Conservative Voice: The black sheep of the family

By Mark Carroll Feb 10, 2006, 14:42 GMT

Last month, the five-year suspension of former President Bill Clinton's Arkansas law license ended.  The license was suspended in connection with Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky.  The Arkansas Supreme Court’s Committee on Professional Conduct has not said whether the former President is seeking the reinstatement of his license. 

Mr. Clinton does appear to be brushing up on his legalese.  When asked if he thought President Bush‘s terrorist surveillance program was both legal and constitutional, he replied, “I haven’t researched it enough to know.”  He went on to explain, "You know, the last cases on this that were relevant were probably Lincoln's suspension of the writ of habeas corpus and two cases around the Civil War called Ex-parte Yeager and Ex-parte McArdle.  You can go back and read those cases but there has not been a great deal of litigation that goes directly to the inherent authority of the president.”  Does anyone else think it odd that he doesn’t know what the word “is” means but he knows this? 

Mr. Clinton went on to deny, as only that Bill Clinton can, that his administration violated any laws when dealing with surveillance issues.  "But for me, the statute never presented a problem. As far as I know we always followed the statute. I don't think we ever went outside it. And it seems to me that I haven't seen any indication that it would have been an impediment here."   He then emphasized the fact that nothing he said should ever be used against him in any way.

“To the best of my knowledge, we never went outside [the law].  If we did, I don't know about it."  He lips were moving but was he really saying anything?  “As far as I know…I don’t think…to the best of my knowledge…if we did, I didn’t know.”  Maybe he didn’t want to sound too critical of his new “brother.”

President Bush says Bill Clinton has become so close to his father that the Democratic former president is like a family member and went on to refer to him as his “new brother.” The 42nd President’s spokesman responded to this statement with more coded Clinton-language, " President Clinton, or for the sake of clarity ‘42‘ believes that issues like the tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and his AIDS work transcend party and politics and he has appreciated the opportunity to work closely with his good friend and partner 41.  And he’s appreciated 43 reaching out to them on these issues." 

Why is 42 suddenly all over the news commenting on everything from wiretaps to Hamas?  Is it because Hillary is hoping to become 44?  Has he said or done anything that could be remotely beneficial to her?  Maybe he is simply trying to divert the media from her absurd comments about the Republicans running Congress like a “plantation.”  You have to admit a comment like this sounds a little less ridiculous when you look at 42’s latest observation on Hamas.  "One of the politically correct things in American politics is we just don't talk to some people that we don't like, particularly if they ever killed anybody in a way that we hate."  It really is petty of the Bush administration to be skeptical of Hamas just because they have killed innocent people in an unacceptable fashion in the past.  This is politically incorrect. 

Is there a petition that we can sign to help 42 get his law license back?  I would much rather have him doling out legal advice in Arkansas than trying to decipher his latest opinions on current events.  If we can get Arkansas to take him back, perhaps one day we can convince them to recall Hillary, too.  

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