Independent Counsel Report on the net today

Today is the big day. The independent counsel's report on President Clinton. For the first time the people and the president will see the allegations being made against him. Months of speculation will either be proven correct or forgotten. In a meeting with fellow doemocrats yesterday Clinton is reported to have said there will me no more surprises.

I was asked by a friend this morning if I was going to mirror the documents on one of my servers. At the time I thought sure, it's simple enough I can do that I went on to tell myself that it would be a help to people trying ot access the information. You'll notice however that is is not linked from here. There was a fairly low profile story about the President's request to have 48 hours to lok at the report first.

48 Hours

The congress denied the President's request for 48 hours. In their eyes this information is critical enough that we must all be able to read it before we go home for the weekend. Perhaps they think we'll have a better weekend because of it. Perhaps they're forgetting the skeletons in their own closets. But more importantly they are subverting the very processes that cCongresses before them have found so important. Due process is so fundemental, yet currently being ignored by Congress.

Due Process

Yes, our system is slow. It took months to release Mr. Simpson. However, it system worked. Due proecess allowed Simpson to show reasonable doubt about his guilt. Later he was convicted on civil charges, but the criminal process worked. Mr. McVeigh's trial was also ruled by due process. It's a time consuming and precise process when applied properly.

The President requested 48 hours so he could respond to the allegations against him at the same time as they were released. Congress, however is driving forward. When, and if, the President responds it will be at a later date. It will not get the press of the current release. It will soon be forgotten, just what Congress wants.

We seem to forget... this report and that of any special prosecutor or independent counsel is only a set of allegaitons. Mr. Clinton hasn't had a chance to reply. It would be like trying Mr. Simpson but not allowing him to present a defense.

Mother Jones is conducting a poll on the reasons prominent democrats have distanced themselves from President recently. Of the 626 people voting so far, almost 95% believe that they are acting selfishly, instead of out of a sense of national interest. The poll is not scientific.

Can we trust a Congress that denies basic rights to government officials?

Proven Guilty

The body of evidence against President Clinton is no greater than that of many other politicians. According to a former aide Mr. Gingrich was once found with a woman burried in his lap as the aide approached the car with Gingrich's daughter. (Mother Jones, 1984)

What, then do we do if Mr. Clinton is proven guilty. He's admitted to having an inapproprate relationship. Do we require that he resign? What doess the country gain from that? Does the economy improve or do we feel better about life? Will our children be more moral? I think we won't find any of these to be true. Congress may feel more powerful because they took down the President. Mr. Starr may think himself vindicated and the tons of money he spent a "good investment."

We'll each go to bed owing the same people, fighting the same struggles, giving praise for the same things and knowing more about Mr. Clinton's sex life than I care to. Perhaps we should have short-cut the house and sent Mr. Starr's reporte directly to Playboy where it will likely find a more appreciative following.

Filters

There was a report on NPR last night that several common internet filters will not allow access to the Starr report. Our children can see murders on television but can't read about what our President has done in the Whitehouse. What a world we've built.

Ballance is a key to life and perhaps we all need to check our personal filters. Why do we so readily forgive sports stars who abuse others yet want to rid ourselves of politicians who have consentual sex? Our children idolize the sports stars and are taught at an early age to scorn the politicians.

It probably won't make a whole lot of difference in the grand scheme of things, but I won't post the report today. I'll post it when Mr. Clinton has had a chance to respond to the allegations.