The ultimate outcome of the recent impeachment trial of William Jefferson Clinton was never really in doubt. It was a forgone conclusion the scurrilous Senate could not and would not find 67 members to obey the instructions of Chief Justice Rehnquist.
The surprises were both interesting and illustrative. The Democrats closed ranks and refused to acknowledge facts which contradicted their preconceived opinions and prejudices. The Republicans (who seem intent on following the Whigs into extinction) demonstrated both yin and yang. We witnessed the extreme courage and conviction of House manager James Rogan, and the reasoned eloquence of Henry Hyde. Asa Hutchinson's tenacity and Lindsay Graham's focus were high points in an otherwise sham exercise.
I have been saying for years we must hold our elected representatives accountable for both what they do, and what they don't do. Republicans, Libertarians, and those who revere the Constitution and the Bill of Rights need to watch, listen, and react to what follows this national disgrace from the following: Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, John Chafee, James Jeffords, Arlen Specter, John Warner, Fred Thompson, Richard Shelby, Slade Gorton, and Ted Stevens. The conduct of these GOP cowards mirrors that of the president they refused to hold accountable.
A review of the hypocrisy of the Democrats would require volumes to delineate. However, I found a perverse amusement in the language now embraced by Democrats seeking to censure the man they violated a sacred oath to protect. The new standard for presidential conduct permits the president to be "shameless, a liar, immoral, disgusting, deplorable, reckless, egregious, reprehensible and indefensible." Gee, in the wake of this newly established standard, those previously noted GOP senators may well be "Presidential" in their conduct.
After the Senate gave Billy Jeff a pass on both articles of impeachment, he went before the cameras soberly biting his lip and said, "I want to say again to the American people how profoundly sorry I am for what I said and did to trigger these events, and the great burden they have imposed on the Congress and on the American people." Shortly thereafter, I received a call from a listener to my radio talk show who responded "Apology not accepted ... you bastard."
WorldNetDaily posted a recent Capitol Hill Blue online story which said "Despite official denials, the Clinton White House has collected new dossiers, complete with financial records, FBI investigative information and IRS reports on House impeachment managers and other perceived enemies of the administration, Capitol Hill Blue has learned.
"It's payback time and payback will be a bitch," one White House aide said Thursday. "This won't be a gloat-free zone. It will be a 'get even' zone."
Reportedly, some White House aides are concerned the president's unbridled lust for revenge will be so great it will create a new scandal (or scandals) and further charges of abuse of power. However, White House flack Joe Lockhart says that's "crazy." It would be "dumb" for the White House to start a vendetta. Sure Joe, and:
By the way ... regarding those FBI and IRS files ... according to Capitol Hill Blue, "I've seen FBI and IRS files on members of Congress, complete dossiers on reporters and more," one worried aide admitted. "This is really scary."
Multiple sources are reporting that notwithstanding the official protestations to the contrary, the president is major league p.o.-ed. "The president doesn't feel any remorse over what has happened," one aide said, "but he is angry ... very, very angry."
In the past, when the man was annoyed at critics, he'd sick Sid Vicious on them. Sidney Blumenthal, ad hoc propaganda czar of the evil empire. I have a parting question about Sid and his newfound co-conspirators in the United States Senate.
Despite all the posturing bovine scatological obfuscation, despite the hollow claims of the grandeur and stateliness, of the once hallowed halls of Congress, what is the deal with the Blumenthal blunder?
Blumenthal testifies before the United States Senate (under oath) to a material fact. Subsequent to his testimony, no less than three affidavits are signed contradicting his testimony. The House managers request an inquiry of the Blumenthal perjury/contempt of Congress. However, the gutless, spineless, testosterone-challenged Senate isn't interested. Let someone else deal with that ... anyone, anywhere, other than the U.S. Senate. The senators have already demonstrated their malfeasance. They just want this chapter over, so they can focus on drafting their revisionist versions of history and hopefully create the illusion of plausible deniability sufficient to get them re-elected.
The impeachment process is over, but not done. It will be a central theme in the upcoming 2000 elections.
John
Milton, in his epic poem Paradise Lost wrote,
"And
am I now upbraided as the cause
Of
thy transgressing? Not enough sever,
It
seems, in thy restraint! What could I more?
I
warned thee, I admonished thee, foretold
The
danger, and the lurking enemy
That
lay in wait ..."