''We heard what the American people said, and what they said
was return to the people's business.'' And the ''people's
business,'' according to Mr. Gore? Get ready for a rollout
of all the old Clintonista programs and strategies --
sporting fresh paint -- to further centralize government
control and influence of every aspect of the private sector.
In his effort to ''heal'' his family, Mr. Clinton will start
with Ms. Rodham-Clinton's favorite target, health care. And
they will call it a ''bill of rights.'' After all, what
American can oppose a ''bill of rights''?
Speaking of a ''bill of rights,'' Mr. Clinton said this week,
''We are one step closer to shutting them down,'' referring to
gun shows as ''illegal arms bazaars for criminals and gun
traffickers.'' He is preparing one of his infamous ''executive
orders,'' which bypass Congress entirely, to limit gun sales
at the shows.
It is interesting to note that Mr. Clinton's most notable
executive order, which concerned ''federalism,'' ironically
turned the Founders' notion of the federal government's role
on end. And now he cites new Florida legislation, which
gives the state's counties authority to require a waiting
period for gun show purchases, as justification for his
proposed ''gun grab'' executive order.
In an example of classical chameleon Clintonese, he is
wrapping his central government agenda in the cloak of state
legislation, thus camouflaging it and obfuscating its
violation of federalism and our Constitutional Bill of
Rights. The legislatures of the several states are
precisely where such matters as gun-purchase ''waiting
periods'' belong, not in ''executive orders.'' Gun shows are
attended by no less than 5 million people annually, but
having visited a few, we don't think Mr. Clinton's proposal
risks offending any of his ''constituents.''
Executive orders aside, FBI and Justice Department lawyers
called on Mr. Clinton in connection with his orchestration
of a $44 million DNC ''issues'' advertising campaign designed
-- illegally -- to promote his own 1996 presidential bid. In
another textbook example of how to use political cutouts,
Mr. Clinton argued that his lawyers told him his actions
were legal and claimed, thus, the Justice Department can't
prove ''intent'' to break the law. This was the ninth time
Mr. Clinton has been interviewed as a target or witness in a
criminal or civil investigation since becoming president.
On the road to impeachment...
Judiciary Committee Chairman Henry Hyde says, ''I see us
proceeding with our hearings, getting a bill of impeachment
on the table...and then...asking the speaker to call back
the [full House] for a vote. ... I really believe that no
man is above the law. ... I think we have a constitutional
duty to perform under the law...and we're going to perform
it.'' Note to Mr. Hyde: Stay the course. We are a
''republic,'' not merely a ''democracy.'' Get an impeachment
bill to the floor. Then let House members explain how they
voted, and why, to their constituents.
Senator Patrick Moynihan, arguably the most respected and
respectable living Democrat, noted that lying to the
American people is an impeachable offense: ''We have a
Constitution. Let's live by it.''
Sen. Arlen Specter objected, saying, ''The public interest
would be better served by leaving the president in office
than by distracting the nation with impeachment for much of
his remaining term.'' Note to Mr. Specter: See ''Note to Mr.
Hyde.''
In an effort to kill the impeachment inquiry in committee
before it reaches a floor vote, 40 GOP moderates have
indicated (before the first word of testimony in the case)
they will not vote to send the case to the Senate. Note to
Republican moderates: See ''Note to Mr. Specter.''
Rep. Bob Livingston did not get his campaign for Speaker of
the House off to a good start. Of impeachment and polls, Mr.
Livingston says, ''I think that the American people have
certainly indicated in the polls that they don't see it as
an impeachable or dismissible offense, and that would have
to be considered in the political arena.'' Note to Mr.
Livingston: See ''Note to Republican moderates.''
''Bob's a pragmatist,'' said Rep. Billy Tauzin, one of Mr.
Livingston's lieutenants. ''I think he's going to want to
work through things as quickly as possible. You're not going
to see Bob moralizing on the issue or letting the issue
divide the House.'' Note to Mr. Tauzin: See today's Second
Opinion on ''political pragmatists.''
In other impeachment news, Kenneth Starr's testimony before
Congress is scheduled to begin November 19th. Additionally,
the Supreme Court rejected Mr. Clinton's claims of attorney-
client privilege with government lawyers, and refused to
shield Secret Service agents from providing grand jury
testimony.
The Clintonista beneficiaries are producing a succession of
anti-impeachment petitions. First, it was a petition from
the cultural elite. Next, it was a petition from the
academic elite. Now, it's a petition from the legal elite.
''There's nothing official about his misconduct,'' argues
University of Texas law professor Douglas Laycock. Next
week, a petition from the feminista elite?
>From the ''Friend-of-Bill'' chronicles...
Long-time Arkansas FoB Charlie Trie's name joined the
growing list of Clinton crony indictments related to
campaign fundraising. FoB Johnny Chung's sentencing was
postponed while a federal judge reviews a letter to the
court from the Democratic National Committee alleging that
it was ''victimized'' by Mr. Chung's conduct. Meanwhile, Mr.
Clinton was meeting with exiled Tibetan spiritual leader,
the Dalai Lama, at the White House. No word on how much the
Lama contributed to the DNC for the visit, but he was not
invited to stay in the Lincoln Bedroom.
On the political front...
Bob Dole checked in on the election: ''We have reason to be
concerned [about last week's elections].'' Thanks for that
insight, Mr. Bob. He added that he's glad to see that
Gingrich put the Republican Party before his own interests.
If only Mr. Gingrich could have said the same thing about
Mr. Dole in 1996!
And, from the ''How To Get Elected'' Department, add the ''Cash-
Back'' strategy! Governor-elect Jesse ''The Calculator''
Ventura is asking that every man, woman and child in America
send him $16 so he can keep his campaign promise to
Minnesotans. Seems candidate Ventura told the electorate
that if they would send his campaign $50, if elected he
would return the $4 billion surplus in state reserves to
Minnesota citizens. That worked out to about $1000 for
every man, woman and child in the state. Problem is,
Minnesota comptrollers use the federal definition of
''surplus.'' In other words, there is not one. Mail your
cash and checks to....
Reality check...
Mr. Clinton and his media kept the attack on Matthew
Shepard, a homosexual college student killed in Wyoming, on
the front pages for almost two weeks. Mr. Shepard became
the ''poster-boy'' for Mr. Clinton's so-called ''anti-hate''
legislation. ''They don't care about Matthew Shepard. They
care only that he was gay. They have made his murder their
cause only because his homosexuality put him in a class of
preferred victims...,'' says Pat Buchanan. But, there has
been no such outrage about a Dubuque, Iowa, case in which an
11-year-old boy is now HIV positive after being sexually
abused over a period of months by homosexual Robert
Bradfield. Perhaps this calls for a ''class of preferred
perpetrators.''
>From the halls of justice on the right...
The Supreme Court left intact a Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
tuition vouchers program providing up to $5,000 a year per
child in financial assistance to poor families, even if
parents choose religious-based education for their children.
Expect the debate on such vouchers to enjoy well-deserved
renewed momentum.
From the Department of Military Readiness...
On Wednesday, we took time to remember, honor and pray for
all those veterans who have served, and who continue to
serve our nation with honor and dignity. We often talk of
''freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution,'' but that great
founding document only speaks of freedom. It is guaranteed
by those who in vigilance and battle sustain it. On the
frontlines are American veterans.
Considering their sacrifice, there is nothing more
disgraceful than the contempt shown for these patriots by
their Commander-in-Chief. Military readiness is dangerously
low, morale has suffered, and the standing of military
veterans has greatly diminished from that under Presidents
Reagan and Bush. Mr. Clinton, of course, used Veterans Day
as a photo-op to say a few words about ''honor'' and to
release $1.1 billion for additional military spending.
In July, the service chiefs indicated that $15 billion is
the minimum additional outlay necessary to stem the
deterioration of military readiness. Mr. Clinton said
Wednesday, ''Our challenge is to strike a balance between
providing sufficient resources for military readiness while
maintaining fiscal discipline and appropriate funding levels
for other investments necessary to sustain our economy.'' Our
staff cryptologist decoded that comment, and it reads, ''I
long for the good old days of draft-dodging and protesting
against America on foreign soil.''
It's the foreign policy stupid...
For now-countless time, Iraq has declared, ''There will be no
cooperation [with U.N. weapons inspectors] before Iraq's
demands are met.'' Mr. Clinton has played enough ''cat and
mouse'' with Saddam, and is now deploying a second aircraft
carrier and a Marine amphibious group within striking
distance of Iraq.
Defense Secretary William Cohen warned that U.S. credibility
is on the line, apparently a recent administration
revelation. Mr. Cohen said, ''I think that we've all
indicated that time is running out on this, that it can't go
on forever....'' Correction, Mr. Cohen, you've ''all
indicated'' that it can go on forever and that time never
runs out. At this point, despite the clashing of swords and
perhaps dropping of bombs, little is likely to change. Note
to military strategists: Energy equals the speed of light
squared! Just do it!
>From the frontiers of science...
Senator John Glenn is back. Scientists estimate he aged nine
days while on his mission, but took years off his personal
integrity. ''Glenn is a reminder that it may be easier to put
your life on the line in a rare moment of courage as a
humble astronaut than it is to resist the day-to-day
temptations that come to those in positions of power,'' says
Jane Chastain. He is also a reminder of how Democrats
handle debt. Awaiting his return was notice that his unpaid
debt from his 1984 ''flash-in-the-pan'' presidential campaign,
interest accruing, now exceeds $3 million. He has
steadfastly refused to settle the debt, though his recent
financial records indicate a net worth in excess of $10
million. He owns houses in Vail, Colorado, suburban
Washington, a condominium in Columbus, Ohio, and a boat and
a plane to get to them.
In other space news, there are serious questions about
whether some of the thousands of communication satellites
and other space hardware will survive next week's incoming
trail of comet debris. This tide of galactic litter melted
off comet Temple-Tuttle when it passed close to the sun last
February and is expected to ''sandblast'' satellites on
Tuesday, Nov. 17th. William Ailor of Aerospace Corp. notes,
''This meteoroid storm will be the largest such threat ever
experienced by our critical orbiting satellite
constellations.'' The dust particles will have a velocity of
200 miles per second.
And last, DNA experts now say the father of Eston Hemings,
the last son of Thomas Jefferson's slave Sally Hemings,
could have been the president's brother, Randolph. Hearing
that news, we expect Mr. Clinton's legal team to suggest
that DNA evidence, collected from the clothing of White
House intern Monica Lewinsky, might have belonged to the
president's brother, Roger.
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