President’s Impeachment

* I truly hope the elected representatives of my homeland get a grip and begin to place my needs and desires for positive role models ahead of their delusions of grandeur. If anyone believes President Clinton’s indiscretions exceed the barrage of judgmental rhetoric and lack of decorum and grace I’ve been forced to endure for what seems an eternity, they are sadly mistaken.

I do not need the House managers and pundits to define the meaning of honor, respect and justice for me. I need them to either grow up and personify it, or join a gestalt group session and get over themselves.

Linda Tripp is not me. The House managers are not me. William Jefferson Clinton, the president of the United States, is me. A baby boomer with hopes and dreams, strengths and weaknesses, selfishness and compassion. Stumbling together, we may take one step forward and two steps backward while traveling down the path toward equality and human rights, but at least we’re on the path.

SHARON ANDERSON KANAN

Encino

*

In the disgraceful episode now taking place in Washington, few people will survive untarnished. The president will be acquitted but will forever be a blot on our history. The Senate, both parties, will be remembered as that august and deliberative body that deliberated nothing but how they could arrange to avoid their constitutional duty to have an impeachment trial at all, and when forced to, refused to vote any way but how their party leaders wanted. And most of the media, both print and electronic, have not much more credibility left than Clinton, who has absolutely none.

The only people who have acted honorably and honestly have been the House managers, including our own Rep. James Rogan. They were thorough and eloquent and presented a case that was difficult to refute. Rogan and the other House managers may lose the battle but they can spend their lives looking in the mirror without shame.

FRED CATERINA

Bermuda Dunes, Calif.

*

Term limits!

It was my pleasure to contribute to the “Beat Bob” (Dornan) campaign. This time I will be glad to contribute to any campaign attempting to unseat the following: Reps. Rogan, Bob Barr, Asa Hutchinson and Bill McCollum.

MARC FOORMAN

Encino

*

Re Rep. Henry J. Hyde’s (R-Ill.) pointed remarks as he surveyed the chamber (Feb. 9): “Wherever and whenever you avert your eyes from a wrong, from an injustice, you become a part of the problem.” These words do suggest that if the members of the House, Senate and all other Americans believe this to be true--I for one am a believer--then we as a country will have taken the first, giant philosophical step toward confronting and solving our societal issues such as the many forms of discrimination that plague our institutions and affect our behavior toward one another.

There is one big obstacle at the start of this journey: “Wrong” and “injustice,” like beauty, are in the eyes of the beholder.

WALTER McLENNAN

Inglewood

*

The last two paragraphs of Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution state with great clarity that conviction and judgment are two separate processes; and thus that the Senate may convict but not remove from office. It states the punishment allowed--but not required! I suggest our senators look to the Constitution: conviction but not removal.

DEVON SHOWLEY

Cypress

*

The stain President Clinton has left on the garment of American history will be made indelible, never to be washed away, if the Senate votes to acquit him. Is that really what the Democratic Party wants? A vote to convict is the only vote that can wash that stain away.

STEVEN S. SHOWERS

Newbury Park

*

It seems to me that there’s a lack of strong leadership in the top ranks of our government. I’m not a Democrat, but Lyndon Johnson would have handled this situation in the twinkling of an eye were he in the Senate. It seems to me that we are privy to a parade of wimps lately.

SAM HAVER

Burbank

*

Ross K. Baker (Commentary, Feb. 5) and conservatives in general still will not accept that the American people just want this to end. Vote up or down and stop wasting time and money. The Republicans pressed for a trial knowing they had no case and now that they’ve lost they don’t have the sense to let it go. The only people still pushing to punish the president are a small minority of dedicated Clinton-haters who can’t admit defeat.

Everyone knows this is just about saving face for the House Republicans and we don’t care; they deserve their fate.

CHRIS HOWARD

Los Angeles

*

I don’t know how this political nightmare will end. Monica tapes, shrill commentators, who used to be impartial and respected, the intense hatred of the House managers and refined senators deciding on appropriate punishments.

How about 6 1/2 years of government torture for our president and first lady? Isn’t that sufficient?

ELAINE WOLMAN

Laguna Beach

*

Doug Gamble’s prediction (Commentary, Feb. 9) that in the 2000 congressional elections “it’s the Democrats who are going to get their rear ends kicked, not the GOP” confirms his credentials as “humor writer for Republicans and Presidents Reagan and Bush.” Right on, Doug, that’s the funniest thing I’ve read this year. Newt Gingrich will rise again!

IRVING STANTON ELMAN

Pacific Palisades