[walden]

"I will never trust our leaders until I see a real investigation into Vince Foster's death."

Wanna know what I believe? I believe that the Clinton impeachment was a brokered deal between Democrats and Republicans-- the guy would be impeached to discredit him, but not removed because everyone felt like that would de-stabilize the country too much, and embolden our enemies, maybe putting the country at risk for something like 9/11. The other part of the deal was that Clinton's power would be neutralized-- they crippled him, in fact. Gore is no choir-boy, but Clinton is DIRTY (like selling U.S. secrets, selling out the U.S. for cash, etc.)

Anyway, that's my take on it, and truthfully, I'm not sure that the judgment to do this was such a bad idea. I just hope I live long enough for the full truth to come out (how long is that, anyway? Like, the FOIA guidelines?

[ex-Texan]

I think you are absolutely correct about a brokered Clinton impeachment. Another factor -- it would have made Al Gore president. That was another intolerable result.

[UnChained]

Anyway, that's my take on it, and truthfully, I'm not sure that the judgment to do this was such a bad idea. I just hope I live long enough for the full truth to come out (how long is that, anyway? Like, the FOIA guidelines?

I disagree. The end doesn't justify the means.

There things that are sacred.

They are worth more than preserving our image in world opinion. If truth and justice don't matter in the USA then what are we defending that's more valuable?

[litany_of_lies]

The other part of the deal was that Clinton's power would be neutralized.

Maybe that was part of "the deal"--but when did it actually happen?

Also, IMHO, given the news of the past few months and the way he acted before and during the Senate "trial," I believe Trent Lott was blackmailed with the promise that every borderline racist statement he ever made, all the the way back to college, would be exposed. He caved.

Nothing else I have heard can explain his "don't bring that stuff around here" attitude towards the House managers and David Schippers.

[mombonn]

I'm not sure that the judgment to do this was such a bad idea.

Had your scenario played out, buddah bore would be POTUS. No thanks. As much as I would have loved to see clintbilly removed, I also know that he'd have become the consummate martyr.

We would have been cursed by the Gore presidency, followed by the hillary! presidency. The country would not have survived.

[Sicvee]

I think your take on the impeachment makes sense. What I can't understand is why the Democrats including Gore didn't throw Clinton over like the Republicans threw over their guys (Lott, Livingston, Packwood, Nixon). Gore would have easily won reelection in 2000, unless he pardoned Clinton. In the long run, sticking with Clinton was suicide for the Dems. The FBI files must have had something to do with it.
One fallout of impeachment was the Republicans losing the Senate. Slade Gorton, for one, would have been reelected if conservatives hadn't deserted him over his role in the impeachment. And Lott's recent downfall is more due to his role in the impeachment than his gaffes on segregation.