[SSJunkie68-69]

This is a car site right?

Just kidding, this has been a very enlightening debate of varying opinions that did not denigrate in to some all out slugfest complete with all types of bashing and personal attacks and insults. Way to handle this with class and dignity for everyone that has participated so far.

I do have some comments for you Bill specifically though and I would encourage others to join in as well. It pertains to Nixon's Watergate and Clinton's Sexgate. In reading your rebuttal, my take away from it is that you blame the malaise that settled in with the country and nation as a whole from '74-80 on Watergate and the fall out there after. You make it seem as if Nixon committed, to a certain extent, some great act of treason. I was in 3rd grade when this occurred so it didn't mean much to me then but as I studied it in school it was just one act of the "political process" that has been going on for a long long time. One side is trying to gain the upper hand on the other side for political gain. One of the main objectives of the break in was to find a information on donors but also to look for black book that contain the names of some "ladies" that went the extra mile to show their "commitment" and for their "do" who it takes attitude to help the Democratic party, (wink wink). Only this time the operatives got caught and the rest is, as we all know, history. They say politics is full of dirty tricks so it should surprise no one that things like this have happened in the past and have also happened since. I am not condoning it but merely stating it's a fact of life.

However, if you examine the "actions" that Clinton took with a White House intern, an employee of the federal government, where he completely and selfishly took advantage of his position of authority and abused it to the extent he went on TV and lied to the American people, when he uttered those infamous words " I did not have sex with that woman...Miss Lewinksy." I find this far worse than what Nixon did. Clinton than went on to lie about it and stone wall the American public until his actions and conduct lead to his vote of Impeachment. To me and to many of my contemporaries, Clinton desecrated the office of the most important positions in the world. At least Nixon had the stones to leave before a vote of impeachment took place and in doing so attempted to avoid further embarrassment and dishonor to the highest office in the world. Clinton chose not too and by lying to the American people in the manner and method which he did, remember the whole "define is" fiasco created more distrust for the office that any President following will be looked at with a microscope the size of the Washington Monument!

The media gave us Clinton and then they gave him a free pass. If Ford, Reagan or Bush senior had conducted something similar to what Clinton did there sure would be hell to pay. GW Bush is paying the price to a certain extent with the whole WMD's issue and our entrance in to war with Iraq but that's another issue. It's been nearly 10 years since Clinton lied and tried to cover up has actions to the American people. The country, as a whole, has not fallen into the malaise it did after Watergate. The economy has continued to grow, interest rates are low and inflation has been kept in check. To me, what caused the problems that occurred in '74-80 (including disco) were not all Watergate related and a result of the disillusionment of the American people with the political process.

In your opinion what was worse, Nixon's Watergate or Clinton's Sexgate?