I will say this, though, which is something I've been thinking about long before I posted my comments about Clinton's legacy:
If someone had not broken the story about Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton's affair, there would have been no scandal. There would have been no investigation. There would have been no need for Clinton to lie. There would have been no need for an impeachment hearing.
I, and most every other conservative have made a mountain out of a molehill about this case and have done precisely what we criticize the Liberals of doing. Sensationalizing a minor flaw in a President. Making it seem worse than it is, so to speak.
Yes, He cheated on his wife. Yes, he was weak and used bad judgment. Yes, he lied about the whole thing. Yes, and when it became obvious that he was caught in the lie, he went into defense mode, and launched a counter attack, going after Ken Starr and others, and alledgedly ordering the IRS to do impromptu audits of his perceived enemies.
As I have said, How different things might have been if he had simply called a press conference, and said,
"Yes, I did have sex with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky. I was wrong. I broke the covenant I have with my wife and with the American people. There is no excuse for my reprehensible behavior. I am sorry. I have discussed this with the First Lady, and I have apologized to her and I have promised to never do it again, and she has been gracious enough to forgive me, although no one would blame her if she didn't. I certainly wouldn't. And now, I feel it is my obligation to you, the American people, to offer my sincerest and most humble apology. I promise I will not do it again. That is the end of this matter and I will discuss it no further and I will not seek revenge against those who have brought this matter to the attention of the American people."
Don't get me wrong. I still don't think he was a very good president. I still think he was corrupt. But that is not the issue I am addressing here today.
Now. During this time of natural disaster following on the heels of natural disaster, and the continually depressing news about the war in Iraq, and the uncertainty of the future of the World and the United States,.
I think it is important to remember Who is really in control. Where there seems to be no hope, there is Hope. Here are the words to a song recorded by Twila Paris:This is no time for fear
This is a time for faith and determination
Don't lose the vision here
Carried away by emotion
Hold on to all that you hide in your heart
There is one thing that has always been true
It holds the world together
God is in control
We believe that His children will not be forsaken
God is in control
We will choose to remember and never be shaken
There is no power above or beside Him, we know
God is in control, oh God is in control
History marches on
There is a bottom line drawn across the ages
Culture can make its plan
Oh, but the line never changes
No matter how the deception may fly
There is one thing that has always been true
It will be true forever
God is in control
We believe that His children will not be forsaken
God is in control
We will choose to remember and never be shaken
There is no power above or beside Him, we know
God is in control, oh God is in control
He has never let you down
Why start to worry now?
He is still the Lord of all we see
And He is still the loving Father
Watching over you and me
watching over you...watching over me..
watching over every thing..
watching over you..watching over me..
every little sparrow..every little thing...Oh
God is in control
We believe that His children will not be forsaken
God is in control
We will choose to remember and never be shaken
There is no power above or beside Him, we know
God is in control, oh God is in control.
I feel better already.
18 comments:
Hello leftfieldperspectives,
I'm a random surfer/blogger new to this. I can't tell your age but I will say you remind me of my father. He would have expected me to act honestly at the ATM. He's long gone but your blog brought his memory back to me.
I guess I forgive Clinton for giving North Korea nuclear capability.
I also forgive him for giving China our missile technology.
I also forgive him for sending our troops to die for nothing in Somalia.
I also forgive him for allowing a degenerate like Donna Shalala to be the head of HHS.........And putting her kindred-spirit in Pedophilia on the Supreme Court.
Blah, blah, blah..........Ya, I forgive the son of a bitch alright.
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Oh, and I guess I forgive him for telling the children of America that blow jobs aren't sex.
PP obviously is without sin, and is a geopolitical genius besides.
--ER
Mark, there you have it: An asshole from each extreme. You have struck balance.
--ER
I'm not sure that is what I wanted, ER, to be hated by all sides.
I wasn't attempting to excuse anyone for anything. I am just attempting to point out that there are choices made by all that are better left alone in the interest of "getting along".
JFK frequently engaged in extra-marital liasons, but the media, in his day chose to ignore them, and even Republicans to this day revere the man.
If we refuse to allow petty things, unimportant things, to distract us from the things that are really important, we cannot concentrate on the life or death issues, like terrorismm for instance.
Looking for chinks in anyones armour is self defeating. That goes for all ideologies, not just mine or yours.
Democrats look for any little thing to attack Bush about,and Republicans look for any little thing to attack the Democrats, and it's just stupid. We are fighting a war for our principles--Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
We cannot afford to be distracted from that purpose by petty squabbling.
Considering the source (ER), I consider that last blast as a compliment.
No hate here, Mark......I'm just in a forgiving mood. Never.
I do wish you Liberals would come to my blog.......I'd love your counter-points.
PP, you're not looking to have a discussion, or even a genuine argument, over at your place and you know it. You're looking for your mirror image on the left: a venom-spewing, not-very-critically-thinking extremist like yourself.
That ain't me. So, so thanks.
--ER
And you call me a master of the cheap shot! First, Mary and now Pero. tsk tsk.
ER you are killing me........Why is it when Conservatives fight back they are called names?
You know the Left gives it out much better and stronger than the Right.
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By the way, I hope I still hold the Title Belt, as the "Rightiest, of the Right-Wing Righties".
That was one of my favorites......If memory serves me correctly, you hit on Mary on that day too.
Even with a tone of hope we have been reduced to mere political lines. The Clinton scandal was jacked up, but I am ticked off about Bush's national budget.
If we wanted to truly pinpoint all of the shortcomings of every president, we'd probably have no one left to revere. Abraham Lincoln was against the idea of freeing the slaves. That's upsetting to me, but he still did it.
I say that we choose to celebrate the progress of our nation while learning from our MANY shortcomings.
For the record, I'm conservative, but I respect all sensible and logical debates from liberals. You may even find that I, too, am logical.
Great post, Mark.
This whole discussion here is what I hate most about blogs. Mark made a sensible point in his post about the futility of politics being overcome by petty personal issues, and then he was ambushed by hateful rhetoric from both sides. ER is correct about Pero, who's purpose appears to be to incite and antagonize rather than to inform and engage in an exchange. And Bruiser does much the same.
The internet should be a great place for discussion and debate and exchange of ideas, but it tends to pull people apart rather than bring them together. All of us who blog about subjects political tend to revert back to partisan talking points and prejudices, whehter we realize it or not - and don't any of you say you don't, because I've read all your blogs (the people who have posted in this thread).
The truth is this: neither the Republicans nor the Democrats are serving the U.S. well, and people on both sides of the ideological divide should wake up and realize this rather than spending so much energy defending their party. It is the politicians in power who are doing all of the damage - not the regular average Joes and Janes who post on these blogs. We shouldn't be attacking "liberals" and "conservatives" as being damaging to the country, because we're all equally powerless. The two big parties are in bed with the corporate elite, and that's who they serve. I'm liberal, but I would rather have a conservative with independence and integrity in power in the U.S. than the garden-variety Democrat. I'd love to see blogs that stick to ideas and not be dragged into the cesspool of the political side of politics.
I could be wrong, but if I re-read this entire comment board on this post, I don't think I'm the most absurd or beligerent person here.
Sure I sent a few pot-shots, but I didn't attack Mark (I'm pretty sure he knows this), and I didn't personally attack Press, Bruiser, or anyone here......I admit I did come to Mary's defense.
I can't say this is the case in Press's case........Plenty of personal shots, but that's ok. It's not the first time, and won't be the last.
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As far as politics, all of you paying attention know I bang on Bush and the Republicans. In fact they piss me off more than anyone else, because I have hope for them.
My blog has a topic called "Republicans in Wonderland" which is devoted to the deficiencies of the party. --> And I don't hold any punches.
Oh well, can't please everyone......See ya at the next post party.
Just for kicks I took a quick look back at Press's comments:
"asshole" x2, "venom-spewing", "extremist", "prick".
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I must admit, I called Clinton an SOB.........My bad.
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Have a good night everyone.
The thing is, Clinton did perjure himself and also suborned perjury, both impeachable offenses.
The other thing is, I read ER's list of Clinton's accomplishments the other day, and for a moment was tempted to change my mind.
As I've never made a secret of: I've always thought that Clinton was actually a Republican in Progessive's clothing, the Earned Income Credit his only legacy.
The thing is, in terms of the economic gains during his administration, those were based on an entirely illusory surge due to the extreme amount of betting (no other word for it) on the stock market on the dot-coms, many of which ultimately failed. This led us into a deep hole, even before 9/11.
It's an article of faith that blaming any particular president for the economy is foolish. I agree: all we were doing was investing in new technology, which is never a bad idea.
That still doesn't let Clinton off the hook, just like saying Clinton was awful doesn't let the even worse guy we have up there now off, either.
And it still cracks me up when I remember Harold Ickes, Jr. calling the Senate judiciary committee a buncha hypocrites for asking the original question that resulted in the perjury. That was a classic.
He was right. And I think that he then failed to answer any of the questions put to him, which makes him no better than the people he insulted that day.
Politics. What can I say?
I answered venom with venom last night, which makes me a hypocrite. I apologize, and I'm sorry.
--ER
And I just removed my bile, because I was embarrassed to leave it there.
Thank God it's a new day.
--ER
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