However, in those first miserable days after Clinton's testimony and the disastrous television speech that followed, Chelsea did her parents an enormous service by appearing in public with them and reminding people that Clinton has a lot at stake personally as well as politically in this scandal. Many Republicans will admit privately that the best thing that could happen to them would be to have a wounded, disgraced Clinton limping through his last two years in office. Certainly George W. Bush has expressed that concern. But thus far, there still seem to be lots of people looking at running for president in 2000. If it gets that far, it will probably come down to impeachment or nothing.
Censure is more likely to come as the result of some deal to avoid impeachment.
And I'm sure other parents are finding this painful as well. I was impressed, as always, with the eloquence of members like Henry Hyde. But overall, I found it a rather lackluster, anticlimactic debate. Because it did not have the feel of a genuine debate, but was rather a series of very predictable speeches. I still think we are headed for some sort of deal, in essence a plea bargain.