# God, Clinton, won't you ever just go away? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 20, 2002, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963 "2002-12-20T03:34:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963/21 "2002-12-20T07:42:18Z")
No great feelings one way or another for the man, but as long as his mere existence is capable of driving some people into incoherently squealing fits, I’m quite happy to have him around, if just for the humor value of the rants he provokes. And that goes double for his wife. ---
**Author:** ![Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raymond_luxury_yacht/32/4099_2.png) [@Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raymond_Luxury_Yacht)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963/22 "2002-12-20T07:45:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by danceswithcats \* > \*\* That said, it’s time for minorities to stop whining about oppression. Sufficient opportunities have been extended to minorities such that the current generation of WASPs need not bear the scourge of our great-great grandfathers. It’s over, grow up, get on with your life, and quit your bitching. \*\* 😕 To which instances of opression are you referring? Are any of these ‘sufficient opportunities’ happening in the schools where the poorest of the poor reside? (BTW, there’s plenty of white folk there as well) Are 5th generation WASPs being singled out as perpetrators without my consent? ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963/23 "2002-12-20T07:52:02Z")
Preach it, Scotticher! ---
**Author:** ![Tejota](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Tejota](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tejota)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963/24 "2002-12-20T08:08:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Moto \* > \*\*Ample evidence exists, **Scotticher**. > > His “Hymietown” remarks are far worse than what Trent Lott said. \*\* Oh, nonsense. You can’t possibly believe that the use of a racial slur was WORSE than a longing for the return of segregation. But even if we accept your idiotic weighing of their remarks, it makes no difference. Because Democrats would never elect Jackson to high office, while republicans not only did elect Lott. They chose him to be the leader of the senate! It’s telling that in order to find any evidence of racism in the democratic party, you have to look at the powerless fringes or go back 30 years. But to find evidence of racism in the republican party, we only have to go back a few weeks. Go back to the last election, and you can find veiled racist behavior from ALL of the top 3 powers in the republican party. ---
**Author:** ![Pythagras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/45deac/32.png) [@Pythagras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pythagras)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963/25 "2002-12-20T08:12:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by danceswithcats \* > \*\*An informed opinion will come from reading a text such as ‘The Fiery Cross’ which explains how the KKK came to power, and which political parties were backers at various times. Neither side of the aisle is free of dirt on their shoes. That said, it’s time for minorities to stop whining about oppression. Sufficient opportunities have been extended to minorities such that the current generation of WASPs need not bear the scourge of our great-great grandfathers. It’s over, grow up, get on with your life, and quit your bitching. \*\* I think they’ll stop “whining” when society stops saying they are in some sort of “minority” and whites are in the “majority.” Theyre all just people. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963/26 "2002-12-20T10:41:05Z")
Tell me, **RobertTB** , does it bother you that Ronald Reagan lied under oath during Iran-Contra or that he subverted the will of the America people? I never have believed that he didn’t recall what he said he didn’t while under investigation. Then we’ve got that fine, upstanding Republican Richard Nixon who was outright impeached. I’m an independent and no great fan of either major party, but I suspect it really bothers some people that Clinton was elected not once, but twice. Deal with it, people. I didn’t vote for him either, but I don’t believe he’s the Anti-Christ incarnate as some of you seem to. CJ ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963/27 "2002-12-20T13:06:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cjhoworth \* > \*\*Then we’ve got that fine, upstanding Republican Richard Nixon who was outright impeached. \*\* Um. No. The only presidents who have ever been impeached are Clinton and Johnson (Andrew). **Tejota** …go back 30 years or look to the powerless fringes? Eh? Robert Byrd’s remarks on “white niggers” wasn’t racist? You don’t think that those remarks reveal the true nature of a former KKK member? ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963/28 "2002-12-20T13:12:45Z")
In whose administration did we manage to acheive a financial surplus? Where is that surplus now? ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963/29 "2002-12-20T13:19:18Z")
**Neurotik** , you’re partially right. Nixon resigned in the face of impeachment. I don’t remember how far along things got since I was only a little kid at the time. People tried to impeach Clinton, but the only thing which was proven was sexual pecadilloes and he did not resign. If we start impeaching people for lying about extra-marital sex, I suspect we’re going to see a large portion of Congress go. CJ ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963/30 "2002-12-20T14:03:26Z")
Actually, **Neurotik** was right; Clinton was impeached, he just wasn’t removed from office. Impeachment does not mean a removal from office; they’re two separate procedures. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963/31 "2002-12-20T14:06:18Z")
What **Sublight** said. The cheap thrill of watching the Right tear at their hair, get red in the face and foam at the mouth at the very idea of Willie even being a public figure at all has been a sort of “guilty pleasure” _ever since '92_. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963/32 "2002-12-20T14:10:32Z")
This thread is proving to be a gold mine of inaccurate statements, including who was and wasn’t impeached. Lott did not call for a return of segregation. What he said was bad enough without embellishments. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963/33 "2002-12-20T14:11:44Z")
An addendum and clarification: to be removed from office, the president must be impeached first. So, the processes aren’t entirely separate like I may have indicated. Also, the only time the president _must_ be removed from office when impeached is if he/she has been judged guilty of “…treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors…”. [This is a fairly good page for further clarification.](http://www.miketodd.net/encyc/impeach1.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963/34 "2002-12-20T14:18:28Z")
Slight highjack… I was and still am a big fan of Clinton. When he was in office I could never understand the fiery eyed head spinning maniacal venemous hatred some of his opponents expressed. I mean, disagree with his positions, sure, oppose his politics, ok, but the level of visceral angry hatred was always a puzzle to me. How could someone feel that way about an elected leader? Then George W. Bush came along and it all became clear to me… ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963/35 "2002-12-20T14:28:06Z")
Clinton won’t go away because conservatives won’t let him. A lot of people act like “Gee, let’s deflect any and all criticism of the Bush administration, but HOW? I know, let’s keep bashing Clinton!” I also love how the same people who say that we shouldn’t pick on Bush’s mistakes by saying we have to “respect the office of the president” are usually the same people who did nothing but mock Clinton for 8 years. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963/36 "2002-12-20T14:33:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cjhoworth \* > **Neurotik, you’re partially right. Nixon resigned in the face of impeachment. I don’t remember how far along things got since I was only a little kid at the time. People tried to impeach Clinton, but the only thing which was proven was sexual pecadilloes and he did not resign. If we start impeaching people for lying about extra-marital sex, I suspect we’re going to see a large portion of Congress go.** No, I’m completely right, as **Skip** has pointed out 🙂 As for that last sentence, it’s inaccurate unless you know of a lot of Congress members that are 1) lying about affairs, and 2) doing it under oath. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963/37 "2002-12-20T14:37:32Z")
**Elwood** , that post was gorgeous. Indeed, long after Clinton is dead and buried, Republicans will be breaking out their shovels to take a few more shots at the corpse. And it really is amusing, what with all the frothing at the mouth and the Vince Foster conspiracies. Good stuff! **’punha** , I was being sarcastic in response to Bobby Boy’s simple-minded drivel. My alternative response was \*Boy, that changes everything. Thanks for the heads-up, **Robert TB** ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963/38 "2002-12-20T14:39:47Z")
Here’s the [full “interview” transcript](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dec0203.html#121902353pm). I bet it will **really** piss you off. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963/39 "2002-12-20T15:17:41Z")
Rabid Clinton bashing never ceases to amaze me. When the Monica thing first came to light, people were calling for his impeachment for having an affair. “What an awful man”, they said, “unable to contol his animal urges.” Then when he was caught in a lie, those same people said, “We really don’t care that he had an affair. It’s the lying that’s so awful.” Just admit it, people. You don’t really care at all what he did. It’s that in blind hatred, you’s find any reason whatsoever to bring that man down. It’s telling that even after he’s gone, _people are still trying to bring him down!_ ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963/40 "2002-12-20T15:45:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Tell me, RobertTB, does it bother you that Ronald Reagan lied under oath during Iran-Contra… Reagan never lied under oath. **Scotticher** - the investigation that led to Clinton lying under oath was of his sexual harassment of Paula Jones. As to who else in the country was harmed by Clinton (besides his wife and daughter), I think the whole country was demeaned by a President who would lie after taking a solemn oath not to. Of course, you would also have to include Paula Jones, Juanita Broaderrick, and Kathleen Willey to the list of those harmed by Clinton. Also keeping in mind that everyone except the Clintons who were involved in Whitewater were found guilty, so maybe a little blame might accrue to Clinton for that as well. I expect the missiles Clinton fired off to try to escape impeachment might have hurt someone. The head of the White House travel office, whose life the Clintons ruined so as to be able to get the business for one of their cronies, would qualify as well. Remember Filegate? One wonders why alleged violations of privacy in pursuit of terrorists are the subject of so much hysteria, whereas the memory of some ex-nightclub bouncer combing thru the FBI files of Clinton’s political enemies seems to drop into the memory hole. Regards, Shodan [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-clinton-wont-you-ever-just-go-away/143963.md?page=3)