PUBLIC FORUM : CLINTON'S PRIVATE LIFE VS. HIS PUBLIC IMAGE.One argument often heard in the current Clinton-Lewinsky scandal is that what the president does in private, including sex, is none of our business. This argument is false in the context of modern presidential politics. President Clinton and all other American politicians live and die politically by the image they create to influence the American people An American people may be:
Clinton is a master of image manipulation, using the media to project the image that he wants to portray. Whenever an event shows that the images they project is false, the images become fair game. Despite reports of marital problems before he became president, the Clintons have tried to project an image of a happy, loving family in White House. The current Clinton problems are appropriate to be explored, because a president who lives with image manipulation has to face a situation that shows that image to be false. - Ted Bunch Burbank Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr
Kenneth Winston Starr (born July 21, 1946) is an American lawyer and former judge who was appointed to the Office of the Independent Counsel to investigate the death of the reminds me of Joe McCarthy. McCarthy conducted a witch hunt for Communists. The Senate censured him. Starr is conducting a presidential sexual witch hunt. The American people are censuring him for that, as indicated by presidential popularity polls. They realize he is stealing valuable presidential time which should be used to take care of important issues. Also, the Republican Party is being hurt as the people think the party is behind it. - Alex Andres Woodland Hills As much as I tend to believe that the president is and will go down in history as a ``sleaze sleaze n. A sleazy condition, quality, or appearance: "His record of public service is untouched by any stain of shadiness or sleaze" James J. Kilpatrick. ,'' and diminishes the office of president, I, as an American, was totally embarrassed by the press at the Feb. 6 press conference of President Clinton and Britain's prime minister, Tony Blair Noun 1. Tony Blair - British statesman who became prime minister in 1997 (born in 1953) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair, Blair . I could not believe that after Clinton and Blair gave their eloquent opening statements regarding pressing worldwide concerns, the very first question out of the mouth of the press was about the sex life of our president. Then, after he addressed the question and declared that he didn't feel that it was proper for him to comment on these issues, the press should have moved on. But they just kept coming back to it. This was in front of a visiting dignitary from another country. How embarrassing for the president and the American people, not to mention Blair. This should not even have come up until Clinton could be faced independently. Shame on the news media. - Karen G. Beatton Studio City I don't really care if President Clinton did or didn't have sexual relations sexual relations pl.n. 1. Sexual intercourse. 2. Sexual activity between individuals. with Monica Lewinsky Monica Samille Lewinsky (born July 23, 1973) is an American woman with whom the former United States President Bill Clinton admitted (after initially denying) to having had an "inappropriate relationship"[1] while Lewinsky worked at the White House in 1995 and 1996. . This should be a private matter between the president and his wife. What really troubles me is that the president has a propensity to lie to the American public, and for some strange reason, many of us are willing to accept this major character flaw A character flaw is a limitation, imperfection, problem, phobia, or deficiency present in a character who may be otherwise very functional. The flaw can be a problem that directly affects the character's actions and abilities, such as a missing arm or a violent temper. as long as our economy prospers. He was elected to the highest and most prestigious position in the world and given power to control the destiny of our nation. We can't afford to give this kind of responsibility to someone who definitely lacks credibility and sincerity. I for one want and expect the president to be honest, responsible and trustworthy and not a pretentious con man who says one thing and does another. - Robert Dovidio Newbury Park LAUSD LAUSD Los Angeles Unified School District (Los Angeles, CA) breakup breakup The division of a company into separate parts. The most famous breakup to date was the 1984 division of AT&T (formerly, American Telephone & Telegraph Company). This breakup was intended to increase competition in the communications industry. Re ``Measure may block LAUSD breakup; teachers union gets help from Cardenas,'' Daily News, Feb. 13. I am legal counsel to United Teachers Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. and I have been involved in discussions aimed at assuring a fair and democratic process for all parents and employees should be there be a vote on petitions to break up the Los Angeles Unified School District The Los Angeles Unified School District (the "LAUSD") is the largest (in terms of number of students) public school system in California and the second-largest in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population. . Your article concerning a bill by Assemblyman as·sem·bly·man n. A man who is a member of a legislative assembly. assemblyman Noun pl -men a member of a legislative assembly Noun 1. Tony Cardenas Tony Cardenas served in the California State Assembly. In the Assembly, he had the powerful position of chair of the Budget Committee. He is now a Los Angeles City Councilman, representing the 6th district, which includes parts of the San Fernando Valley. , which would require the same voting procedure for a breakup of the LAUSD that would apply to efforts to break up the city of Los Angeles
If there is to be a citywide vote on secession, why should there not be a districtwide vote when thousands and thousands of children and parents on both sides of the boundaries involved will be fundamentally impacted? Perhaps your headline should have read ``Boland and Wilk oppose voting rights Voting rights The right to vote on matters that are put to a vote of security holders. For example the right to vote for directors. voting rights The type of voting and the amount of control held by the owners of a class of stock. on LAUSD breakup.'' If Boland and Wilk cannot win a districtwide vote on the issues, and they obviously do not think they can, they should move on to work on real public school reform and to increase funding for public education. - Jesus E. Quinonez Los Angeles Re Assemblyman Tony Cardenas' new bill: Who should make the decision on the education and welfare of our children? Cardenas clearly values a special-interest group, rather than his constituents and parents of the children he represents. Cardenas has not provided voters the opportunity to hear our points of view on such a critical matter. Therefore, how can he justify his stand to support and carry a proposal that requires a countywide vote? I have been disillusioned dis·il·lu·sion tr.v. dis·il·lu·sioned, dis·il·lu·sion·ing, dis·il·lu·sions To free or deprive of illusion. n. 1. The act of disenchanting. 2. The condition or fact of being disenchanted. by Cardenas' position but remain curious as to his agenda on education and the role he plays. - Juan Medrano San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. Social Security funds The latest federal budget does not mention one word about paying several billion dollars back to the Social Security Trust Fund. It seems that the politicians don't want to think about making payments to the Social Security fund, but the day will come in the near future and millions of people entitled to payments will not receive one cent. Something must give, before it's too late. There is only one way to get action on this important deal: Write your representatives in the Congress and demand that they pass legislation that will force the government to make a payment in the billions of dollars to the Social Security Fund each and every year at budget time. - Charles Diercksmeier Vice president United Organization of Taxpayers Inc. Agoura Hills Wasn't it under Republican administrations that sticky fingers sticky fingers pl.n. Informal A tendency to steal. stick  y-fin dipped into the Social Security Trust Fund in order to
``borrow'' money for other programs? This was done in order to
subsidize huge tax breaks for the well-to-do.
Social Security was left almost defunct, which is what the reactionaries wanted to do ever since the Roosevelt administration There have been two Presidents of the United States with the surname "Roosevelt":
Instead of paying back these IOUs to Social Security, the Republicans still want to donate these funds for further tax breaks for the wealthy. President Clinton has proposed in his budget that the so-called surplus we have be used to keep Social Security solvent. In truth, this money is owed and should be considered a payback. Should anybody be surprised that most of the people in the country continue to think that the Clinton administration Noun 1. Clinton administration - the executive under President Clinton executive - persons who administer the law is doing a superior job? - Arline Mathews Chatsworth Critic of public sector salaries rebutted Re ``Let's get tough on government salaries'' by B. Bishop, Public Forum, Jan. 29. Bishop has taken the Waring blender approach to develop his ill-founded thesis that public sector salaries are a ``major problem'' for Los Angeles. His inappropriate conclusions are an insult to the men and women who have dedicated themselves as loyal public servants to the residents of Los Angeles County. Contrary to Bishop's assertion, public sector salaries are not protected against inflation. In fact, during the five-year period that he has pinpointed, 1992 to 1997, salaries of county employees remained unchanged. During this same period, the cost-of-living increased by 15 percent and private sector wages increased by a whopping 17 percent! During this five-year period, the number of county employees decreased by 4 percent, while the population demanding services from these public servants increased by 4 percent. County employees have been asked to do more with less and handle bigger and bigger caseloads. What has this meant for L.A. County residents? Quality of life in Los Angeles has decreased significantly. Bishop has called for a repeal of all taxes increased since 1991. What would this mean for Los Angeles County residents? It would mean: A dramatic reduction in public safety, including law enforcement, fire protection services and beach lifeguards. County roads and bridges would deteriorate. Regional dams and waterways would not be adequately prepared for the effects of severe weather like El Nino. Inspections of area restaurants would be significantly reduced, increasing the possibility that Bishop would find vermin vermin /ver·min/ (ver´min) 1. an external animal parasite. 2. such parasites collectively.ver´minous ver·min n. pl. in his hamburger. Public libraries would close. County hospitals would be compelled to massively downsize Downsize Reducing the size of a company by eliminating workers and/or divisions within the company. Notes: When a company downsizes, it is attempting to find ways to improve efficiency and increase profitability. It is sometimes referred to as trimming the fat. , forcing private hospitals to take a destabilizing number of uninsured patients. Is this a county you want to live in, Mr. Bishop? Do your homework next time before you insult public servants. They may one day be in the position to save your life. - Bud Treece Coalition of County Unions Los Angeles |
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