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Originally Posted by AVoiceOfReason
I agreed with much of what you wrote, but this point caught my attention as something that should be addressed. (snip)
Bottomline: Character DOES count, and America had better never forget it.
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You have a very good point. And had that happened we certainly should have prosecuted him - not for screwing his intern, but for treason.
I'd point out that pretty much every politician has something they can be blackmailed on. Bad grades in school, a number of DWI's, jilted lovers from college wanting to get even, etc etc etc. All stuff they wouldn't want to see appearing in the papers and stuff that, if found out by the wrong party, could result in blackmail. At what point would you draw the line and say "yes, this blackmailable action is prosecutable, but that one is not?"
Plus, Lewinsky was cleared to intern for the president. That means all her friends and contacts were checked out before she got anywhere near the oval office. If one of her buddies were ChiCom, etc, she wouldn't have gotten the internship in the first place.
And too you've set up a daunting precident should we ever have an unmarried president. Should we impeach him for dating, since his date COULD be a foriegn national out to do us harm? No, they wouldn't have blackmail possibilities as far as the cheating scandal, but they would have a lot of access to the President, and you're bound to pick stuff up if you're with him that much.
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Originally Posted by stevo
I'm not sure if your last paragraph is directed at me, but if it is, go back and read all my posts in this thread and tell me if you still think thats what I"m trying to say.
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Nope, not directed at anyone specifically, just at those who think the "but he did it too" defense excuses anyone's actions.
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Before he holds the office he has support.
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Well, his second term anyway. His first term he not only did not have the support of the majority, but he didn't even get elected at all. He was instead appointed by a council of judicial ministers who are NOT accountable to the public.
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Before he makes any presidential decisions he has support. That is what elections are, no?
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Well, not really. You can vote for him, then decide he's pissing you off and not support him anymore. It's happening left and right even as we type. That's why his approval rating is in the toilet.
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I can support the office, and seperatly I can support the man.
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That's true, but you can also support the office, and seperately not support the man. I believe the office of president is important, good, and necessary for our government to function, but that does not mean that anyone who happens to hold that office automatically gets my support.