Burnt Orange Report

If the choices of leaders reflects the moral values of congressmen - which it does - what does it mean when the entire democratic leadership walks over the White House to stand beside the impeached Bill Clinton who obstructed justice, commited perjury and was subsequently disbarred for these very offenses?

The impoeachmenty fiasco shows much more about the moral failings of the forces behind the impeachment than the person ipeached. Historians have universally condemned the "Radical Republicans" who impeached Andrew Johnson as being motivated by partisan interests and not the legitimate goals of preserving the Republic in the face of an act against the State. Ditto for the "Radical Republicans" who impeached Clinton.

The Clinton impeachment speaks volumes more about those that chose to violate our constitutional form of government with a coup in the name of preserving the constutional order. The matter at hand was a personal concern of the parties involved, not a national concern.

If the choices of leaders reflects the moral values of congressmen - which it does - what does it mean when the entire democratic leadership walks over the White House to stand beside the impeached Bill Clinton who obstructed justice, commited perjury and was subsequently disbarred for these very offenses?

Well, it says something about them.

The more important question is this: Why is what went on during the impeachment proceedings against Bill Clinton relevant to Ronnie Earle's investigation into DeLay's corruption?

Answer: It makes a catchy anecdote but it doesn't make DeLay or the members of the Republican House Caucus who laid down for him any less culpable in vetting illegal behavior for their leadership.

Wow. Republicans really will try to wave the Clinton Cape in front of your face over anything, won't they?

So your point is Tom DeLay is no better than Bill Clinton?

My point is only that forced resignations or other serious consequences should not follow indictment, but only conviction. And now, of course, we know that Delay was not even indicted.

Clinton did indeed undermine the course of justice, and while he was not convicted - for strictly political reasons - he was subsequently disbarred, for having committed perjury and obstructing justice.

The "Delay Rule" will serve to thwart politically motivated prosecutions of officeholders in either party, as there will be no consequence unless the individual is actually convicted. This is as it should be.