President Clinton

* Your March 20 headline, “Clinton Says Legacy Will Be Truth,” gave me the biggest and best laugh that I’ve had since Nixon told us, “I am not a crook.”

ROD FREED

Mission Viejo

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So now it is Bill Clinton, stand-up comedian. Completely unabashed, the president is wowing audiences with his self-deprecating jokes and quips about his shameless behavior. The sad part is that his humorous comments seem to be going over, with results of tumultuous laughter and applause. This is the punishment that the American people seem to favor for acts that should have caused his resignation in shame. Shame is not in Clinton’s lexicon. He thinks he has done no wrong and apparently most Americans agree.

What is this telling us about the moral mentality of America?

JAMES KERR

Laguna Beach

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Re “Set Presidency Back on Course,” Commentary, March 19: Harry Gelman’s idea regarding consensus as a requirement for future impeachment proceedings has genuine merit. The Constitution was framed at a time when political parties did not exist. Although they rapidly emerged, nonetheless, the framework of our country’s governance imagined individuals choosing to impeach or not, rather than bloc voting by party adherents. Richard Nixon’s actions were condemned across party lines because in fact they did betray his office.

The politicizing of Clinton’s personal lapse demonstrates the reality that only consensus is suitable for such dire necessity as an impeachment is meant to be. In fact, why not begin to expect cooperation as a routine behavior from our elected officials? I am heartily sickened by the chronic infusion of conflict in every piece of legislation at every level of government.

KAREN ROBINSON-STARK

Tujunga