High Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Case Against Bill Clinton

Rating:
Summary: Almost Unbelievable
Review: This book is essentially what it holds itself out as - a somewhat condensed version of the case of corruption leveled against former President Bill Clinton and (to a lesser extent) the current Senator from New York. The case is vast, wide-reaching, and far, far, far more egregious than anything former President Richard Nixon ever presided over. Personally, I (along with many Americans I believe) didn't have that huge of a problem with Clinton's philandering. But Clinton's case is about so much more than "just sex." On a basic level, Clinton's case is about perjuring oneself over and over again. It is about outright lying the American people, be it under oath or otherwise. It is about blackmail, bribary, and degrading the institutions of the American Presidency and the Arkansas Governorship. It's about profiting through deceit and fraud at the expense of the American taxpayer. And it's about sexual harassment and abusing one's power for sex. Just ask yourself: Why are so many of Clinton's associates either indicted, convicted, or suspected felons? Why is it that so many either have, currently, or will do prison time because of their dealings with the Clintons?

On a more complicated level, though, Clinton's case is about the state of the American polity at the time the Clinton Presidency. How did he pull it off? Clinton's impeachment in the House did not reach the point of conviction in the Senate for one reason and one reason only: There wasn't sufficient popular (and therefore political) outrage at the time. Clinton committed his crimes and outrages, and the American people shrugged. Of course, it is arguable that the media was not being hard enough on Clinton, but where the rubber meets the road it is the people that had - and continue to have - the power (I suddenly sound like Howard Dean). Bottom line is that either insufficient numbers of people cared or most simply wanted to believe that their President wouldn't do the things he did (I myself was a member of the latter category at the outset of the Lewinsky affair). In the end, sadly, it turns out that Judge Robert Bork's "Slouching Towards Gomorrah" was published a wee bit early.

Ann Coulter lays it all out for you with a bit of wit and humor in "High Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Case Against Bill Clinton." Lest anyone think this review is just another endorsement of a particular political perspective, let it be known yet again that I have a deep respect for Bill Clinton and his abilities, and am even sympathetic to his moral failings. Although I don't have much respect for him as a human being, as a politician his skill is and has been utterly without equal amongst the democrat party since JFK (arguably a much different party back then). In any event, I enjoyed this book and would argue that many unfortunate and sad lessons can be learned about American politics (and a glimpse into the state of the American polity) by reading it.

Rating:
Summary: Like a Vulture
Review: This book is a gluttonous display on Ann's part. How she took pleasure at Clinton's mistakes. She exagerated them and inserted her own brand of truth whenever necessary. I was not pleased that Clinton made a mockery of our judicial system, but let's face facts his lies didn't kill people. Compared to Bush (who Ann very much supports) Clinton's actions seem almost silly. Clinton cared about people and made efforts to build them up while the author of this book and our current president work to divide us.

Rating:
Summary: Possibly Coulter's best book to date
Review: Originally published in 1998 (before Clinton was impeached), this damning work by Ann Coulter sets out the case for impeachment thoroughly and mercilessly. By the time she's through, you'll wonder why any of us were bothered by Nixon.

Coulter's later books are excellent too, but they're more polemical in tone (and deliberately designed to entertain conservatives by provoking shrieks of outrage from left-liberals). This one isn't without its bits of invective, but almost all of it is factual; you can read it even if you don't care for Coulter in general.

Coulter gives us a quick overview of the meaning of the phrase 'high crimes and misdemeanors', contending that it's a term of art with roots reaching deep into British history (and thus has a scope far beyond what we would today classify as crimes and misdemeanors). She then proceeds to document, in excruciating detail, the high crime/misdemeanor most of us couldn't help but know about, namely the Paula Jones case and its aftermath. It will be hard to read Coulter's exposition without concluding that Clinton obstructed justice, perjured himself, and suborned perjury (which, at least as far as impeachment was concerned, is what the fuss was about; it was never 'just about sex').

But that's not all. Coulter also takes us on a tour of the _other_ skeletons in the Clinton Administration's closet -- some of which are much worse than the Paula Jones stuff and could have justified impeachment all by themselves. Travelgate. Filegate. Fostergate. Chinagate. The works.

Originally, the book was an argument for impeachment. But now, some four years after the impeachment occurred, the book is still of interest.

If nothing else, it will help to keep us from voting Democratic for a while, because we won't be able to keep ourselves from snickering every time the guy shows up somewhere in support of a candidate.

Rating:
Summary: Book Cover Needs to be Improved
Review: Please Ann, enough about Bill Clinton! He has been out of office for almost four years. Isn't there another topic more important to talk about?

Rating:
Summary: Well Argued, Historically Minded, Held Clinton Accountable
Review: By listening to the self-appointed moral arbiters in the media, you would conclude that Coulter is just a self-serving nut. But when you actually read this book you find a writer of principle, a sense of honor. You get a perspective on the history of impeachment processes that the media swept under the rug.

Coulter's approach is rational, but pulls no punches (the way reporters should have done their job).

She was one of the most effective people in calling President Clinton on a host of offenses to America. Her effective argument is a key reason why the media continues to ignore or personally attack Coulter.

Rating:
Summary: More Sewage from Regnery Press
Review: The self-righteous, partisan conceit of the author of this collection of irrational nonsense is exposed on every page, but most of all by her dismissal of Watergate as "two-bit break-in." In terms of logic, that's like saying the Holocaust was a simple misunderstanding between nice German boys and lying, stealing, baby-killing, demonic Jews. The distortions and blatant lies Ann Coulter spews throughout books like this are a disgrace, and so is she.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Insight Into The Clinton Impeachment!
Review: Author Ann Coulter has compiled a detailed and revealing recount of all the evidence leveled at former President Clinton which laid the foundation for impeachment and made the case for possible removal from office.

The prospective reader is treated to all of the scandals, major and minor, that plagued the Whitehouse during Clinton's tenure. Coulter makes the case for, and presents her argument that the moral flaws and character shortcomings of the President of the United States does affect the way that he (in this case) creates and enforces policy and runs the nation as the primary Executive Officer.

At just over >350 pages, Coulter's text is presented to the reader in an easy to read and understand format that will not disappoint. Just like a mystery novel, the reader will travel through all of the twists and snags that comprised, arguably, the most "colorful" presidential administration in all of American history.

Rating:
Summary: Even if you don't hate Clinton
Review: Every president has a dark side and Coulter has captured the dark side of the Clinton's. Fully annotated her portrayal of the Clinton's is persuasive.