You obviously need another history lesson.

President Clinton was a relatively good President (who was fortunate to preside over an era of peace and prosperity), but he was a sexual predator.  He has been accused of numerous sexual assaults -- not just affairs, but assaults.  In fact, he was sued while in office for sexual harassment -- by Paula Jones.  It was during that lawsuit that the President was deposed.  In his deposition under oath, under penalty of perjury, he was asked about sexual relations with other underlings (a common question in sexual harassment cases).  Although he had a moral and legal obligation to tell the truth, he lied.  He committed perjury.  As a lawyer, I often stare across the conference table at a witness effortlessly lying under oath.  At these moments, I am constantly reminded of the damage to the integrity of our society caused by President Clinton.  It is no big deal to lie under oath ... even the President did it....  But it gets worse.  Clinton attempted to get Lewinsky to perjurer herself and sign a false declaration to protect him.  Then when the Whitewater special counsel expanded its investigation into the allegation of perjury, Clinton lied to the grand jury and attempted to cover up his affair and prior crime of perjury.  He committed the further crimes of perjury (again) and obstruction of justice.  Getting the blowjob was not the crime.  The cover-up was the crime.

You can say that the sexual harassment lawsuit and the grand jury investigation were politically motivated.  They probably were, but who cares.  The President committed the crimes of perjury and obstruction of justice -- the political motivation of the prosecutor does not give you an excuse to commit perjury.  The Star Report was excruciating in its detail.  There is no real doubt that Clinton committed the crimes with which he was charged.  The only reason that he was not impeached was that the Senate did not want to remove him from office for these offenses.  There is not much precedent concerning the meaning of "high crimes and misdemeanors" as used in the constitution, but I am sure that perjury and obstruction of justice would fall into that category.  The Senate, with the facts presented to it, could have constitutionally removed him from office, but an impeachment is not necessarily a trial.  It is also a political process.  There was not enough votes to remove him from office, so a sexual predator and habitual liar was allowed to stay in office.

Overall, I am satisfied with how the impeachment played out.  I would have voted to remove him from office if I were a Senator, but I accept the findings of this constitutional process.  You should not feel shame about it.  Those who think it was all about a blowjob are uninformed and, frankly, unsophisticated.  If was a fascinating civics lesson, and our country came through this constitutional crisis with flying colors.  President Clinton only has himself to blame for the shame that he brought down on himself and his legacy... once again not for getting a blowjob, but for committing the crimes of perjury and obstruction of justice.


I'm not sure where your CIA conspiracy is going.  Are you saying that Catherine Harris was a CIA operative?  If you think I am going to say that nepotism in politics is a good thing, you are wrong.  But names are names, and in politics names can be powerful.  Explain to me how a lawyer from Arkansas -- whose only political experience is refraining from beating her sexually unfaithful husband with a rolling pin -- becomes a Senator from New York.  The name is the thing.  


Sappy is right!  Lennon's Imagine is your creed!?!  That would be fine in a ideal world -- it probably would be mine if I lived in that perfect world too.  But unfortunately, the world is an ugly place.  There are those who have and those who want.  Malevolence is everywhere.  Mexico is a sorry place.  I feel compassion for the poor Mexicans.  I wish their country was not so corrupt.  But if they continue to come here, they will destroy what I have built for myself and my children.  I want them stopped at the border, because the border means something.  If the US interferes in other countries (like Mexico) we are evil imperialists, but we are not compassionate if we enforce the border.  Catch-22.  What are we to do, allow Mexico to squander its rich natural resources with its corrupt government and impoverish its people and then have those who exploit the Mexican poor foist the problem of Mexican poverty on the US citizen?  The US needs its southern border, because Mexico is a bad place.  If they were more responsible, the border would not be such an issue, but reality impinges on the ideal.  This applies to all the rest of your hippie pinko world peace creed.

The US is hated by the world-wide liberal quasi-intelligencia, but that is because the US is the only super-power and the US has failed to live up to the ideal that the liberal quasi-intelligencia has created for their new world order.  But you are right.  The US will not be dominate forever.  China is on the rise.  The Middle East is disorganized but resurgent.  Putin is trying to consolidate power.  North Korean and Iran are seeking nuclear arsenals.  There are plenty of powers in this world angling for super-power status.  Which one of those pretenders do you think would be a benevolent super-power?  The American century will look like to good old days, when we are back in a cold war -- hopefully the US and EU will be on the same side!

P.S.  I voted for Perot.

P.P.S.  Did you read www.911myths.com ???  It will certainly correct much of your misinformation.

P.P.P.S.  My pediatrician noticed that Nic (my one year old) had a head that was too large.  So, he ordered a CAT scan.  The CAT scan revealed dilated ventricles in the brain --  an indication of hydrocephalus    http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/nsg/PNS/Hydrocephalus.html   Very serious stuff.  We were crushed.  Deformity and learning disabilities do not mix well with red hair -- you know what I am talking about.  Last Friday we met with the neurosurgeon.  He took one look at my head and said everything was normal.  His head was above the 98%, but so was mine...  And the slightly dilated ventricles are normal in children who have big heads in the family.    We are looking for a new pediatrician, and I am still looking for a hat that fits.

   

On Jun 27, 2006, at 6:03 AM, xxxx wrote:
Tom,
 
I have enjoyed our blogging and actually do respect your perspective.  And from your perspective, naturally you are quite pleased with most things American.  I come from a huge family (8 siblings), some are financially secure like yourself, most are solid middle-class homeowners, one is struggling, one is dead. 
 
My PERSPECTIVE does not reflect how things are for ME; rather, my outlook is quite sappy, John Lennon's "Imagine" is me in a nutshell. 
 
I'm not a bitter or frustrated ex-pat in Europe.
I absolutely love my life.  (I'm in the U.S. now, visiting my family for a month, btw)
 
I also love America.  Would I prefer the U.S. gov't to clean up it's own horrible crime and single-parent infested backyard before invading and warring on another country half way around the world?  Goddamn right. 
 
Am I worried about the rising populations of Muslims?  No, I'm worried about my huge, extended family experiencing crime and violence.  Is my family different from most others in suburban America?  No.  Here in Philly, 178 murders year-to-date, thus far. 
 
TWO interesting MORALITIES for you to consider:
 
1.  Bill Clinton's semen on Monica Lewinsky's dress was investigated by the U.S. government and it's political watchdog agencies much, much, much more thoroughly than the possible culpability of U.S. officials for 9/11.
 
It is also much easier for the American public at large to accept their Prez deceiving his wife than it is to accept their Prez deceiving themselves.  Think about that for a minute.
 
2.  THIS SEEMS PERFECTLY NORMAL TO AMERICA AT LARGE:
 
Following Watergate, the CIA was completely revamped.  The man responsible for it's re-structure was Bush Sr.  In 1976, he was rewarded with it's Directorship.  (this certainly infers Bush Sr. was employed by the CIA much earlier than 1974-75, too)
 
In 1980, Bush Sr. becomes VP for two terms.
In 1988, Bush Sr. becomes Prez.
In 1992, Bush Sr. loses to Clinton, who later almost gets impeached over a blowjob.    
 
In 1998, the CIA unveils it's brand new complex in Washington, and the building is NAMED after Bush Sr., um, who is still ALIVE....
 
In 2000, the national prez election hinges on 1 state and it's murky, highly controversial voting "procedures".  The state's Governor is Bush Sr.'s SON, and it's results secure the presidency for Bush Sr.'s other SON.
 
It's safe to say Bush Sr. is the "Godfather" of the modern-day Central Intelligence Agency, perhaps the world's (certainly America's) most sophisticated covert organization.
 
Bush Sr.'s son has now served two terms as Prez, basically mirroring every aspect of his father's agenda during Pop's turn in the White House. 
 
Mr. Ferlauto, THIS SEEMS PERFECTLY NORMAL TO AMERICA AT LARGE.
 
Notice that I did not even mention IRAQ or 9/11  during this 1975-2006 Bush Sr. chronology?
 
Do you really expect me to to have a deep sense of pride and respect for my country and what has transpired in it over the past 8-9 years, or since the blowjob? 
 
No fucking way, Tom.
 
I'm not a sheep.
 
DR