"Captain's Log: Earth time: 9/18/1998. Intelligent life nonexistent here on Earth. Strongest and most powerful nation on the planet now tearing it's self apart over symantics. Beam me up now and fly us as far away as possible!"

Democracy? Republic? Well, which is it? What "theme" do we actually abide by? Neither actually. Since Democracy requires direct representation of the people, we may have indirect representation with a Republic. But that seems rather thin since this so-called republic needs to heed the will of the people. Let's add an adjective descibing this alledged republic. Let's try Capitalist Republic since our indirect representation cannot make a move without a financial "contribution". Years before we would call such contributions bribes. That's been solved with new laws allowing soft money or legal bribes, to the rest of us.
Our current political system has now run amok. It happens every 20 years or so to keep the Constitution viable and the people clarified with what the government can and cannot do to us and it's self.
At present, we have President Bill Clinton under threat of impeachment stemming from his misuse of office, allegedly for perjury under oath, obstruction of justice and witness tampering. But what makes this issue most pernicious is that it stems from the basic elements of sex. And it because of their sexual escapades, Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky must now lay their entire sexual lives into public scrutiny. The result of course, is ruined lives, both political and personal and a nauseous public.
As for Clinton, he now fights for his political life pending Congression action based on Ken Starr's one-sided report. Ok. Time to stop picking on that conemptable worm, Ken Starr. It won't do any good. As unfair or unfair as the report is, Starr has just hit Billy boy with an upper cut causing his knees to buckle. Billy boy is on the ropes. Billy boy is down.

The Congress vs. The American People
At present, Congressional Judiciary Committee decides on whether to draw up articles of impeachment upon Bill Clinton where he will then be tried in the United States Senate...If the House decides on that. The committee could also censure Clinton, though the Constitution makes no mention of censuring a sitting American President. It may be all or nothing for the House and that looks like bad news all the way around. The American people seem to still want their president, reguardless of the Starr Report. Defying the will of the people requires a firm resolve...or a hollow head.
What's tough going in the House is that political lines have polarized. There is no middle ground and that is what our founders counted on to iron out differences. Compromise has evaporated with congressional democrats fighting for their political futures, within and without the party. Gephart, who has never been been friends with Clinton, has all but abandonded Clinton. It's tough to be a member in a political party whose leader is less than honest. Ship jumping has become an everyday occurrence within the Democratic party with few to support the President in his hour of need.
On the GOP side we have the expected "Burn 'em" chant, but what is so strange here is that the American public is not calling for Impeachment. It calls for censure which may not even be possible. House Republicans have finally gotten what they want, but have run into a stumbling block...their American constituents. (R) Bill McCullen wants Clinton to sizzle alive by releasing every shred of Clinton's nastyness. But how can this be? Doesn't Congress represent the American People? And not the other way around?
Fortunately, on November 3, the people will have their way and because of it's divisibility, it's inability to find common ground, that one political party will pay a massive toll.

The Far, Far Right
If ever there was an enemy force to be reckoned with it is the Conservative Right-wing of America. Sprung from the early eastern-upper crust of America, this self-righteous ilk has taken it upon it's self to condemn every and all offenders of it's puritanical credo while pulling in hefty, tax-exempt and non-disclosed profits from it's retailing of Biblical passages. This force has LOTS of money and HATES Bill Clinton with a passion.
Conveniently, the Christian Coalition held it's yearly Judge-In. "Congress should impeach Bill Clinton because resignation is too good for a president who mocked, demeaned, belittled and lied to America," Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson said Friday. "While resignation might be easier for America, it's not best for America,'' Robertson told 3,000 religious activists. Some waved signs that read, "Impeach Clinton.''
Forgive Clinton? Sure, but, impeachment is the answer, Robertson claims. Robertson called for a cleansing of America. Hitler thought the same of the Jews within Germany. A little too far right? Sorry about that. I couldn't resist.
"We don't have a constitutional crises, we have a Clinton Crises", Trent Lott stated. Herr Dan Quayle called for the immediate and bloodiest impeachment that the human body could withstand. Afterwhich, the Coalition saluted one another, clicked it's heels, adjourned and dug in for the elections.
Like the Mary Magdalene story, Clinton is being hauled out by the Zealots like a modern harlot, exposing shameful sexual indiscrepencies, social character flaws and moral degeneration on every medium-From the Internet to the men's room wall. Around the accused are the people ready to launch their stones. But only one-third of the crowd are currently holding stones. Lauchtime is delayed until they can find more stoneholders. But Clinton will be stoned. ``They said they will take care of it and I trust them to do it,'' said William Hollis of Beltsville, Md. '' The president is not going to stay in office.''
But unlike the famed Bible story, there is no Jesus here to step out and say, "Let he (she-Jesus wasn't politically correct) who is without sin cast the first stone." Or is there?

The Media
On September 16, Salon Internet Publication released information pertaining to Henry Hyde's affair from 30 years ago, prompting Tom DeLay to call for an FBI investigation into Whitehouse smears. Though the White House denies this, it appears the President could use all the friends he can get on the House Judiciary Committee. Why make matters worse? This character assassination was shot from a different gun...Salon Internet Magazine.
Will every news organization with every story be investigated by the FBI? Possibly. And that's what makes this scenario so scary. The first amendment is now in peril. When the first amendment is threatened, we may have to take another look at what exactly what we're doing and why we're doing it.
Was this justified? Probably not. Nether was Clinton's investigation, for that matter. What is sad is that our political system has now been reduced to digging up dirt, going through trash cans trying to find out and publicize the absolute worst we can find about our leaders and their enemies.
Of course these impeachment hearings were suppose to be s purely Bipartisan effort, it has turned into a 3-ringed circus where all the clowns get into a fight, blow themselves up and get blood and guts all over the audience. Do we blame the media? Sure. So far, we find no networks refusing to air President Clinton's testimony. In fact, we can count on all the the dirt that's fit to print available on every network, satellite broadcast and publication.
What exactly does the media have to lose by not giving this eqaul coverage? Ratings. Money. Advertising. It is a competitive field and if they don't get the red-raw meat for the rich-green paper, than the other guys will. It's survival of the fittest in the media arena and the politicians should not fly off the handle when Fox networks decide to run a story catching one of them in a "salacious" situation. As with Clinton, it's nothing personal. It's just their job. They too, slant, like us, giving us perspective and points of views we have not been expose to before. The media is truly the eyes of the nation.

The President's Character
Bill Clinton appears to be stuck between a rock and a hard place - Himself and The Republication Judiciary Committee. Can we imagine a man or woman who does a wonderful job in public office and lie about one thing and one thing only? Can we live with a President who can be honest with everything except is sex life? Can we trust a man who tells us the facts about every realm of his presidential duties, but cannot be honest with his personal life?
How do we know we can trust him on the other issues? Well, those things have come true. Such products of the Clinton legacy include lower inflation, higher employment, stronger GNP and a world respect that reflects that of a super power. Not too bad. Can we live without the personal honesty thing? Sure. I could. But...
Looking at the worst psychological scenarios, we see a President so addicted to sex that he will risk a job he has worked so hard for all his life, the highest office in the land. Can we accept this reckless and high-risk behavior in the hands of a man who controls so much sensitive material (no pun intended)? Can we call this a disease? Perhaps, but until the American Medical Association gets it's greasing and the Insurance companies get a piece of the action, Bill Clinton is on his own.

The Bottom Line
Where do we stand? Well, from the looks of things we are about to put our Constitution and ourselves through a political wringer. It is time for us to take a good long look at ourselves and values. Do we prefer a President who pulls us out of a recession, gives us economical prosperity and keeps his personal life...personal? Do we really care if he lies about personal issues while hold the highest job rating of any President in 30 years? And what about his wife, Hillary? If she can live with it, can we?
It is a tough call and the time is running out. And when it is done, whoever is left will have learned from this debacle. As in Watergate, we will crawl from our shelters and look to the skies. We will brush the dirt off and take a good look at our leaders, the media and ourselves. We will look around with suspician, and distrust and live out our years under an umbrella of fears that wilts under heavy political rains. And when the sun finally shines, we will smile, enjoy the rest of the day and brace for the next constitutional crisis.

Life Blows
Stay Hard
CyberWryterCJ