Can't we get along?

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Sunday, December 20, 1998

BY PETER BRONSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Latest updates from Associated Press

As the House was impeaching a president for only the second time in our nation's history, CNN interrupted the debate for a speech by Saddam Hussein.

(I wasn't sure of the translation, but I think Saddam said he would vote against impeachment, because if President Clinton is removed America would only replace him with someone worse -- at least from Saddam's point of view at ground-zero.)

Then CNN interrupted Saddam and switched to some generals playing a grainy, black-and-white video game that showed Iraq being blasted by missiles that are apparently much smarter and more reliable than President Clinton or Saddam.

Then back to the House, where Speaker-Designate Bob Livingston suddenly resigned because a skin-magazine was about to expose his past infidelities.

Then, for a few seconds of split-screen magic, Saddam competed against Congress in an arm-waving contest.

It was a three-ring circus: In Ring 1, the president wobbled like a drunk on a tightrope; In Ring 2, Saddam swallowed swords and belched fire; in Ring 3, House members rode in circles like poodles on ponies.

At times like these, "Aliens Kidnap Santa Claus" would be bumped to Page 6, next to ads for bras and other non-traditional stocking stuffers.

Even veteran opinionaters like me, with lightning knee-jerk reflexes, don't know where to start.

So here's a suggestion. Let's start with a few things we can all agree upon, before we degenerate into mouth-foaming, raving lunatics like actor Alec Baldwin, who was last seen on a TV talk-show, dementedly telling Clintonistas to stone Henry Hyde to death then kill the wives and children of Republicans.

We don't want to go there. So let's agree:

Finally, after all we've been through in 1998, let's agree that character counts.

The walking stain on the nation named Bill Clinton -- the second president impeached in our history -- proves beyond a doubt that the "anything goes" moral indifference, born illegitimately in the '60s, is hazardous to our nation's health.

Those who overlooked his dishonesty because he was on their "team" should stop making excuses and face it: Bill Clinton has no one to blame but himself.

Let's agree that snooping in private lives has gone too far. Isn't it curious that only Republicans are being outed? Maybe that has something to do with 900 FBI files illegally stashed in the White House. But if this doesn't stop, Democrats will rue the day they wandered into the same political bedroom with bottom-feeder Larry Flynt, and his cash rewards for dirt on members of Congress.

Let's agree that Americans should stop whining and pay attention to history happening before our eyes. Inattention and ignorance is nothing to brag about.

Let's agree that there is no more important business for America than deciding if a president is unfit to stay in office.

Let's agree we are a nation of laws, not men, and that no man is above the law.

Let's agree that the next weasel who says "reprehensible but" -- as in "his behavior is reprehensible but he should get away with it" -- should have a photo in the dictionary next to "reprehensible." Let's agree that tough moral choices have to be made, that honor, integrity, the truth and the law cannot be compromised -- or you wind up like Bill Clinton.

Let's agree that polls don't rule. The last thing America needs is leaders who blindly follow opinion polls like empty suits stuffed with focus-group talking points -- like the latest impeached president.

Let's agree that we hold these truths to be self evident: Justice. Honesty.

There is something evil and ugly slouching at the outskirts of our nation. We saw its face in the House debates, when members of Congress used flammable words like "coup d'etat," "assassination" and "lynching." It wants us to turn our backs on our moral duty to judge right and wrong, just as Democrats walked out on the impeachment vote. It knows that for evil to prevail, all that is required is that good men do nothing. We came within 10 votes of doing just that: nothing.

Finally, let's agree to take a breather and celebrate Christmas.

If President Rambo can call a timeout in his urgent "Operation Free Willy" war on Iraq to respect the Islamic holy days, Americans deserve a break for our traditional holy day.

Peter Bronson is editorial page editor of The Enquirer. If you have questions or comments, call 768-8301, or write to 312 Elm Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

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