Lewinsky dominates Year 1998

The national media played out the Monica Lewinsky love affair with a fine tooth comb. This coverage dwarfed the OJ Simpson murder case and even dominated news events pertaining to the Asian crisis.

As a sinner, I’m not prepared to be self-righteous of how the impending US Senate trial on President Clinton would play out — censure or impeachment — though I have forgiven him, morally. While most of us may have taken the same position, it doesn’t however absolve the president from the legal tango he’s gotten himself into.

If senators review evidence to which Congressman Tom DeLay has recommended ocular examination, I’d have to agree that an impeachment could just as well “appear out of thin air”. Do the two articles of impeachment recently approved by the US House of Representatives rise to the level of an impeachable offense? We’d leave that to constitutional experts to dissect.

What makes the issue a difficult one had nothing to do with Clinton’s sexual escapade, as much as the rule of law on perjury and obstruction of justice. If he violated them, do we absolve him because he’s the commander in chief, therefore, above the law? I know that if a Joe Blow out in the streets perjured himself or obstructed justice, he’d be flying into his jail cell quicker than the blink of an eye. It boils down to protecting the integrity of our democratic institutions, specifically, the institution of the presidency over a political career of a pathalogical liar.

Too, President Clinton was never able to understand with clarity nor reconcile the difference between “honesty” and “guilt”. He feels guilty as manifested in his several apologies to the country. But he continues displaying his strength in the fully mastered game of spinning away from the truth. But then he’s also surrounded himself with spinmasters who now ponder how to broker their boss’s fate in the impending Senate trial.

It’s sad how Clinton has chanced ruining his place in US History. His centrist views has allowed him to pick-up on republican ideas and turn them into his very own. He’s quite a master in this aspect of national politics. But then it’s all gone down the tubes. Well, I’m afraid that as the US Senate puts Clinton to a trial early next year, 1999 may again dominate events for the rest of the year.

Indeed, my heart bleeds for Chelsea who had to endure emotional scars brought upon her and her mom from her father’s dalliance with the truth. I can envision how difficult it would be dealing with a permanent condition that would follow her everywhere for the rest of her life. Perhaps such is fated. I don’t know. But her father’s fate is now in the hands of 100 senators. It’s an opportunity to prove to ourselves once and for all whether our country is a nation of laws. In the words of Congressman DeLay “The United States of America is God’s country. God bless America!” I couldn’t agree more.

An island of haste

Each trip to and from work, motorists are only too eager to step on the gas pedal to get ahead of other motorists. Common courtesy is as foreign as the car they’re driving. Everybody is rushing as to force a rat race on publish highways basically everywhere. And this rock is supposed to be a relatively peaceful island.

I’m beginning to see motorists who’d brave redlights in high speed. This is one dangerous habit that needs to be pounded in by patrol officers. Just yesterday afternoon, a Toyota Camry pulled ahead of me right before the Dandan Shell gas station intersection. The driver signaled left as he turned right. If it was a joke, it’s the dumbest joke I’ve ever seen on public highways. Then you have bus drivers with tons of metal racing down W-2 Highway.

On rainy days, I’d give space to the car ahead of me just incase he slams the brakes on an emergency. I figure I’d have sufficient time to slow down too and avoid dining on pieces of broken windshield. But this defensive driving is instantly turned into a dangerous situation as pedal happy motorists slip right in between in high speed. I’d slow down some more to avoid Mr. Airhead. Friends, machoism on a mechanical device that you have no control over has no place on public roads. Take your time. It’s better late than never!