Clinton Calls Impeachment Egregious Abuse

Associated Press ^ | November 11, 2005 | FRANK ELTMAN

[Senator Goldwater]

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Former president Bill Clinton called Congress' impeachment of him an "egregious" abuse of the Constitution and challenged those who say history will judge him poorly because of his White House tryst with Monica Lewinsky.

Speaking at an academic conference examining his presidency here Thursday, Clinton challenged historian Douglas Brinkley's comments in a newspaper interview that Clinton would be deemed a great president were it not for his impeachment.

"I completely disagree with that," Clinton said in his speech at Hofstra University. "You can agree with that statement, but only if you think impeachment was justified. Otherwise, it was an egregious abuse of the Constitution and law and history of our country."

Clinton was acquitted by the Senate of perjury and obstruction of justice at his 1999 impeachment trial, which he argued was not about what he called his "misconduct."

"Now if you want to hold it against me that I did something wrong, that's a fair deal," he said. "If you do that, then you have a whole lot of other questions, which is how many other presidents do you have to downgrade and what are you going to do with all those Republican congressmen, you know, that had problems?"

Clinton touted what he called the achievements of his eight-year presidency, from Middle East peace initiatives to turning around the U.S. economy.

His remarks were cheered loudly by the audience.

Clinton said his administration's failures included its slowness to act to halt the genocide in Rwanda and the decision to allow federal agents to raid a cult leader's compound in Waco, Texas. Nearly 80 cult followers died in a fire during the 1993 confrontation.

"We should have waited them out," he said.

The presidential conference is the 11th to be held at Hofstra; the first in 1982 examined the presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

[inquest]

Better put some ice on it.

[Senator Goldwater]

"Clinton challenged historian Douglas Brinkley's comments in a newspaper interview that Clinton would be deemed a great president were it not for his impeachment."

I'd challenge Doug Brinkley's assertion that Clinton was a great president regardless of impeachment.

[ncountylee]

Still a pig's ear, or worse.

[tioga]

Former president Bill Clinton called Congress' impeachment of him an "egregious" abuse of the Constitution

I call it NOT ENOUGH. Put some ice on it bubba.

[Coldwater Creek]

Bill Clinton can thank TRENT LOTT that he was not put out of the White House before his term was up!!!!!!!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Blame it on the "devil with the blue dress..."

[RichInOC]

He would have been a crap president even if he'd never been impeached.

[pinz-n-needlez]

Clinton said his administration's failures included its slowness to act to halt the genocide in Rwanda and the decision to allow federal agents to raid a cult leader's compound in Waco, Texas. Nearly 80 cult followers died in a fire during the 1993 confrontation. "We should have waited them out," he said.

They were just minding their own business in the White House when those bad federal agents demanded that they be allowed to burn those children to death??? Yeah, right.

May you live a long life full of pain and madness, Bill Clinton. Following your wife's humiliating ejection from American politics.

Pinz

[Publius6961]

Clinton said in his speech at Hofstra University. "You can agree with that statement, but only if you think impeachment was justified. Otherwise, it...

There are hundreds of thousands of felons across the U.S. who can mount the identical argument, if they only had a similar snake-oil salesman's gift of gab...

[Senator Goldwater]

Clinton: "What are you going to do with all those Republican congressmen, you know, that had problems?"

Did any of them attempt to subvert a federal civil rights case with perjury and subornation of perjury?

You did, which is why history will record you are only one of two presidents ever tagged with such ignominy.

[TheCrusader]

""If you do that, then you have a whole lot of other questions, which is how many other presidents do you have to downgrade and what are you going to do with all those Republican congressmen, you know, that had problems?"

Still bitter, still unrepentent, still blaming other's for his problems, still unable to accept responsibility for his disgraceful behavior. Still pointing to other men's sins. The man will never get it.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Clinton is a limp-wristed narcissist.

He is a weakling pervert con-artist.

All the great attributes of a Democrat.....

Jimmy Carter wannabe.....

[Unmarked Package]

For time and all eternity, Bill Clinton will be remembered as the punch line for hundreds, if not thousands, of dirty jokes. Choke on it, Bubba.

[Rummyfan]

Speaking at an academic conference examining his presidency here Thursday, Clinton challenged historian Douglas Brinkley's comments in a newspaper interview that Clinton would be deemed a great president were it not for his impeachment.

Yeah, and the Titanic was a marvel of marine engineering until they rammed it into an iceberg!

Clinton's presidency will be always and forever associated with his impeachment, and I take issue with the statement that he would have been deemed a great president. He did NOTHING!

[Steamburg]

I too disagree with Brinkley. Clinton would be an unmemorable President were it not for his impeachment. He showed that with a willing cast of accomplices that you can make a pig look pretty good for a time. In the cold light of history when presidential accomplishments are reduced to a few paragraphs, there won't be room for much else. Of course lists of his failures like Waco, and the Gonzales affair don't count for much either. Does anyone recall an attorney general from say the Truman Administration? In the long run Presidents are judged on their deeds not their surrogates. Looks like a cold cold legacy.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

and challenged those who say history will judge him poorly because of his White House tryst with Monica Lewinsky.

Oh, Willie, there's a lot more than that to cause history to judge you poorly.

[Publius6961]

how many other presidents do you have to downgrade and what are you going to do with all those Republican congressmen, you know, that had problems?"

What are we going to do?

Thank them all for the good grace, the class, the lack of trailer park mentality, and strength of character displayed by sliding into obscurity and not adding insult to injury by insisting on remaining in the public spotlight.

[Steamburg]

It is very important to note that Clinton chose to talk about his impeachment rather that his "accomplishments". Were there any?