Salon Newsreal | Impeachment diary III

A L S O+T O D A Y

American gerontocracy
By Christopher Shea
Is the mental capacity of the aged leaders judging President Clinton a fit subject for commentary?
(01/15/99)

T A B L E+T A L K
Abortion: Where do you stand, and why? Explain your position in the Social Issues area of Table Talk

___________________
Brush up on impeachment at barnesandoble.com
___________________

Portrait of a political "pit bull"
By Russ Baker
Rep. Dan Burton, who called President Clinton a "scumbag," has a few questions to answer about his own behavior
(12/22/98)

R E C E N T L Y
Counting the dead children
By Jeff Stein
Critics blast U.S. sanctions that kill Iraqi babies, but leave Saddam fat and happy
(01/15/99)
Cracks in the bipartisan façade
By Joshua Micah Marshall
As House Republicans tried to depict their impeachment vendetta as a brave civil rights struggle, the important action was all taking place off-camera
(01/15/99)
Letter from occupied New York
By John Leonard
With City Hall behind barricades, Mayor Rudy Giuliani is getting ready to take his show on the road
(01/14/99)
Michael Jordan's final act
By Dan Brekke
The legend is leaving at the top. That's why we need him to stay.
(01/14/99)
Starr's lowest blow
By Bruce Shapiro
In indicting Julie Hiatt Steele, the independent counsel continues a pattern of bullying women
(01/13/99)
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IMPEACHMENT DIARY III | PAGE 1, 2, 3
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9:30 p.m. An ice storm has hit D.C. and the sidewalks and roads are so slick that walking becomes a blood sport. We manage to slide over to the nearest bar to get thoroughly sloshed with a bipartisan contingent. The only conversation that excites people is the rumor that Larry Flynt has the dirt on Trent Lott. This rumor has been flying back and forth all day, among both Democrats and Republicans. I've heard many different renditions. Republicans spend time mulling over the theory that Don Nickles' backers are behind this rumor. Nickles has twice pondered a bid to become majority leader, but both times backed out to continue his role of second fiddle. By all accounts, the backup gig is getting old. For a variety of reasons, Nickles backers see this trial as their chance to get rid of dear old Trent. This Flynt rumor may just be another good way to keep Trent on the run. Or it may be true.
Friday, Jan. 15
7 a.m. Got to get up early to watch the morning news shows. Both parties are singing familiar tunes: The Republicans think the opening arguments were fascinating, factual and thorough. The Democrats describe the same presentation as "half-baked, circumstantial, boring and inconclusive."
8:30 a.m. Democrats are still incensed that some Senate Republicans have met with House managers. How can the jurors consort with the prosecutors? We laugh. Democrats are saying this isn't a trial, it's a lynching, except that in this town, you need 66 votes to buy the rope.
10:30 a.m. Newest leak in the dam: Separate Democratic and Republican discussions with party attorneys from the House Judiciary Committee. Both sides say they were just "informational meetings" and not "strategy sessions." The camps are forming, as always, down party lines. It's worth noting that Clinton, the man who invented "The Third Way" -- a new, nonpartisan strategy to transcend ideology and get things done -- must now hope for a very partisan refusal to grant the conservative right his head.
12 noon We discuss what to say next week after Clinton's State of the Union. Clinton has decided -- after being asked not to by members of both parties -- to go ahead and give his State of the Union Tuesday night. It's a bipartisan "Screw you!" He's going to walk into the chambers of the House that just impeached him and proclaim his agenda for America. Of course, the State of the Union address last year is where he began his bounce back from the initial Lewinsky storm. In short, he's telling Congress: "You can't get rid of me, and here's what I am going to do to you while you try."
4:30 p.m. Tomorrow is the big Pollies presentation. Given each year by the National Association of Political Consultants, the Pollie awards are the Oscars of political campaigning. They're also like the purple hearts of political warfare. Invariably, the most negative attack ads and mail wins. They represent battle glory and can give you a big-time head start in the annual fight to sign clients for the next election cycle. It's fitting that as the generals of our parties are off playing the ultimate game of cutthroat, the loyal lieutenants gather in a bipartisan celebration of warfare.
5 p.m. Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa stands up to object to Rep. Bob Barr's use of the word "juror." Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire objects to Harkin's objection. The chief justice sides with Harkin, and Barr concludes his remarks. Lott adjourns us for the evening and asks us all to be back at 10 a.m. Saturday. All sides run out into the halls to give the world their wisdom. The spin is on, and on.

N E X T+P A G E+| Anonymous' Senate trial picks and predictions.

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A L S O+T O D A Y American gerontocracy By Christopher Shea Is the mental capacity of the aged leaders judging President Clinton a fit subject for commentary? (01/15/99) T A B L E+T A L K Abortion: Where do you stand, and why? Explain your position in the Social Issues area of Table Talk ___________________ Brush up on impeachment at barnesandoble.com ___________________ Portrait of a political "pit bull" By Russ Baker Rep. Dan Burton, who called President Clinton a "scumbag," has a few questions to answer about his own behavior (12/22/98) R E C E N T L Y Counting the dead children By Jeff Stein Critics blast U.S. sanctions that kill Iraqi babies, but leave Saddam fat and happy (01/15/99) Cracks in the bipartisan façade By Joshua Micah Marshall As House Republicans tried to depict their impeachment vendetta as a brave civil rights struggle, the important action was all taking place off-camera (01/15/99) Letter from occupied New York By John Leonard With City Hall behind barricades, Mayor Rudy Giuliani is getting ready to take his show on the road (01/14/99) Michael Jordan's final act By Dan Brekke The legend is leaving at the top. That's why we need him to stay. (01/14/99) Starr's lowest blow By Bruce Shapiro In indicting Julie Hiatt Steele, the independent counsel continues a pattern of bullying women (01/13/99) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Browse the Newsreal Archives - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
		IMPEACHMENT DIARY III \| PAGE 1, 2, 3 - - - - - - - - - - 9:30 p.m. An ice storm has hit D.C. and the sidewalks and roads are so slick that walking becomes a blood sport. We manage to slide over to the nearest bar to get thoroughly sloshed with a bipartisan contingent. The only conversation that excites people is the rumor that Larry Flynt has the dirt on Trent Lott. This rumor has been flying back and forth all day, among both Democrats and Republicans. I've heard many different renditions. Republicans spend time mulling over the theory that Don Nickles' backers are behind this rumor. Nickles has twice pondered a bid to become majority leader, but both times backed out to continue his role of second fiddle. By all accounts, the backup gig is getting old. For a variety of reasons, Nickles backers see this trial as their chance to get rid of dear old Trent. This Flynt rumor may just be another good way to keep Trent on the run. Or it may be true. Friday, Jan. 15 7 a.m. Got to get up early to watch the morning news shows. Both parties are singing familiar tunes: The Republicans think the opening arguments were fascinating, factual and thorough. The Democrats describe the same presentation as "half-baked, circumstantial, boring and inconclusive." 8:30 a.m. Democrats are still incensed that some Senate Republicans have met with House managers. How can the jurors consort with the prosecutors? We laugh. Democrats are saying this isn't a trial, it's a lynching, except that in this town, you need 66 votes to buy the rope. 10:30 a.m. Newest leak in the dam: Separate Democratic and Republican discussions with party attorneys from the House Judiciary Committee. Both sides say they were just "informational meetings" and not "strategy sessions." The camps are forming, as always, down party lines. It's worth noting that Clinton, the man who invented "The Third Way" -- a new, nonpartisan strategy to transcend ideology and get things done -- must now hope for a very partisan refusal to grant the conservative right his head. 12 noon We discuss what to say next week after Clinton's State of the Union. Clinton has decided -- after being asked not to by members of both parties -- to go ahead and give his State of the Union Tuesday night. It's a bipartisan "Screw you!" He's going to walk into the chambers of the House that just impeached him and proclaim his agenda for America. Of course, the State of the Union address last year is where he began his bounce back from the initial Lewinsky storm. In short, he's telling Congress: "You can't get rid of me, and here's what I am going to do to you while you try." 4:30 p.m. Tomorrow is the big Pollies presentation. Given each year by the National Association of Political Consultants, the Pollie awards are the Oscars of political campaigning. They're also like the purple hearts of political warfare. Invariably, the most negative attack ads and mail wins. They represent battle glory and can give you a big-time head start in the annual fight to sign clients for the next election cycle. It's fitting that as the generals of our parties are off playing the ultimate game of cutthroat, the loyal lieutenants gather in a bipartisan celebration of warfare. 5 p.m. Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa stands up to object to Rep. Bob Barr's use of the word "juror." Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire objects to Harkin's objection. The chief justice sides with Harkin, and Barr concludes his remarks. Lott adjourns us for the evening and asks us all to be back at 10 a.m. Saturday. All sides run out into the halls to give the world their wisdom. The spin is on, and on. N E X T+P A G E+\| Anonymous' Senate trial picks and predictions. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Become a Salon member. Click here.