Salon | Letters to the editor

_______________SPECIAL REPORT: FALSE WITNESS BY MURRAY WAAS (08/12/98-08/17/98)

Thank you for the various illuminating articles on Whitewater, Monica and all the rest of the "gates." Your reporters are clear, fair and report with an integrity that surprisingly seems to be missing in the so-called mainstream press.
I have just finished the first two articles on David Hale, and I inwardly cringe to think that such a man, aided by Clinton-haters, determined to undo the last two general elections, could have wrought such damage to President Clinton, and ultimately to this nation. These mudslingers need to be exposed. Thank you.
-- John S. Branche
I am actually a Clinton supporter, but I'm getting a little tired of Salon's endless explorations (as formidably reported as they are) of the connections between Clinton accusers and wealthy Clinton enemies.
As I remember, Clinton had some connections of his own with Hale. If he's such a scary, corrupt guy, why was Clinton associating with him in the first place? I don't think anyone -- Starr, Clinton, Salon -- comes out looking too good from this skunk den, though I do appreciate how hard you're working to figure this thing out.
-- Steve Filmanowicz
I think it is fair to consider that Murray Waas will become to Whitewater what Woodward and Bernstein were to Watergate. The real Whitewater story is the "vast right-wing conspiracy" and how it hoodwinked most Americans, used the mainstream press to advance its political agenda and abused the legal system in an attempt to bring down President Clinton. How far they have gone and how close they have gotten is really frightening.
Hopefully we will see the end of this endless "investigation" by Kenneth Starr with the president and the country still intact. Then Americans can begin to look back at what really happened here, who was responsible and hold them accountable. I think the work of Waas and others like him will be a road map for Michael Shaheen and others who will be instrumental in righting the wrongs of Whitewater and the "radical right."
Thank you, Murray. Thank you, freedom of the press. Thank you, Salon. And God bless the USA!
-- Chester F. DeWitt
Having lived in the United States for about 14 years, I have had a chance to observe U.S. politics at length. One trait that stands out is the public's expectations of politicians.
It never ceases to amaze me how, knowing the corrupt, sneaky, wheeling-dealing nature of politicians in general (yes, quite a lot of them), some of the public expect that, when in office, the politician sits at the right hand of God. Suddenly, all past misbehavings and indiscretions seem never to have existed, and a halo is mysteriously placed above their heads.
The Starr/Clinton waste-of-money investigation has been a good example of this, illustrating how the puritanical Republicans have been squawking about Clinton's private business (as if they'd never strayed off the straight and narrow). I'm sure there are a few of them out there with even more skeletons in the closet.
Humans we are, lest we forget. We are liable to mess things up, make foolish mistakes and sometimes not learn from them. We must also realize that when it comes to politics, the character does not always count, but action does. Of course, we would like the best of both worlds: a politician who is clean in mind, body and soul, and who does a good job in office, but that is all just fantasy.
-- Glynis Wears

_______________CLINTON'S SEXUAL SCORCHED-EARTH PLAN BY JONATHAN BRODER AND HARRY JAFFE (08/05/98)

It is sad to see how low our country has sunk, when the president will resort to extortion and intimidation. I guess the files that were illegally obtained had a purpose. Where's the outrage from the press on this matter? I hope they have files on you guys, too. It would serve you right for not doing your job of reporting these abuses.
-- Martin Wayss
I say let's scorch the earth. Washington's sexual peccadilloes aside, this is not what I elected these officials to do on my time. If they choose to have a dalliance, let them do it on their time. Washington, D.C., is sounding more and more like a brothel than the democratic center of the free world. If our elected officials are not held accountable for their actions, our government will continue to be pilfered by people who feel they are above the law and accountable to no one.
-- Tracy T. Strawn
Bakersfield, Calif.
To paraphrase the Bard, "methinks thou dost intimidate too much." This editorial piece of trash, which most thoughtful and responsible newspapers and media sources would refuse to publish, had no factual evidence even close to its vicinity, and is itself further evidence of the White House spin machine going into the "intimidate" cycle. If valid evidence of perjury and/or obstruction of justice exists, impeach the man and do it quickly. If not, exonerate him. The same goes for congressional improprieties of an illegal nature. In short, put up or shut up, Salon. If you have evidence of criminal activity, publish it. Honestly, that goof Drudge does a better job than you guys.
-- Roger Davis
McKinney, Texas
There is one fatal flaw in the "scorched-earth" theory: Very few Republicans want this president to leave office. Look at Clinton's approval ratings. He has 70 percent approval of the job he is doing. Now we know that Democrats do not make up 70 percent of the population, so there must be a large group of Republicans that wants the president to continue as he has. I am one of those Republicans.
I ignore everything this president says since I won't believe anything he says. I judge a man by what he does and this president has some great accomplishments to his credit. He destroyed the Democratic majority in the House and Senate, balanced the budget, stopped further expansion of the government, removed welfare as an entitlement, made NATO impotent, made the United Nations useless, bankrupted the Democratic congressional campaign and implicated Democratic contributors with foreign manipulators.
The great Ronald Reagan would have thought these goals impossible, but Bill Clinton has accomplished them all. If you are looking for the impeachment of this president, don't look to the Republicans to do it. They are giddy about the job he is doing.
-- Dennis Peterson
SALON | Aug. 19, 1998

R E C E N T L Y+| EVEREST DEBATE, ROUND TWO BY JON KRAKAUER AND WESTON DEWALT

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_______________SPECIAL REPORT: FALSE WITNESS BY MURRAY WAAS (08/12/98-08/17/98)
	Thank you for the various illuminating articles on Whitewater, Monica and all the rest of the "gates." Your reporters are clear, fair and report with an integrity that surprisingly seems to be missing in the so-called mainstream press. I have just finished the first two articles on David Hale, and I inwardly cringe to think that such a man, aided by Clinton-haters, determined to undo the last two general elections, could have wrought such damage to President Clinton, and ultimately to this nation. These mudslingers need to be exposed. Thank you. -- John S. Branche I am actually a Clinton supporter, but I'm getting a little tired of Salon's endless explorations (as formidably reported as they are) of the connections between Clinton accusers and wealthy Clinton enemies. As I remember, Clinton had some connections of his own with Hale. If he's such a scary, corrupt guy, why was Clinton associating with him in the first place? I don't think anyone -- Starr, Clinton, Salon -- comes out looking too good from this skunk den, though I do appreciate how hard you're working to figure this thing out. -- Steve Filmanowicz I think it is fair to consider that Murray Waas will become to Whitewater what Woodward and Bernstein were to Watergate. The real Whitewater story is the "vast right-wing conspiracy" and how it hoodwinked most Americans, used the mainstream press to advance its political agenda and abused the legal system in an attempt to bring down President Clinton. How far they have gone and how close they have gotten is really frightening. Hopefully we will see the end of this endless "investigation" by Kenneth Starr with the president and the country still intact. Then Americans can begin to look back at what really happened here, who was responsible and hold them accountable. I think the work of Waas and others like him will be a road map for Michael Shaheen and others who will be instrumental in righting the wrongs of Whitewater and the "radical right." Thank you, Murray. Thank you, freedom of the press. Thank you, Salon. And God bless the USA! -- Chester F. DeWitt Having lived in the United States for about 14 years, I have had a chance to observe U.S. politics at length. One trait that stands out is the public's expectations of politicians. It never ceases to amaze me how, knowing the corrupt, sneaky, wheeling-dealing nature of politicians in general (yes, quite a lot of them), some of the public expect that, when in office, the politician sits at the right hand of God. Suddenly, all past misbehavings and indiscretions seem never to have existed, and a halo is mysteriously placed above their heads. The Starr/Clinton waste-of-money investigation has been a good example of this, illustrating how the puritanical Republicans have been squawking about Clinton's private business (as if they'd never strayed off the straight and narrow). I'm sure there are a few of them out there with even more skeletons in the closet. Humans we are, lest we forget. We are liable to mess things up, make foolish mistakes and sometimes not learn from them. We must also realize that when it comes to politics, the character does not always count, but action does. Of course, we would like the best of both worlds: a politician who is clean in mind, body and soul, and who does a good job in office, but that is all just fantasy. -- Glynis Wears
_______________CLINTON'S SEXUAL SCORCHED-EARTH PLAN BY JONATHAN BRODER AND HARRY JAFFE (08/05/98)
	It is sad to see how low our country has sunk, when the president will resort to extortion and intimidation. I guess the files that were illegally obtained had a purpose. Where's the outrage from the press on this matter? I hope they have files on you guys, too. It would serve you right for not doing your job of reporting these abuses. -- Martin Wayss I say let's scorch the earth. Washington's sexual peccadilloes aside, this is not what I elected these officials to do on my time. If they choose to have a dalliance, let them do it on their time. Washington, D.C., is sounding more and more like a brothel than the democratic center of the free world. If our elected officials are not held accountable for their actions, our government will continue to be pilfered by people who feel they are above the law and accountable to no one. -- Tracy T. Strawn Bakersfield, Calif. To paraphrase the Bard, "methinks thou dost intimidate too much." This editorial piece of trash, which most thoughtful and responsible newspapers and media sources would refuse to publish, had no factual evidence even close to its vicinity, and is itself further evidence of the White House spin machine going into the "intimidate" cycle. If valid evidence of perjury and/or obstruction of justice exists, impeach the man and do it quickly. If not, exonerate him. The same goes for congressional improprieties of an illegal nature. In short, put up or shut up, Salon. If you have evidence of criminal activity, publish it. Honestly, that goof Drudge does a better job than you guys. -- Roger Davis McKinney, Texas There is one fatal flaw in the "scorched-earth" theory: Very few Republicans want this president to leave office. Look at Clinton's approval ratings. He has 70 percent approval of the job he is doing. Now we know that Democrats do not make up 70 percent of the population, so there must be a large group of Republicans that wants the president to continue as he has. I am one of those Republicans. I ignore everything this president says since I won't believe anything he says. I judge a man by what he does and this president has some great accomplishments to his credit. He destroyed the Democratic majority in the House and Senate, balanced the budget, stopped further expansion of the government, removed welfare as an entitlement, made NATO impotent, made the United Nations useless, bankrupted the Democratic congressional campaign and implicated Democratic contributors with foreign manipulators. The great Ronald Reagan would have thought these goals impossible, but Bill Clinton has accomplished them all. If you are looking for the impeachment of this president, don't look to the Republicans to do it. They are giddy about the job he is doing. -- Dennis Peterson SALON \| Aug. 19, 1998