Reply #31: I would not even fret over that one. Just don't.

[calimary]

Don't let it bog you down or short-circuit your efforts to do something!

PLEASE remember: Yes, the Dems controlled the House and Senate back in the Nixon era. BUT: NOTHING would have gotten off the ground to bring Nixon down if there weren't sufficient numbers of Republicans reading the writing on the wall, facing reality like adults, and realizing they had to put country over party. It was only when the Republicans in the House Judiciary Committee, and the Republicans in the Senate finally faced the music and bowed to reality that Nixon was beaten. It was two REPUBLICAN Senators, Barry Goldwater being one of them, who finally convinced Nixon he had to go. They told him flat-out that he had lost support - even within his own party. That his own couldn't find it in their hearts to stand behind him and make excuses for him and cover for him and spin for him ANYMORE. He NO LONGER HAD THE SUPPORT. THAT is why he resigned. Because they informed him in no uncertain terms that he would indeed and inevitably be impeached if he did not step down.

And for awhile, he did have support. MANY apologists running around squawking on his behalf. Some of 'em are still out there - look at Pat Buchanan, for heaven's sakes! He thinks the Deep Throat guy is the bad guy! And either they saw the tide turning SO undisputably that they knew it meant their own necks were on the chopping block if they didn't get with the program, or some of them may actually have realized that sometimes you DO need to put your country before the good and the interest of your political party. I think there were many in both those arenas. People like the retiring (THANK GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) henry hyde, who actually came out recently and admitted that the impeachment of Clinton was payback for Nixon. "People" like him only deserted Nixon kicking and screaming, realizing it'd would bite them in the ass with the voters too if they didn't. People like him only did it for political expediency, not out of higher principles.

But, for WHATEVER reason, it got done then. And it can get done AGAIN, NOW.