2016 Election Thread (My God Kill Me Now)

[wart57]

Students of history will note that for Hitler to come to power, there was a perfect storm.
Germany did not have the same sort of safeguards and checks and balances we have in the United States to stop a dictator.

[pioneer98]

A reluctance to part with the person who was president during an economic boom...but, he was kind of in the background in 2000. 2004. Only in the last 8 years has he really been a more prominent figure. It's still uncomfortable to think about.

I understood and even backed the it was just sex defense there for a while. The perjury is what got him impeached, but the whole underlying issue, in my mind for a while, was just ridiculous.

For the record, I was in grade school when the whole thing happened. So, my original impression followed my parents notions that it was terrible to cheat on your spouse (still hold this view) and perjury was a crime (still hold this view).

But, then I got into college and the seriousness of sex sort of wore off with each, well, transgression of my own. The line of right/wrong in the Clinton's scenario became more and more blurred. I mean, sure it's wrong to cheat on/betray your spouse. But, who was I to judge the relationship when it became more and more clear that their marriage may have been a political ally just as much as a typical marriage? Certainly not my place. And, he only lied about having sex...so...was it really that bad? Perhaps not.

Then, I got into the real world and saw how creeps can use their positions of power to influence young females. I don't think sexual harassment, as in bosses forcing underlings to have sex with them, is as rampant as it once was. But, I have seen how some people can really skirt the lines. I am familiar with a lawsuit where a boss did everything but cross the line. The actions were recorded and a lawyer for the lady basically said, yeah....that guy is a creep but no judge is going to find it to be sexual harassment. I certainly feel these guys that operate in that barely legal grey zone are predators and give a legitimate reason for a strong proponent for womens' rights to be in charge. And, it brings me back to thinking Clinton was firmly in the wrong for what he did, albeit for different reasons than originally thought.

This is a really good description of your thought process, and also an example of how it's possible for our beliefs and opinions to change as we grow and learn more about the world. Thanks for sharing.

There is no denying that what Bill did is very bad and wrong. The issue we are debating though is Hillary's reaction to what Bill did. Somehow, she is bad for how she reacted to what her husband did. I'm just trying to imagine how she should have reacted differently. I guess people are not saying she should have divorced him, necessarily....but what should she have done? I have no idea. A lot of this is a private matter between her and Bill.