As for the resignation, sometimes things in politics are not fueled by politics, but by personal issues. Perhaps this is the case. We can speculate forever, but I truly believe Tenet (he was placed by Clinton I believe so he isn't necessarily a Bush crony) is one of the few honorable men in this administration and is resigning for no other reasons than the ones he gave.
As for this:
Quote:
Originally posted by onetime2
First and foremost, it was perjury. No doubt about it. He was disbarred because of it.
Politicians constantly try to push the stories that will help their cause. This isn't new and it certainly isn't confined to "conservatives". The vast majority of these stories never take off because the public doesn't care about them. Clinton lying under oath about an affair, an alleged pattern of harrassment, etc, etc, etc was a story that the public ate up. Just because they didn't punish Clinton for it, doesn't mean they didn't relish the stories.
Whether they liked it or not everyone had an opinion on the subject and politicians are loathe to offer opinions that would alienate their voters. Dems couldn't push their belief that Clinton did nothing wrong (in terms of perjury) because everyone, as you say, knew he lied.
Certainly the Republicans didn't control the media's coverage of the stories and if there was no public interest in it the "scandal" would have died out. If the story about Cheney's dealings with Haliburton took off with the public do you not think the Dems would be pushing it like mad? Hell they're pushing it like mad without public interest right now. From the very outset the story about a President screwing an intern generates interest. The Republicans didn't force Clinton to do it and he damn well knew that if it got out he'd have issues. His opponents simply made use of the interest just as the Democrats have done and will do again.
The attacks on Bush go far beyond just how he's running the country. Military service from decades ago. Accusations of being a liar for everything he says. Attacks on his privileged upbringing. His business ownership. His performance while in school. Falling off a bike, the segway, choking on a pretzel, etc,etc, etc have what exactly to do with running the country?
I agree that a fair number of the attacks against Clinton were inappropriate but there were several that are entirely justified. Just as investigations into some aspects of the Bush administration are appropriate. But to say that he is not being attacked with ANY inappropriateness is untrue.
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I have to disagree with you Onetime and agree with Superbelt. Clinton was persecuted the day he was elected. It was a never ending (and to this day Limbaugh and others still work to destroy the man).
Clinton did have his problems but it was a pathetic showing by the GOP to nail him for lying about an affair when any man in this world with some sort of power would lie in court over an affair.
There's a big difference what the Dems are doing to Bush. They are keeping it about the office and how he runs the country. We don't hear many jokes about his drunken daughters, the way we had to hear about how ugly Chelsea was and how she must be scarred from her family (when noone truly knows nor has the right to know what the family relationship is.)
The GOP cries foul when asked about Bush's National Guard record, but they were ok to ruin people's lives and spending billions of our tax money for never ending investigations over any little rumor involving Bill.
In the end the GOP did exactly what they wanted, prevented Clinton from being an effective president. The Dems. have not even been close to the level of despicable behavior that the GOP showed during Clinton.
Hell, Gingrich himself was having an affair with one of his staff while persecuting Clinton. Wonder how many other hypocrites were on the floor in Congress.
In the end history will show the GOP worked to destroy a man's life (Clinton) simply for political power, so that he wasn't able to accomplish what a majority of the voting people elected him to do (for 2 terms). While the Dems. whimpered and tried to draw fire not on Bush's personal life but the way he continuously ruined the US with policies and corruption.
The biggest problem in the US is not taxes, the war, terrorism, morals, whatever the press and politicos want us to believe. The problem that is destroying us faster than anything ever will, is the divisive hatred and apathy the 2 parties hold for each other. And in my opinion it is more the GOP neo cons more than all other groups combined. They do nothing but hate.