High Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Case Against Bill Clinton

Author Ann Coulter has compiled a detailed and revealing recount of all the evidence leveled at former President Clinton which laid the foundation for impeachment and made the case for possible removal from office. The prospective reader is treated to all of the scandals, major and minor, that plagued the Whitehouse during Clinton's tenure. Coulter makes the case for, and presents her argument that the moral flaws and character shortcomings of the President of the United States does affect the way that he (in this case) creates and enforces policy and runs the nation as the primary Executive Officer. At just over >350 pages, Coulter's text is presented to the reader in an easy to read and understand format that will not disappoint. Just like a mystery novel, the reader will travel through all of the twists and snags that comprised, arguably, the most "colorful" presidential administration in all of American history.

"High Crimes and Misdemeanors" are grounds, per Article II of our Constitution, that provide for the impeachment of civil officers of the government. In this age of moral relativism where "truth is lies", Ann Coulter gives a much-needed background to the historical meaning of these words, from the days of the British monarchy where they originated, through their inclusion by the Founding Fathers, to the day when they were used to frame articles of impeachment against President Nixon. The bulk of the book is dedicated to applying this standard to the catalog of misbehavior of the Clinton Administration. Written as it was when the question of removal from office was still open, the book has a passionate tone which in hindsight feels somewhat futile now that we know Congress was unable to live up to its responsiblity. Nonetheless, that tone demonstrates a certain credibility of someone who cares deeply about our government and the presidency. And on reading this book, one cannot but feel saddened to realize how low the stature of the Presidency has sunk under that administration. Barely palatable even when spread out over its full eight years, the sheer volume of muck concentrated in one volume is almost too much to swallow. Bill Clinton abused his positions as governor and president to procure and then pay off women at taxpayer's expense, and to cover it up lied countless times, perjured himself under oath, and suborned perjury of others. But all that is only the beginning. In Travelgate, the White House travel office staff was fired at the behest of Mrs Clinton so that she could fill those "slots" with "her people". Filegate had nine hundred FBI background files on Republican officials illegally in the possession of the White House. During Fostergate, White House officials obstructed an FBI investigation into the suicide of White House counsel Vincent Foster. In the Whitewater affair, taxpayers were defrauded of millions of dollars while the White House obstructed the investigation every step of the way and paid off the silence of indicted counsel. The White House was rented off like a common bed-and-breakfast and coffee house. The Clinton Administration used IRS audits as an instrument of threat and vengeance on its enemies. Perhaps worst of all, in what comes horrifyingly close to treason, the Administration permitted the release of CIA briefings and classified missile technology to China in return for staggering campaign contributions. Since the book was written while Mr Clinton was still in office, it does not even mention the later scandals that plagued the last years of that administration, such as the eleventh-hour pardoning of fugitives and felons who made large contributions to the Democratic Party in Pardongate. It is hard to say whether it is worse that this person served as our president, or his apologists' astounding insistence that the perfidy of his presidency somehow doesn't matter. It wasn't always like this. The Rodino re

I followed Watergate very carefully and I thought that I understood the impeachment process. Ann Coulter's book disabused me of this notion and informed me about the role of the impeachment process envisioned by the founders as understood at the time of the creation of the constitution and by the Rodino committee as applied to Richard M. Nixon.The founders never envisioned that a sitting president would have conducted himself in such a manner that he would not be allowed to appear before the Supreme Court because of his perjury. However, this book clearly shows how and why the impeachment mechanism that the founding fathers designed as an integral part of the structure of our republic should have been applied to Bill Clinton. That this remedy was not used is a great tragedy for our country. The scope of this failure is clearly and forcefully chronicled by this book.I strongly recommend it to those who seek a broader perspective on the Clinton legacy.