Impeachment watch

Congress is doing more damage than Clinton

Those who complain that the public is largely apathetic about the impeachment fiasco fail to understand the reasons the public isn't paying much attention: We're not apathetic, we're disgusted!

The president may or may not be guilty of impeachable offenses. We'll never know. The partisan bickering to which we have been subjected during the past months cannot produce a believable result.

It has done far more to lower our opinion of our legislators and the way business is conducted in Washington than the lamentable, but comparatively trivial, offenses committed by Bill Clinton.

The greatest damage to this country's reputation overseas has come as a result of the hearings, not the misbehavior of the president. Get over it, congress!

John M. Flanigan
Kaneohe
(Via the Internet)

Let's put every politician under oath

The impeachment process is playing out into a very interesting scenario. The Republicans seem to be saying that their lies not told under oath are of no consequence, but the efforts of the president to avoid an embarassing personal gaffe are of the utmost importance. To paraphrase Mark Twain, there are liars, damned liars and politicians.

Is it of no importance that politicians lie to get elected?

Not under oath, of course. Perhaps we should insist that if they want us to believe their 30-second spots, pronouncements in speeches or debates, that they all be made under oath. Bring on the debates! I would like to ask some questions.

John Coleman
(Via the Internet)

Hawaii representatives should vote to impeach

I say to Neil Abercrombie and Patsy Mink: It seems as though our president has conceded that he has lost the "faith and trust" of the American people. Be strong so as to not lose the faith and trust of the people of Hawaii. Vote for impeachment!

We cannot let stand the president's disregard for the laws and expectations of the people of the United States.

Bryan Surratt
Kapolei
(Via the Internet)

'Twas the night before impeachment... 'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the House, Congress was stirring o'er the Cat and the Mouse. Kenneth Starr was hung by the Democrats with care, In hopes of derailing his testimony right there. The Clintons were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of denial danced in their heads. Then Hillary in her White House, and Bill in the Middle East, Had settled their brains to conquer Kenneth the Beast. When out on the House floor arose such a clatter, Maxine Waters and Conyers asked, "Just what is the matter?" Away to Bill's defense they flew like a flash Tore open the Republicans and impeachment, they hashed. Henry Hyde at the helm of the Judiciary Committee Gave credence to the facts. They were still sittin' pretty. When what to the country's eyes should appear But a censure defense to save Clinton's rear. With the humorous chairman so lively and quick, I knew in a moment I was going to be sick. But more rapid than eagles, the opinion polls came, And the White House began calling Republicans names, "Right-wing conspiracy!" "Newt Gingrich's insane!" "Kenneth Starr is the villain entirely to blame!" "To all of the charges, we're up against a wall!" "Our hopes have been dashed away, dashed away -- all!" As dry Republicans before a wild hurricane fly, When they meet mounting obstacles reaching the sky, So up to the House floor their attackers flew, With a sleigh-full of antics and lawyers, too! And then in a twinkling, I heard on the floor, The scratching and clawing of Congress galore. As the charges of "perjury" were turning around, "Obstruction of justice" was losing ground. "Abuse of power" from Bill's feet to his nose, His good name was all tarnished with Monica's clothes. A bundle of "sex-ploits" he'd flung on his back, And he looked like a philanderer caught in the sack. His eyes, they still twinkled, his evasions, how merry. His cheeks red as roses, his nose like a cherry. His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the cleft in his chin like an actor -- a pro. His confession of sorrow he held tight in his teeth, And the smokescreens encircled his head like a wreath. Lying under oath seemed deep from his belly, But his alibis shook like a bowl full of jelly. Bill Clinton, our president, a right jolly sweet guy, And I laughed when he said, "I never told Monica to lie." A wink in his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had something to dread. Then he spoke not a word, but went straight to his work Eyeing the women wherever they'd lurk. And laying his finger aside of his nose, Ordered a bombing, the smoke soon arose. He sprang to the East, to his team gave a whistle, And the White House began to self-righteously bristle. He exclaimed as he flew Air Force One out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, to the rule of law, a good night!" Betty Jean Anderson Ewa

Impeachment is the only choice

I support a vote for impeachment. It is the only constitutional step we can take at this time. The president's statement on Friday failed to convince me that he is sorry about lying under oath. It seems to me that he only regrets being caught.

Immanuel Kant once said, "Only if our worth as a human being is intact can we perform our other duties; for it is the foundation stone of all other duties. A man who has destroyed and cast away his personality has no intrinsic worth, and can no longer perform any matter of duty."

Kant also said, "He who goes in fear of being prosecuted for a wicked deed, does not reproach himself on the score of the wickedness of his misdemeanor, but on the score of the painful consequences which await him; such a one has no conscience, but only a resemblance of one."

I have heard Democratic representatives claim that this is about sex. I think this is about lying under oath. Under the laws of this country we have to punish this behavior. Under the Constitution the only punishment given is impeachment.

Rafael Escalera
(Via the Internet)

Laws must be applied to everyone equally

In 1992, Congress and the White House were controlled by Democrats. They appointed Ken Starr to investigate Republican Sen. Bob Packwood from Oregon for sexual harassment. Packwood had to resign from the Senate when he was confronted with the evidence.

Starr was reappointed by the U.S. attorney general and three federal judges as independent counsel to investigate President Clinton for violating his oath as chief law officer of the country. Starr found convincing evidence that Clinton committed perjury before the grand jury, a far more serious crime.

To avoid impeachment, Clinton should resign and later face a civil suit. Recently, he settled his sexual harassment suit by awarding $850,000 to Paula Jones.

Regardless of party affiliation, Republican or Democrat, justice should be equally applied to all, no exceptions. There are 115 individuals in prison for committing perjury.

Harry Choi

Congress ignores will of American people

I don't understand how we got to this point. I read the Starr Report and frankly found it in bad taste. I admit that I watched the videotapes, which only enforced my opinion that a great wrong has been perpetrated -- not only on President Clinton but also on the American public.

This six-year, $45-million witch-hunt was fueled by allegations, innuendo and the media, and we still don't have what we want, because we don't know what we want.

We allowed Starr a free hand in digging through the personal lives of the Clintons for the past 20 years. We looked aside as Starr pushed peers to suicide, or hauled them off to jail for not incriminating the Clintons, or when they still refused to testify, we again looked aside while their wives were arrested.

And when still no evidence could be forced against the Clintons, Starr hooked himself to the Paula Jones harassment case.

This travesty, which is against the will of 70 percent of Americans, should never have been allowed to go this far. Henry Hyde, Starr and the Republican Congress have forgotten whom they work for and who pays them. They are trying to force an impeachment that only they want.

Beatrix Hartmann Shishido
Mililani

History will scorn those who impeach Clinton

If the impeachment of the president passes the House and goes to the Senate, it will "shut down" our government for months with all three branches -- executive. legislative and judicial -- involved in the process.

The Republican members of Congress made a major blunder in pursuing the case against Clinton this far. History will look very unfavorably on the Republicans, especially on House Judiciary Chairman Henry Hyde.

Moderate Republicans should join the Democrats and end the impeachment so that pressing national and international issues can be addressed by our government.

H. T. Chang

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