-Caveat Lector-
>From the article: "There is almost a McCarthyist atmosphere," observed Rep.
Jim Moran (D-Va.). "This is not a place for saints. It is a toxic
atmosphere here and no one is immunized except for [Rep.] Barney Frank
[D-Mass.] because he has got no more secrets to hide. We may be men or
women. We may be gay or straight. But we are all human."
This is important from the standpoint that once all the closets are opened
and the skeletons exposed, there could be the sense that NOTHING matters
any more. People are elected/hired for what they can do for the
group/organisation (strengths), NOT for their ability to drag the
group/organisation down (foibles). "Foible"-ie people wind up in the
entertainment business (Vaudevill, Barnum & Bailey, Sally, and the rest).
Opening up may be the 12-step way of salvation but it must be done in
context, within the context of what it means on the personal front. The
fact (?) that Livingston may have had indiscretions in the past obviously
had nothing to do with his ability to be a Representative nor to be a
Speaker. The point I get from Flynt is if there is going to be a
McCarthy-istic purge, he's going to make sure everyone gets a shot at being
in the bull's eye. If one doesn't want a shot at being the target, don't
place anyone in the target zone. (Flynt knows about being a target.)
Chaos? Millenium? Perhaps. I still think the problem is the
overencroachment of people on their neighbours. For this reason, I am sure
the pioneers and explorers of years gone by left for th wide open spaces,
leaving this sort of behaviour to those who need(ed) it ... Flynt is an
interesting character inasmuch as he played the part of "exposer" two
decades ago; he pointed out back in the '70s, through the Hayes-Ray
"expose' ", the standards of decency and senses of propriety can be erased
in one issue. I view this as having been a caution.
One would think enough had become enough with all the foll-de-roll around
Diana Spencer. I consider part of her fate to be due to the complete
invasiveness of the media on her lives. The possibillity that she
orchestrated some what the media got was probably in part resignation and
revenge: "they're gonna do all this so I may as well have some fun with it
..." And all the media have taken that sort of reportage to be a
"standard" to attain. It's become the media of the absurd for TV
(TheatreVision).
>From RollCall.CoM
Members Worry That Sex Revelations Threaten Institution
------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Norah M. O'Donnell and Damon Chappie
There was a palpable sense of resignation on Capitol Hill.
Speaker-elect. Bob Livingston's (R-La.) decision to step down stunned his
colleagues on both sides of the aisle and left many of them with a sense
that Congress had become a different place overnight.
Rep. Richard Baker (R-La.) said he was "very upset" that Livingston's
resignation was caused by "a bounty on public officials' heads" placed by
Larry Flynt, the publisher of Hustler magazine.
Flynt was unapologetic in a telephone interview with Roll Call. "I'm happy
that I played any part in his resignation," said Flynt, who offered $1
million to anyone who came forward with proof of sexual infidelity
involving Members of Congress.
"This guy Livingston considered himself to be a real Romeo. He made Bill
Clinton look like Mary Poppins," Flynt charged, without offering proof to
back up his assertions.
"I am sure this was in his best interest to step aside. What is so
dumbfounding is why he ever sought the job to begin with," Flynt said.
Flynt suggested that the "stories would have come out anyway" even if he
had not offered his unprecedented bounty on the sexual lives of
politicians.
But while Flynt reveled in the havoc he wrought, both Republican and
Democratic Members were furious that Flynt was driving the day's politics.
"For [Livingston] to resign empowers the pornographers," said House
Judiciary Member Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.).
There was nearly unanimous agreement that the integrity of the institution
of Congress was being severely threatened by what many called a reign of
sexual McCarthyism.
"We need to stop destroying imperfect people at the altar of an
unattainable morality," implored House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt
(D-Mo.). In a moving speech that brought sustained, thundering applause,
Gephardt said "we are now rapidly descending into a politics where life
imitates farce, fratricide dominates our public debate and America is held
hostage to tactics of smear and fear."
In a strange comity not seen except on this last day of Congress on this
issue, Republicans too admitted their frailties.
"One of the things we have to realize is that we are electing human
beings," said House Judiciary Member Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who had
officially nominated Livingston as Speaker earlier this month. Graham,
however, praised Livingston's decision saying, "If you want a clear sign of
leadership, you got it today."
Rep. Jim Leach (R-Iowa) agreed. "It was an honorable thing to do," he said.
"He raised the bar for at least himself," added Rep. Anne Northup (R-Ky.)
But while Rep. Ralph Regula (R-Ohio) lauded Livingston, he offered a lesson
to his colleagues that he said he learned early on in his career. "If you
can't stand it on the front page, then don't do it."
Rep. Bill Young (R-Fla.), who will take over Livingston's post as
Appropriations chairman, said he wanted his close friend to reconsider his
resignation. Young also expressed concern for the institution he has served
in for 28 years.
"We are at the point where we hit rock bottom, and I now hope we are coming
back," said Young.
Perhaps the most remarkable reaction came from Democrats. Overwhelmed by a
Republican majority that would push through two articles of impeachment
against Clinton, Democrats expressed sadness over Livingston's resignation.
"This is the French Revolution on fast forward and no one is hitting the
stop button," said Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.), who joined Gephardt and other
Democrats in asking Livingston to remain in Congress. "This is the worst
day for this institution and this country in this century."
"Everyone is going to have to work twice as hard to get this place back on
an even keel," said Rep. Louis Slaughter (D-N.Y.), one of a handful of
Democrats who has said Clinton should resign. "How strange it is that Bill
Clinton gets caught and Livingston and [Speaker Newt] Gingrich leave
office."
Reconciliation was also on the mind of outgoing Democratic Caucus Chairman
Vic Fazio (Calif.). "Bob, you shouldn't resign and neither should Bill
Clinton." Fazio added: "I would like to see a healing. I keep feeling great
pain for this institution."
"There is almost a McCarthyist atmosphere," observed Rep. Jim Moran
(D-Va.). "This is not a place for saints. It is a toxic atmosphere here and
no one is immunized except for [Rep.] Barney Frank [D-Mass.] because he has
got no more secrets to hide. We may be men or women. We may be gay or
straight. But we are all human."
Several Members worried about future revelations of sexual indiscretions
and suggested that Livingston's decision to leave would establish a
perilous example for others.
"It should have never started and now it is out of control," said Rep.
Louis Stokes (D-Ohio), who has served in Congress for thirty years. "I was
so surprised ... this establishes a dangerous precedent."
"What is happening in this Congress and this city now is dangerous," said
Rep. Marty Meehan (D-Mass.), a member of the Judiciary Committee. "A public
official's private life doesn't affect his public life."
Meehan's Democratic colleague on the Judiciary Committee, Rep. Sheila
Jackson Lee (Texas), encouraged Livingston to reconsider his decision and
said: "Maybe this will tell people that we are breaking too many people's
lives. This is wrong, wrong, wrong."
Stacey Zolt contributed to this report.
Overwhelming Events Overwhelm Everyone
Too Much News Makes for an Amazing Day in a Historic Year
------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Ed Henry
As he puffed on a cigarette in a quiet corner of the Speaker's Lobby, Rep.
John Boehner (R-Ohio) tried to make sense of the stunning series of events
that had rocked Congress.
In the span of a month, Members of the House had lost two Speakers. And
now, with bombs falling on Iraq Saturday, they had just impeached President
Clinton.
"I can't say what I want to say," said Boehner. But then he changed his
mind.
"It's like screw the ... proverb, 'May you live in interesting times,'" he
said. "I don't need this much excitement in my life."
Just 31 days earlier, Boehner had lost his job as GOP Conference Chairman
and Rep. Bob Livingston (R-La.) had been tapped to replace Speaker Newt
Gingrich (R-Ga.).
Everyone thought the earth-shattering developments were over. But then last
Thursday, Livingston confessed to his colleagues that he had committed
adultery several times during his tenure in Congress.
The GOP Conference gave Livingston a rousing ovation, however, and it
seemed as though another storm had passed. Then on Saturday morning,
Livingston abruptly announced that he would resign.
Reporters and Members quickly converged on the historic Speaker's Lobby,
just off the House floor, quizzing one another about how so much had
happened so fast.
"We don't have any more front burners to occupy," said Rep. Richard Baker
(R-La.) as he passed through the lobby. "This has not been a rational day."
There were so many journalists in the lobby -- ranging from television
stars like Maria Shriver to reporters from middle America who had dropped
in to witness the historic day -- that the furniture had to be rearranged
to make room for everyone. Members complained that reporters were blocking
their path to the bathroom outside the lobby.
But everyone did their best to put a historic spin on the stunning
confluence of so many big stories.
"It's a solemn time," said one House GOP leadership aide. "Nobody's
celebrating any victories."
Given the time spent on so many grave matters, Members and aides spoke of
barely having time with family -- let alone time to take care of holiday
shopping.
With the dizzying workload, one Republican aide was asked how much time he
spent with his family last week.
"Does sleeping time count?" he asked. "If you don't count sleeping time,
zero. I crawl into my bed and my wife -- my pregnant wife -- is asleep
already."
Another top GOP aide spoke of hardly getting a chance to see his newborn
baby. Colleagues said the aide had started patting the baby on the head one
night, only to fall asleep immediately in his work clothes.
Caffeine-addled journalists struggled to continue covering one calamity
after another. Newsweek's Matt Cooper lamented not being able to spend
enough time with his 2-month-old son Benjamin.
Cooper said he was in deep debt to his wife, Democratic consultant Mandy
Grunwald.
"I've been a total slacker," he said. "I have a lot of diaper duty to catch
up on."
Saturday morning began with Livingston privately deciding to resign a job
he had not even officially assumed, and then stunning his colleagues with
the news on the House floor.
Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) recalled that as the speech reached its
conclusion, it felt like a punch in the stomach.
"There were tears," he said. "Some Members were actually crying on our
side."
Adding to the surrealism was the fact that at the very moment Livingston
bid everyone adieu, the other outgoing Speaker was still sitting in the
Capitol office Livingston was supposed to seize soon.
Gingrich was stationed in his second floor suite, amid moving boxes,
watching the speech on television.
When asked to reveal when Gingrich heard the news, spokeswoman Christina
Martin said, "The same time you did."
When asked to describe the times, Martin said, "They're sad. It's
absolutely tragic."
Around the corner, a stream of Republicans were heading off the House
floor. Most were not in a talking mood.
"I'm numb," said Commerce Chairman Tom Bliley (R-Va.). "That's all I have
to say."
Perhaps the best measure of the enormous workload could be seen in the fact
that Rep. James Traficant (D-Ohio) -- always eager to give the media an
inflammatory quote -- rushed through the Speaker's Lobby yelling "No
comment."
"I'm too busy right now," he told a reporter.
Rep. Tim Roemer (D-Ind.) is likewise always eager to bring his three young
children to the Capitol. But he decided against it after dragging himself
out of bed Saturday morning.
"For the first time in eight years here, I didn't want to take them into
this cannibalistic atmosphere," said Roemer. "As much as I love this
institution, with the diminished level of love and respect around here,
it's been a shattering few days."
As Democrats prepared to stalk off the House floor because of their failure
to get a vote on censuring Clinton, Minority Whip David Bonior (D-Mich.)
paused in the lobby.
"All these events are overwhelming -- and they're overwhelming each other,"
said Bonior. "I think we need to pause and take a deep breath."
Just a few minutes later, however, Bonior helped lead Democrats out of the
chamber. Forgetting to take a deep breath, a red-faced Bonior could be seen
on CNN leading a raucous press conference about Republican partisanship.
One by one, the House started to vote on the articles of impeachment.
Perjury before the grand jury passed. Then perjury in the Paula Jones case
failed.
Famed Newsday columnist Jimmy Breslin rushed through the Speaker's Lobby,
looking for a place to buy a cup of coffee. As he rushed to the basement of
the Capitol, the tabloid man summed up Livingston's situation succinctly.
"Broad came out of the woodwork and hit him in the head," said Breslin.
Then the third article of impeachment on obstruction of justice passed. The
fourth article on abuse of power failed.
Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.), who was a House page when Puerto Rican
nationalists fired gunshots in the House chamber on March 1, 1954, has
plenty of perspective on the institution. But even he was stunned by the
recent turn of events.
"I keep thinking that every one of these bad experiences will be the low
ebb, but I think this is the blackest day ever," he said.
Back in the Speaker's Lobby, a female journalist from liberal Pacifica
Radio shoved a cell phone in King's face, conducting an impromptu radio
interview.
The journalist yelled into the cell phone about how welfare mothers are
asked about their sex lives. Since Members of Congress are "on the dole,"
she said, why can't they take questions about their sex lives?
A flustered King, normally not shy about giving interviews, grabbed the
cell phone and said he would be glad to answer the questions if she
submitted them in writing.
By 2:45, the Speaker's Lobby was completely empty and the doors to the
chamber were locked. Around the corner, Judiciary Chairman Henry Hyde
(R-Ill.) carried the articles of impeachment into Room H-209.
Hyde then led Judiciary Republicans on a march -- which looked more like a
funeral procession because of its solemnity -- to Secretary of the Senate
Gary Sisco's office.
One floor below, TV journalist Connie Chung was begging a pair of Capitol
Police officers to show her to Livingston's office. The cops wouldn't
budge.
Besides, nobody was sure in which office the Appropriations
Chairman-turned-Speaker-turned-backbencher was hanging his hat these days
anyway.
"Where's his temporary office?" Chung pleaded.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A<>E<>R
The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes
but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic
screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters
and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright
frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects
spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL
gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers;
be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and
nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
