Merovigan

I disagree that the president has to be a model of decorum, classy or set an example for our youth. I think that's high-brow, stuck up bullshit. I'd much rather a human being inhabit the office; not some fake plastic-man.

It's this "they must be perfect" mentality that allows scandal to fester and breed out of control. It forces a man to lie about a blowjob and make that act worse than lying about launching wars.

Grow the fuck up. These are humans, not gods. Crawl out of your fictional 1950's America, leave Beau there since he seems to have bolted himself in place, and join us in the information age.

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“I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence.”

Frederick Douglas

Cindy Claveau

If you're in your 20s, even early 30s, not a thing.

But when you're 54 it gets dodgy without sufficient use of silicone. And if your husband is the spokesperson for the "moral conscience party" of the country, there are problems explaining all those dollar bills in your G-string.

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"People are stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything." - Wizard's First Rule

Merovigan

Right, I got it...you're stuck up and a bit snobby. Noted.

I make allowances for the location a statement is stated in while you feel the president should piss off his audience by acting stuck up and snobby (read: presidential) no matter the venue.

Do they have titty shows where the guy was speaking? Yeah? Then suggesting his wife's tits were the best there was not only Presidential it was American.

Merovigan

So, it's immoral to be a stripper...

Oh goody goody! Here come the moral judgments! Pile 'em on, ya hypocrites :-)

Mereille

What incidents are you talking about Eboni? His saxophone playing?

If you are referring to Ms. Lewinski, then you might be interested to know that of the two presumptive nominees, only one (apparently) has had an affair and left his wife for his mistress....

In any event, I could care less what or who they do in private. What they do in public, and the image that sets for our nation...I do care about that.

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I don't know why I think I can manage Second Life....just look at my First Life! Gah!

Eboni Khan

I was a kid then, I was an adult for Clinton.

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CrossingStyx

And it's this attitude that leads us to elect politicians that are all polish and no substance. The important part isn't how they appear, it's what they think, and what goes on behind closed doors. Attitudes like this are why our polictical system is as fucked as it is today.

Eboni Khan

I don't care about men cheating on their wives. If you can't keep your man at home that is a personal issue for the wife.

I have an issue with taking advantage of a female employee half your age, in the Oval Office. Clinton is a womanizer at best, and a date rapist at worst (all the other allegations against him). Really any woman who doesn't have an issue with that is a piss poor excuse for a female.

Cindy Claveau

How in the holy hell did you get THAT from what I said?

Surreal

No. Stress is when people show their true characters. Clinton demonstrated that he thought it was less unethical to lie than to get a blowjob. That speaks to his character, not his humanity.

CrossingStyx

Here's the thing. I can totally support saying that McCain made a seriously poor choice for the venue for his speech. No where in his comment does he say "Cindy take off your shirt!" or anything similar. Odds are, you are more informed as to what it takes to win the Ms. Buffalo Chips award than he is. He was just making a comment that he thought was complementary about his wife to joke with the crowd. Get over it.

CrossingStyx

Which was the entire problem with the Clinton situation. It isn't like he's the first president to cheat on his wife while in office. The whole lying while being investigated bit is where he fucked up.

Edit: And I agree with the second part of what Eboni said, not the first.

Fade Languish

It's a woman's fault when a guy cheats?

Eboni Khan

If she sticks with him and lets him walk all over her, yes.

Cindy Claveau

Just my opinion, from having read most of the books about him and hearing the stories of people like Paula Jones, Kathleen Willey, Gennifer Flowers, Juanita Broaddrick and many others, but it wouldn't surprise me to learn that Clinton is a sex addict or a love addict - meaning someone whose inappropriate compulsions are so powerful he cannot control them, even to the point of ruining his career and alienating his wife. It's the denial part of the compulsion that led him to lie to a Grand Jury, and lie convincingly.

That, to me, makes him a tragic figure rather than one to scorn - a victim of his own weakness. I realize I'm passing judgment on someone I only know about through what I've read and I would entertain evidence proving me wrong. But I just see too many instances where he's done something like he did with Monica, in spite of the risks to think it's just him being a 'bad boy' or being persecuted by the Right.

Mereille

Perhaps. So why doesn't he or his campaign just say so? If he was truly ignorant of what he was saying, then admit it! Is he not able to admit when he is wrong, or makes a mistake, or even misspeaks?

But more likely, he did know. Or at least suspected, considering the event. And he was trying to make one of those 'guy jokes' at the expense of women (har...har...nudge...nudge..wink...wink). He might not have said "Cindy take off your shirt", but saying he asked her to enter the pageant implied it.

Cindy Claveau

Right here in front of everybody? Can't we at least kiss first?

CrossingStyx

I think you are reading waaaaaaaay too much into it based on your dislike for McCain. And there is no reason for his campaign to say anything about it. He didn't do anything wrong. That's what makes this situation so ludicrous. I'm not saying don't hammer the guy, I'm saying hammer him for something that's worth expending the energy on.

Beau Perkins

In all fairness, Carter acted very presidential. We saw how that went.

We can go further back and look at Theodore Roosevelt. He was a very rough individual. His early years running around with the Rough Riders are some wild stories. I am sure he had his experience with a Brothel or two.

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Mereille

You could be right. I probably am overreacting.

But....if he had done that to me...

Every appearance he made for the next six months he would have to stand up...and speak in falsetto!

Cindy Claveau

Agreed, but it's still comedy fodder for SLU

Charlemagne Allen

The Geto Boys put Presidential pose best, methinks.....

"And now, a word from the President!
Damn it feels good to be a gangsta
Gettin voted into the White House
Everything lookin good to the people of the world
But the Mafia family is my boss
So every now and then I owe a favor gettin' down
like lettin' a big drug shipment through
And send 'em to the poor community
So we can bust you know who
So voters of the world keep supportin' me
And I promise to take you very far
Other leaders better not upset me
Or I'll send a million troops to die at war
To all you Republicans, that helped me win
I sincerely like to thank you
Cuz now I got the world swingin' from my nuts
And damn it feels good to be a gangsta"

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Charlemagne Allen: YOU'RE A RACIST!
Charlemagne Allen: I HAVE CHATLOGS!
smokergirl Lowenhar: HOMOPHOBE
smokergirl Lowenhar: CONTENT THIEF
Charlemagne Allen: RELIGION SUCKS DONKEY BALLS!
smokergirl Lowenhar: KISS MY ASS YOU CLOSE MINDED HYPOCRIT
Charlemagne Allen: YOU WERE AN ESCORT FOR BARN ANIMALS!
Charlemagne Allen: ZOMG BIG SIG!

Pretty things:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlemagneallen/

CrossingStyx

It's a good thing your SO isn't on the campaign trail. I'd imagine this is pretty mild compared to what gets said in the dinner parties on both sides at 2am after a few drinks.

Lecktor Hannibal

What's wrong with bikers? Do I need to turn in my American Card?

Lucifer Baphomet

Yes...

You're unamerican, and part of a worldwide communist plot to liberate boobs from bras.

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