Salon Newsreal | Months of sleaze

A L S O+T O D A Y

Unequal rights for haters
By Ishmael Reed
White hate groups and their friends get a free pass from the media, while black haters are routinely savaged

Black like me
By Joan Walsh
The smearing of White House lawyer Cheryl Mills raised my nationalist ire -- but I'm white

Ask Pat Robertson
By James Poniewozik
The reverend says his call to halt impeachment was just "political analysis." A look at Pat Robertson's worldly wisdom

T A B L E+T A L K
Obituaries 1999. Remember those who've passed on in the Headlines area of Table Talk
___________________
Visit barnesandnoble.com for politics books on both sides of the aisle
___________________

R E C E N T L Y
Stalking the president
By Mollie Dickenson
Linda Tripp could help Julie Hiatt Steele -- and President Clinton -- refute Kathleen Willey's charges
(01/22/99)
The tide turns -- again
By Joshua Micah Marshall
A week into the impeachment trial, Senate Republicans may be looking for a way out that doesn't embarrass their colleagues in the House
(01/22/99)
The war against sprawl, I
By Rob Gurwitt
Think Al Gore's "smart growth" plan is a no-brainer? Think again
(01/21/99)
The war against sprawl, II
By Susan Zakin
It's owls against developers in Arizona's Oro Valley
(01/21/99)
We interrupt this impeachment ...
By Joshua Micah Marshall
Two years in a row, Clinton's State of the Union address proves he won't follow the Presidential Tragedy script
(01/20/99)
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MONTHS OF SLEAZE | PAGE 1, 2
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The Democrats will not let the Republicans get away with a quick dog-and-pony show if they call Lewinsky and other potential witnesses, such as presidential secretary Betty Currie, Clinton friend Vernon Jordan and other alleged Clinton paramours, Daschle said. If the Republicans insist on taking depositions from witnesses, he said, the Democrats will insist on cross-examining them, which will open the doors to months more of "ugly" proceedings.
"The Republicans would like to bring in Monica rather quickly and ask a few questions just so they can say, 'We did it,' and then get on with it. But I don't think it's that simple," he said. Could White House lawyers feel compelled to pursue Lewinsky's past flings, such as the one alleged by her former college professor? "Yes, that's right," Daschle said.
A proposal by veteran West Virginia Democrat Robert Byrd to dismiss the charges against Clinton, widely heralded on Friday, especially when television evangelist Pat Robertson declared the impeachment effort "over," would fail at present, Daschle also said. But Republicans still don't have 67 votes to convict him.
"Things are incredibly fluid and volatile right now. I think they're volatile in part because sides are hardening, and ... because sides are hardening, I'm not sure whether we have any real prospect of bringing people over." Solutions to the deadlock are being kicked around by "little cabals of senators," he said, with none currently gaining momentum. He predicted the Senate would vote on the issues of deposing witnesses and dismissing the charges Monday.
"I would say there's a 70 percent chance right now that we're going to have a vote on dismissal and a vote on witnesses, and I don't know what will happen. My guess is that dismissal will fail and the vote to depose witnesses will succeed. "
Then what?
"If we go down the witnesses road, this thing is going to take a while," Daschle said, his voice thick with regret. "We're gonna fight to protect the rights of the White House to ensure that they can take full advantage of discovery, and to have the period that will be required for them to prepare for whomever they bring [as witnesses]."
How long will impeachment drag on? "[Presidential lawyer David] Kendall said months, and I don't think that's an exaggeration," Daschle said.
SALON | Jan. 24, 1999
Jeff Stein is a Salon correspondent in Washington.

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Clinton in Crisis
Salon's complete coverage of the investigation, impeachment and trial of the president.

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A L S O+T O D A Y Unequal rights for haters By Ishmael Reed White hate groups and their friends get a free pass from the media, while black haters are routinely savaged Black like me By Joan Walsh The smearing of White House lawyer Cheryl Mills raised my nationalist ire -- but I'm white Ask Pat Robertson By James Poniewozik The reverend says his call to halt impeachment was just "political analysis." A look at Pat Robertson's worldly wisdom T A B L E+T A L K Obituaries 1999. Remember those who've passed on in the Headlines area of Table Talk ___________________ Visit barnesandnoble.com for politics books on both sides of the aisle ___________________ R E C E N T L Y Stalking the president By Mollie Dickenson Linda Tripp could help Julie Hiatt Steele -- and President Clinton -- refute Kathleen Willey's charges (01/22/99) The tide turns -- again By Joshua Micah Marshall A week into the impeachment trial, Senate Republicans may be looking for a way out that doesn't embarrass their colleagues in the House (01/22/99) The war against sprawl, I By Rob Gurwitt Think Al Gore's "smart growth" plan is a no-brainer? Think again (01/21/99) The war against sprawl, II By Susan Zakin It's owls against developers in Arizona's Oro Valley (01/21/99) We interrupt this impeachment ... By Joshua Micah Marshall Two years in a row, Clinton's State of the Union address proves he won't follow the Presidential Tragedy script (01/20/99) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Browse the Newsreal Archives - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
		MONTHS OF SLEAZE \| PAGE 1, 2 - - - - - - - - - - The Democrats will not let the Republicans get away with a quick dog-and-pony show if they call Lewinsky and other potential witnesses, such as presidential secretary Betty Currie, Clinton friend Vernon Jordan and other alleged Clinton paramours, Daschle said. If the Republicans insist on taking depositions from witnesses, he said, the Democrats will insist on cross-examining them, which will open the doors to months more of "ugly" proceedings. "The Republicans would like to bring in Monica rather quickly and ask a few questions just so they can say, 'We did it,' and then get on with it. But I don't think it's that simple," he said. Could White House lawyers feel compelled to pursue Lewinsky's past flings, such as the one alleged by her former college professor? "Yes, that's right," Daschle said. A proposal by veteran West Virginia Democrat Robert Byrd to dismiss the charges against Clinton, widely heralded on Friday, especially when television evangelist Pat Robertson declared the impeachment effort "over," would fail at present, Daschle also said. But Republicans still don't have 67 votes to convict him. "Things are incredibly fluid and volatile right now. I think they're volatile in part because sides are hardening, and ... because sides are hardening, I'm not sure whether we have any real prospect of bringing people over." Solutions to the deadlock are being kicked around by "little cabals of senators," he said, with none currently gaining momentum. He predicted the Senate would vote on the issues of deposing witnesses and dismissing the charges Monday. "I would say there's a 70 percent chance right now that we're going to have a vote on dismissal and a vote on witnesses, and I don't know what will happen. My guess is that dismissal will fail and the vote to depose witnesses will succeed. " Then what? "If we go down the witnesses road, this thing is going to take a while," Daschle said, his voice thick with regret. "We're gonna fight to protect the rights of the White House to ensure that they can take full advantage of discovery, and to have the period that will be required for them to prepare for whomever they bring [as witnesses]." How long will impeachment drag on? "[Presidential lawyer David] Kendall said months, and I don't think that's an exaggeration," Daschle said. SALON \| Jan. 24, 1999 Jeff Stein is a Salon correspondent in Washington. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Clinton in Crisis Salon's complete coverage of the investigation, impeachment and trial of the president. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Become a Salon member. Click here.