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 It
all comes down to the Constitution in the final analysis, you know.
The years1787 and 1788 may seem to be a galaxy far, far away, but
they're back again like just yesterday. Well over two hundred years
ago, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison, in making the
case for the adoption of the Constitution, amplified on the "high
crimes and misdemeanors" vagueness of the impeachment provisions.
It was Hamilton, of course, who offered the most meat for those bones.
He stated that, "A well-constituted court for the trial of impeachments
is an object not more to be desired than difficult to be obtained...."
Watching the U.S. Representatives, and the U.S. Senators mentally
wrestling with their sudden responsibilities. Hamilton writes that
impeachment was intended, "for those offenses which proceed from
the misconduct of public men, or, in other words, from the abuse or
violation of some public trust. They are of a nature which may with
peculiar propriety be donominated POLITICAL, as they relate chiefly
to injuries done immediately to society itself." (Hamilton capitalized
that word, not me.) Some have construed that capitalization to indicate
"official misdeeds of a high order," not mere political
squabbles. The founders also addressed the issue of embarrassment
to the president, stating that, "the one would be amenable to
personal punishment and disgrace; the person of the other (the king)
is sacred and inviolable." They knew that this political process
would be painful. "Is it not designed as a method of NATIONAL
INQUEST into the conduct of public men?" he asked.
So, the
Congress has a green light to impeach and dismiss the President. They
are completely justified on Constitutional grounds and the President
has clearly conducted himself in a way to expose himself to the perils
of impeachment. Any Congressman who looks at this whole issue, should
come to the same conclusions. Impeachment is a political process and
the decision to impeach or not impeach is a political decision. So,
then, the question is:
Is the country (and the majority of Congress)
better off without Bill Clinton in office?
The answer to that question is "No."
The country will be thrust into a lengthy and consuming process
that will take on a life of its own with a predictable outcome (not
guilty) in the Senate, well after the elections in November, and
during the upcoming Presidential campaign in 1999. The Republicans
will look stupid because the country will be sick of all of this
by then, and the Democrats will desperately want to get away from
the Clinton Center Stage.
But once begun, impeachment cannot be undone, and its ineluctable,
tediously thorough, and ultimately universally damaging outcome
will have its day. Impeachment is clearly a lose-lose option and
no one in their right political mind is going to go for that. They
may censure, and condemn, but to keep him in office is the one thing
everyone should agree on.
So, President Bill is safe from everyone and everything, except
himself. Unfortunately, that is the problem. His constant apologizing
and bible quoting lately is like a mood swing that precursors more
problems and farther declining approvals to come. If he doesn't
start to buck it up soon, this could turn pathetic and then extremely
pathetic. So, look for a few things to happen soon: the flame of
impeachment will turned into the laser of censure; Clinton will
duck out of the public eye somewhat for a time, and reemerge, theoretically
reformed; and the remainder of his Presidency will be very clean,
if less aggressive.
There's your win-win.
Monica, however, will be one of the walking wounded. Her life has
been forever stamped with that famous misstatement: ..."that
woman, Miss Lewinsky."
Prediction for the year 2000? Democrats return with a new President
and new Vice President, bringing in a new era of fiscal prosperity,
social security reform, and public education. The campaign will
be the final thrust into the heart of the Republican bad guys in
Congress, as Newt and his gang disband and dissipate. A new era
of humanity and progressiveness will be ushered in with a much-stronger
President and a more focused, less power-hungry Congress. They work
together for the good of the nation.
The next Democratic Presidency will be one of the best in US history,
and that President will owe it all to Bill Clinton. You just watch
and remember, you heard it here first.
UPDATE NOTE: No one could have predicted that the Republicans would
actually lose and then steal the election, using the Supreme Court
and George's brother, Jeb, Governor of Florida where it all happened.
The reason the exist polls were wrong is that they were right. The
people stated how they THOUGHT they had voted, but in the end the
system cancelled their votes and would not allow a clean revote
or a thorough recount. Can you blame me for not seeing that coming?
But, I stand on my prediction of "the next Democratic Presidency."
See you next time?
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