General Discussion

Bill Clinton and through him the country paid a very high price.

For Clinton personally, it means that though he was a successful two term President, it unfortunately will likely be the case that most mainstream obituaries will mention the scandal and that he was impeached. By his own account, he for at least some period of time nearly lost his marriage. He had some in his administration leave.

For the country and the world, his transgression may have cost Gore the Presidency. Consider that Bush, who had drinking problems until he was 40 ran on bringing decency back to the White House - even as he ran against Eagle Scout Gore. It has since then likely made his strong voice less compelling to some who were not Democrats.

I think what he did was stupid and beyond wrong. However, both of them were adults and it apparently started when she flashed her thong. What still surprises me is that this did not lead to her immediate removal for inappropriate behavior. It does suggest that Clinton's closest people may have seen this as a Clinton norm.

It also seems that had she wanted, she could have dropped her first name in favor of her middle name, changed her hair style, color etc and gone about applying for jobs or higher education. She seems to have often used that short period of her life to be a media person etc. She did not have that many accomplishments when the scandal happened. Her internship happened because her stepdad was a big donor.