CLOSING ARGUMENTS Feb 9 As much as I tried to ignore it during a tour of the Capitol, got sucked back into the Senate Gallery Mon- no tickets needed or time limit to see the 13 evil dwarves do the final close for 1 1/2 hours. (Normal humans weren't interested) Their smarmy self-congratulatory breast beating was wearying- each trying to explain the huge personal cost to them for their "courage" in pursuing this. Former Democrat Rogan (the only manager guaranteed to lose his seat over the witchhunt) was particularly moving and amazing when he explained that a young Bill Clinton had encouraged + inspired him to go into politics in '78, so he was committing an impressive act of personal as well as public betrayal. Incredibly, they were lamenting the noble failure of their 6 year campaign to GET Bill Clinton, and their "principled" stand in bringing this lunatic impeachment: "a failed great cause that would live in right wing history", said choked up "reformed" right-wing hitman David Brooks, who started the whole thing with his article about Paula Jones in the Scaife-funded American Spectator. A stewing guy next to me was muttering in barely repressed rage and I commiserated about everything until he turned and said, "All the Democrats KNOW he's guilty, why do they just ignore it?" He was a HATER (def.- see "Why Clinton is Hated" on site) and I recoiled with shock. Still, I provided a loud acid commentary to all manager statements that won me several warnings from the obsequious page/guards. No other person (but the HATER) in the 6 hours I spent in the Gallery acted upset, annoyed, or disruptive. They were sheep watching a soap opera that didn't affect or concern them (though the omnipresent guards + pages were very on-edge). The managers' hypocrisy was unbounded as they bemoaned the state of public cynicism, as if their hunger for TV exposure and this cheapjack railroad wasn't adding to it. Was sorely tempted to bellow my contempt, whatever the consequences.
Afterwards, while visiting Robert Wexler + Patrick Kennedy, ran into to Manager Gekas in the House basement tunnels around 8pm and identified myself - "Mr. Gekas. We've been sending you faxes for 4 months!" "Well, it's over?," he said defensively. "No thanks to you, sir", I called as he scurried away down the utterly deserted corridor, a rat escaping a sinking ship.
DC is amazing; a continual thrill as you wander by offices (and persons) of fabled and hallowed characters. Talked to Jesse Jackson's Jr.'s and John Kerry's people- just on chance as I happened by their offices. Henry Hyde's office is next to Bill McCollum- a convenient grouping of hypodulters (we are making presumptions about McCollum, but give me $56 million + I bet I could prove it)
REPUBLICANS LAUNCHING THE LIFEBOATS
3 semi-sane Republican Senators have broken with the Ratpack and said they would vote to AQUITTTTT the President: SPECTER, JEFFORDS, + CHAFEE, all of which recieved personal on-site lobbying and the petition book from STM. We sent well over 1000 faxes to House and Senate members, and more phone calls. I think most of the Repub liberals will vote to AQUIT, which would make a minimum of 55-45 for aquital. Earlier estimates were wildly optimistic.
A BELL FOR ADONIS?
Contact Liberal church caretakers or rectors or priests or rabbis to RING THEIR BELLS for AQUITAL, as NOTIFICATION of the triumph of reason, sanity, justice, and a new beginning for America.
LETS GO to the TAPE- Feb 6 Everyone is raving about how good Monica is. Well, she has the best lawyers in the country coaching her, she's testified or been deposed 30-odd times, she should have the hang of it by now. And despite her occasional fears,
she is right where she always hoped to be- with the world hanging on her every word. Not keeping her mouth shut started this mess, after all. Jordon was good, if a little self-infatuated, and Blumenthal was docile + contrite. Incredibly the Managers are still making the
outrageous case that because Clinton lied to Sidney, that was perjury because he was going to repeat it in court. That COULD make any lie to anyone... PERJURY, and is more twisting of the law only to GET Mr. Clinton. That's why such testimony is heresay + inadmissible. Prosecutors around America should hang their head in shame as their craft is nakedly exposed
as the cruel and heedless game that it so often is: the object isn't justice, truth, or fairness... it's winning (destroying the defendent) + doing ANYTHING one has to to achieve it. Kudos to Sen. Snowe + Jeffords for voting against even video of witnesses.Final Vote?: AQUITAL 60-40. The Honorables (official first name of all Senators) are going to think about the verdict of
history and where they will fit in if they actually vote to remove a hugely popular President on the basis of this stupid crap. For us it won't end until Starr is out of office and/or behind bars.
Petition Signers and Letter Writers--Feb 5- Another 6 petition books, with 10 pages more of petitions and letters, were delivered to newly cautious Senators- Richard Shelby-AL, Spencer Abraham-MI, Rod Grams-MN, Gordon Smith-OR, Ben Nightlight Campbell-CO, + demonic democrat Russ Feingold (devil made him do it) Feb 4 + 5th. Several key Dems recieved them as well: Kerry, Reed, Patsy Mink, + (will) Kennedy and the White House. Thanks to Democrats 2000 + NCEC for technical assistance.
Mink said it would end much faster if they don't have an open debate, which may be why many dems voted for that. What got into Wisconsin's iconoclastic Russ Feingold? "We don't know", said his staff ruefully as they admitted that there were more than a few irrate calls (Madison is somewhat to the left of Berkeley and Beijing). I still am amazed that there wasn't one Republican Senator with the guts to stand up and say.
"This is a mistake + we're not going to do this", which would have caused at least 5 others to take a stand... but the Republicans have shown themselves to be without spine or sense... and will pay for it in 2000.
--The petitions will be presented in Press event to Reno at conclusion of, I think the phrase goes, our long national nightmare.
We want to CHALLENGE Ken Starr's legal license: to get him disbarred for his many crimes. We need legal help to write the brief to the Bar Association (probably DC). Some of you lawyers want to fight the latest Joe McCarthy and say "Not in MY AMERICA!". You can terrorize the people for a while, but eventually the microscope will be turned back on YOU.
Jan 30 DC Depositions taken in the SENATE are TESTIMONY- the dwarves are cheating again. Feingold must have lost his mind- how could anyone really want to hear MORE testimony?? Still only one Dem defection means Removal is almost impossible. But I'm shocked none of the 13 Repub Senators we lobbied had the backbone to call it quits. We will do 3-10 more (Shelby, Fiengold..). Calling Blumnethal as a witness is strange. He is a gamble, a wild card, someone who Hyde's 13 dwarves think can be provoked into some explosive new admission. As torturous as the process is for Senators, they love the bright lights so much they can't seem to end it. And the longer it goes, the more chance for some devastating new chunk of info that changes everything (Butterfield?).
Jan 26 7pm Washington DC - Your petitions(10) in a bound book with letters to Congress + our pleas to Senators, were delivered Mon afternoon to remaining swing Repubs: McCain, Chaffee, Collins, Snowe, Specter, Hatch, Warner, Stevens, Dominici. Got hugely delayed- wanted to get to Senate Office bldg 11-1 pm so I'd catch Senators coming out of offices + could lay it in their hands with a nice speech, as I did with 3 on Sat, but thought it was too urgent- if this ended petition would be moot and find the circular file postehaste. Had to content myself with chiefs of staff (in most cases). Most were nice and got a 5-10 minute speech. Had 1/2 hour sit-down meeting with Chaffee's who seemed impressed by depth of feeling, articulate arguments, and mass of signatures and letters. Lugar's was good too, since I'm a foreign policy type, and respect his wisdom in that. Couple would only give me lower level staffers. Only one unpleasant was Hatch's, but then I'm not Mormon, so I'm probably damned anyway. Girl from Specter's office actually tried to debate me (at this point?) but I chewed her up. At most offices: THE PHONES RANG CONSTANTLY + THEY KEPT A TALLY, so be sure to vote- MANY TIMES. But as I've said many times- send faxes- paper is real and lives with the power off. After went to Senate Gallery again to see end of 2nd woman for Clinton + more annoying Manager's arguments, then they threw us out after motion to have open session failed. Senators get to change votes (cheat), once they see whether a motion passes or fails, so they can look good to history or their constituents. Ran into old lost buddy from Moscow- Greg the cameraman, as he did live remote for several clients on the frigid east lawn.
We will present Petition to Janet Reno in a Press event at conclusion of, I think the phrase goes, our long national nightmare.
Jan 23 midnight Wash. DC-- PETITIONERS and LETTER WRITERS
Your Petitions and letters were delivered into the 3 Senators hands that were still there 5:30 -6:30pm Sat: Gorton, Jeffords, + Grassley- the crucial material to the crucial swing votes at the crucial time. Gorton was going home so may peruse it on his
ride. Grassley started making apologies as we left and he locked up: "We never got into a room and said, 'we're going to get the
President' ". I said, "Yeah, but I bet Delay + Gingrich (+Lott) did". "Oh, that was over there." (the unruly children of the House) "Come on Senator, you could have stopped this right off the bat". The Repubs are looking for cover now that this might evaporate into a dirty hangover. Credit to Chuck for spending 10 min. debating with the opposition. Once in the linked
Hart/Dirkson Senate Bldg., you can't leave late- all entrances are locked and the guards evaporate- there was an empty office and considered setting up shop- new Senator from Puerto Rico or Palau? Petitions and dozens of letters were in inch thick bound semi-prof document: CITIZENS' LETTERS to CONGRESS and PETITION SIGNERS to STOP the
MADNESS, Stop the Impeachment Witchhunt Internet Org- Maui--Dallas--R.I.--Wash DC; Available for $15 --- MORE Petition Delivery MOVE UP^
Bumping to a Close- Thur Jan 21 9pm- Washington DC Library of Congress- After Kendall's mechanical legal recital, Dale Bumpers meandered folksily, drawing many laughs from his self-effacing stories. But was this the place to be so charming + and friendly? I hoped for
a fiery close- a speaker who would rave and scream about the absurdity, the injustice, and the crime that this political witchhunt has reached this point. Someone should have pointed their finger in the Managers face and said "how dare you
spit on the Constitution like this?" I saw the last 2 hours from the gallery and had to restrain myself from cheering on Bumper's best line "the election of the President is ALSO the rule of law". One had to pinch oneself at the fact that they are actuallytrying the President of the US! Over this nonsense. Infinite kudos to
Cheryl Mills, whose rich sexy voice dragged all who listened through every door she went through (I heard most through radio). She was SO good.
THANKS to the 100's who showed up for our rally Wed. . We are HERE now, and mad as hell, and going to deliver the petitions to 10-15 Repub Senators SATURDAY.
to ADJOURN this OUTRAGE + STOP the MADNESS.
Petitions timed to hit before their Monday vote to Adjourn. Wound up in an alcove with Manager Bill McCollum (of Henry Hyde's bowling team) and had to stand on my tongue to avoid lashing him with it. They are sensitive about citizens berating reps, particlarly when they're trying to overthrow the duly elected Government, and he is the type to scream for help if you criticize him.
Also met and congratulated Chuck Shumer after he did his stand-up. Send 5 Senators furious letters to ADJOURN: Chaffee, Jeffords, Snowe, Collins, McCain, Warner. Ask them Is there one Republican with the courage + sanity to stand up and say I WILL VOTE TO ADJOURN??? There used to be statesmen and giants in the Congress. Now there are nothing but lawyers, and nerds, like McCollum.
State of the War- Jan 19 midnt- Bill was his usual spooky seamless speaker, only his involuntary clenching cheek muscle betraying the stony silence of the Republicans. Delay, Armey, and some prosecutors smirked contemptuously like 7th graders, displaying again the hatreds that have infested the Party and are driving this witchhunt. They did themselves no favors - their approval ratings will plummet as Clintons' shoot up. While he served in no wars, Clinton has displayed no small courage in venturing once again into the lion's mouth (to do a little dentistry). Ruff (the crime dog) started off slowly, but methodically dismantled the Repubs case, even throwing in some apparently unfeigned Reaganesque emotion about his father's war experience. Expect them to blow away the Repubs House of Cards in the next 2 days- their alledged grand conspiracy to hide a shabby little affair. Odds on a Mon. adjournment: 3 to 2. Rally's netted thousands all over the country.
Give Em a Fair Trial + Hang Em- Jan 18 Republicans, in their self-consumptive way, seem intent on following through with the "Process" (say it with a hush), as if, drugged by the power to abuse, they just can't stop. This will be a sloppy trashfest- no matter what their efforts at decorum, and their hunger for attention may be matched by their prurient interest in actually having the principles before them. This is their personal Nat. Inquirer forum, and far more interesting than most Senate activities, + many Repubs are enviously curious just how Clinton managed this.
SENATE STEW - Jan 15 The song remains the same by the Managers (of nothing more than Wendys), who keep hammering the same facts over + over. By the third day without being able to speak, Senators' heads will begin to explode, like in Scanners. Already, Tom Harkin has breached the wall of silence + future days will have the Senators taking control and chatting at will. Seriously, though it looks like witnesses now, after a few more days of this water torture, the non-facist Repubs will band together (Jeffords, Chaffee, Gorton + 3-7 others) and cut this trashfest off at the knees. Of course, we've expected sanity to break out before among Repubs and have been repeatedly disappointed.
Jan 14 The first day ended poorly for the President, with Hutchison's (you can never go home again) adept summary of Mr. Clinton's incredibly evil plot to try to preserve his sexual privacy from these bluenose burghers. It's hard to believe this is happening
and going to go on for 2 more weeks- this niggling, petty, unessential trash (God knows how long if the Honorable gentlemen decide to hear witnesses). This may be the day that's officially recorded as the beginning of the decline of the American moral empire: this neurotic, heedless, criminally Unconstitutional, exercize. Without the Russians, the Republicans can't help but turn on ourselves in some perverse millenial intoxication. They continue to make new law- now
Mr. Clinton telling his subordinates lies ("knowing they would be repeated") is perjury- an interpretation that could make any lie to anyone... perjury. This is truly sick. In fact perjury is strictly defined as a knowing untruth that would significantly affect the outcome of a trial.
When Paula Jones' case was dismissed, Mr. Clinton's statements couldn't affect any trial because there was none. It's a continuation of the monstrously unfair way Mr. Clinton has been legally treated- so far below the law that at times he's been a human pinata for the
whims of the High Courts: no expectation of privacy with any lawyer except the one the Court allows, no privacy for his most intimate and personal acts, no executive priviledge, all of his friends and aids hauled before endless grand juries as if they were Mafia thugs, no immunity from
groundless civilian suits, no right of secrecy in grand jury testimony, no rights to even
keep his own bodily fluids! How have we allowed the Republican dwarves to degrade the Presidency in this way????
Finally they admit there are all of 105 people in jail for perjury (out of 1 1/2 million)- so perjury prosecution is spectacularly RARE. When the target doesn't cooperate by committing crimes, you investigate his personal life, entrap him in a surprise interrogation,
then when he naturally resists the prying prurient questions, you charge him with... PERJURY. It displays the moral bankrupcy of the prosecutorial mindset (which so many legislators are): they don't really care if a defendent is guilty- only if they can hurt them.
STARR'S SLIME STILL SMARTS
Just when I thought people would forget Starr, he firebombs a village, arresting and charging Julie Steel because she didn't tell him what he wanted to hear (Clinton done it). This is good- there are few people that don't see what a nasty freak he is now, but how long will he be permitted to run amok. I'm willing to bet he has no real proof of any crime by Steele, he just did it as a PR stunt to exert pressure on the Senators and remind people that, like a fungus, he's still around. Isn't there one judge that will sanction this abusive prying horror-show? Behind the grinding pedantic speech
of his testimony, one could the feel the hatred percolating through- Clinton is the type of handsome popular person nerd Starr despised in high school- this entire proceeding is a revenge of a NERD. Sign petition.
Jan 9 2pm The Senators were pleased as punch at their bipartisanship, but their pleasure was that of Col. whatsisname when he finished building theBridge on the River Kwai (cybersnappers- go rent it), they've validated and justified this
criminal impeachment instead of stamping on it like the right-wing cockroach it is. But the House Repubs must not be disrespected. HOW ABOUT the PRESIDENT??????????? How about the country, and it's citizens?? How about the world's opinion of us?
Who cares what that dottering hypocrite Mr. Hyde thinks! Why let him become Dr. Jeckyl? Every second this goes on the Constitution is flouted. The Haters get to put on their dog + pony show, call the President names
and shovel more dirt through the entrance of the White House- then they'll vote to adjourn. What's the point, the grand purpose? Trash by any other name...
Jan 8 10am Larry Flynt prepares to level his next blast to the hypodulterer Repubs; while I'm not a fan of his rag, he has defended the rights of everyone with his investigation of the Repubs perfidy
at exorbitant cost- he was crippled by some right-wing nut when he was attending his trial inspired by the Christian right. My guess is the next GOP outing will be Trent Lott, which explains his
miraculous conversion to wanting to settle this (he was a charter Hater before), and the sweat that's seeming to dot his brow. Maybe he will become a pillar of salt.
Jan 7 6am REEDITED The sick fever that has gripped House Republicans seems to have spread, with Senators soooo hungrey for the bright lights that they DON'T CARE how much damage they do. Reasonable bipartisan attempts at "working together" and respect for the process are foolish: this is unjustified and should be stopped posthaste. A mistake is a mistake and shouldn't be honored because a serious process is invoked. That's more reason to fix it IMMEDIATELY. Once they Starrt this abortion it will become a vicious messy horror show,
a bruised knuckle savage political battle that becomes a spectacle that's impossible to turn away from. When they realize THAT, 10 Repubs will join the Dems to Adjourn and the
shabby chapter in legislative abuse will be over.
OJ Clinton. Rehnquist is likely to act as competently as Judge Ito: the imperious ways of the Supreme Court will not play well with "The whole world watching", and Senators may want to assert their dominance over the Judiciary, as they are so recklessly doing over the Executive. I want to see people in the gallery chant that- make them close the gallery and have the brutal reality of this coup come home to everyone.
And the Haters will hit Clinton with new allegations in the next 2 days, desperate to prevent adjournment. Don't go quietly, troops. We will be there soon- Thursday, perhaps, to organize demonstrations and present petitions.