Impeachment Trial in Senate

Does any senator or representative actually believe our founding fathers had in mind the consequences of Bill Clinton’s actions (for which he is on trial in the Senate) when they drafted procedures for impeachment of the president? Did his acts constitute a threat to the security of the nation? Did he abuse his power and the people’s trust for personal gain? Did he subvert the political or governmental process to illegally benefit himself, his party or anyone else? Could anyone in his right mind equate the far-reaching implications of a Watergate with the impact this incident has had on the personal life of Paula Jones (I believe she is undoubtedly better off as a result)?

As the answers to all of these questions are no, the Senate should act upon the overwhelming sentiment of the people by putting an immediate end to the current impeachment circus and allowing Clinton to serve out the remainder of his term.

WALT D. WEISKOPF

Pacific Palisades

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In the context of the judicial proceedings in which President Clinton testified, perjury works just like bribery. Both crimes have as their goal the corruption of justice.

The president’s perjury before a judge and grand jury is as much an impeachable offense as an attempt to bribe the judge and jury would have been. The only difference is that the president used false statements, rather than money or other things of value, in an attempt to influence the proceedings in his favor.

ROBERT A. PHILIPSON

Attorney, Santa Monica

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Ah, now I get it. The Republicans believe that the partisan attack on Clinton, dressed up of course as high principle, will end all perjury forever. Well, as a former trial lawyer, I can assure them that perjury is as old as the human race. Good luck stamping it out. And of course it was not technically perjury: His testimony did not have a material effect on the outcome of the Jones case, which was dismissed; so where’s the crime?

I’ll tell you--it’s dragging the name of Sir Thomas More into it. He despised hypocrites.

RAYMOND FREEMAN

Thousand Oaks

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As the Senate impeachment trial drones on, I have several suggestions to significantly speed up the process. First, withhold the pay of all senators until this matter is resolved. Our Congress is the best money can buy and they will do almost anything for money. Second, Chief Justice William Rehnquist should sequester this jury and issue a gag order. They couldn’t survive long being locked up together and not being able to talk. Last, if all else fails, turn it over to Judge Judy! She’ll wrap it all up in one half-hour TV show.

PHILLIP W. FRICK

Long Beach

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I’ve been watching the “proceedings.” Only one question remains: Where do we go to sign the congressional term limit amendment petition?

ED ROSAS

La Canada

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President Clinton has to be removed from office if only to drive a deadly stake through the culture of the ‘60s. America needs a moral reawakening.

NICHOLAS YANUZZI

Thousand Oaks

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What we are currently experiencing in Washington is the last battle of the Vietnam War, as the old men take their final shot at discrediting those Nixon-hating, draft-dodging, war-protesting baby boomers who violate the rules laid down by their uptight and hypocritical parents.

MARK LEVITON

Granada Hills

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Sense of humor--that’s what historians some day will admire in Bill Clinton. Such cosmic whimsy in an American president! He gets a bang out of furtive, ludicrous trysts, a la Woody Allen, in our very blue-nose-sanctified Oval Office.

Doctors tell us sexual activity contributes to bodily health. If so, Clinton is one of the healthiest presidents to occupy the White House.

GEORGE W. FEINSTEIN

Altadena

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Re “Flynt Hustles Tale of GOP Hypocrisy,” by Robert Scheer, Commentary, Jan. 19: At various times I agree in part with political observations from the left and right, rarely wholly with either. However, I agree as much as a person can agree with Scheer’s skewering of Rep. Bob Barr (R-Ga.) and his fellow right-wing jackals--based on Larry Flynt’s investigation and expose. Hypocrisy has become the name of the game, and the Republicans are winning hands down.

ROB BRINER

Santa Monica

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The Times ought to be ashamed. I see a major interview of Flynt in The Times (Dec. 27), and now Scheer somehow sees Flynt as a beacon of credibility. If Rep. Barr pleaded the 5th Amendment in a court proceeding, does that make him a liar? If President Clinton lied and did not plead the 5th, does that make him a perjurer?

ROGER L. CLOUTIER

Redondo Beach

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To have followed the Clinton impeachment closely is to have come to one conclusion. That conclusion, by my observation, is that the Democrats epitomize the expression, “Don’t confuse me with the facts; my mind is made up.”

TOM STEELE

Anaheim

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The drama in Washington is gradually revealing its characters and plot: the Democrats as Dr. Kevorkian in the Republicans’ mass suicide attempt, but a farce anyway.

ROBERT POWSNER

Point Reyes

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Monica Lewinsky would be justified in fleeing to Canada or some other more enlightened society and seeking asylum from political persecution.

JACK CHRISTENSEN

Palm Desert

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You don’t have to wait until year 2000 to send a message to Washington. Call the registrar of voters and ask for the form to change your political party affiliation from Republican to anything else.

Don’t worry, be happy!

HANK BEERS

La Habra

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Not only do we have another naked emperor, but an unabashedly shameless one as well. Long live the William Jefferson Springer presidency.

STEPHEN SACKS

Los Angeles

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Ann Taylor Fleming compared the late Princess of Wales with Hillary Rodham Clinton in an effort to see who was the better feminist (Opinion, Jan. 17). Is it possible that a more apt description of our first lady would be stateswoman? One who cares more for the needs of her country and her daughter than her own? It is, I think, a better fit.

JULIE FORD-MALONEY

Huntington Beach

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Santa Claus came early this year, appearing as Bill Clinton giving the State of the Union address, and offering his usual bag full of goodies to every man, woman and child in America. Too bad we’re unable to believe a word Clinton says anymore--but then most of us don’t believe in Santa Claus anyway!

MARY J. MONK

San Clemente

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I watched the president’s address and read about it in The Times (Jan. 20). It can’t be possible that I’m the only one who is convinced that instead of attempting to remove Clinton from office, members of Congress would better serve the country if they tried to figure a way to keep him in office for another full term (at least).

MARSHAL JACOBS

Los Angeles