Chris Huhne Resigns

[Jacob]

Should Clinton have conspired to impede the Ken Starr's Whitewater investigation?

I don't know anything about that. Probably not

[dps]

I think you're imputing a deterministic element to the impeachment process that isn't there.  The Senators didn't pore through law books to find out if perjury was sufficient grounds for impeachment; it was essentially a political decision.

Okay. But I'm imagining there aren't sentencing recommendations for Presidential impeachments. So how is what they did different than a judge deciding, based on the circumstances, the sentence to impose? Given that the only sentence available is very high wouldn't they want to be convinced that it was a crime worthy of the punishment?

Ok, let me address this.  Not the particulars of the Clinton case, but how impeachment works wrt the US Federal governmant.

When the House votes to impeachment, it's akin to a Grand Jury handing down an indictment.  If the House does vote to impeach, then the proceedings in the Senate are the actual trial, and vote in the Senate is on the gulity or innocence of the defendent (who isn't necessarily the President, but could be anyone holding a Federal office).

[Sheilbh]

The Lib Dems subsequently got hit by a sort-of sex scandal, the Pryce trial ended after the Judge dismissed the jury following some perhaps worrying questions from them and the re-trial's just started.

But the Lib Dems held the seat and UKIP surged into second place, Tories third which is provoking a mini-crisis:

Eastleigh byelection: Clegg hails 'stunning' victory for Lib Dems
Deputy PM says 'We can be a party of government and still win', while Ukip leader says 'Cameron is going to be cheesed off'
Steven Morris in Eastleigh
guardian.co.uk, Friday 1 March 2013 14.38 GMT

The Liberal Democrats chose one of their iconic local projects for their victory speeches: the home of Hampshire county cricket club. Ukip opted for the more modest cornershop in the centre of Eastleigh that has become their base and a focal point for much of the colour of this whirlwind of a byelection to celebrate their runnerup spot.

Nick Clegg was making his sixth visit to Hampshire. At the Aegeas Bowl, as groundsmen prepared the cricket square and outfield for the new season, he began by thanking the people of Eastleigh for their patience.

They could, he said, now take the tape off their postboxes because no more leaflets would be dropped through; they could answer their phone without worrying it was going to be a pollster.

Clegg said it had been a brilliantly fought campaign. "This has been a byelection we have had to fight in exceptionally difficult circumstances.

"Our opponents have thrown everything at us. We held our nerve, we stood our ground, we worked as a team ... We overcame the odds and won a stunning victory."

The deputy prime minister said there was a simple message: "We can be a party of government and still win ... When we entered into coalition with the Conservatives, our critics said we were going to lose our soul, lose our value, lose our identity, lose our ability to win. And last night we proved those critics are emphatically wrong."

Stranding beside the new MP, Mike Thornton, Clegg said the campaign had showed people how they could win by campaigning on a mix of local and national issues – for instance, cuts in council tax and in income tax; by encouraging new jobs with local projects (such as the Lib Dem-controlled council's decision to buy the cricket stadium and build a new hotel overlooking it) and with national programmes such as the drive to create more apprenticeships across the country.

Local party bigwigs were thrilled. Keith House, the agent and architect of the campaign, said: "It was bruising. It really tested us but sometimes it's good to be tested. We've had every message, every policy properly tested and we've come out on top."

Minutes later, in the Ukip town centre shop, leader Nigel Farage was just as upbeat. He said the party had "really connected" with voters. "That's because we're talking about issues the other parties would prefer to brush under the carpet."

Farage did not try to contain his glee that Ukip's second place would have damaged David Cameron. He has not forgiven him for describing Ukip as "loonies".

"David Cameron is going to be cheesed off," said Farage. "Traditional Tory voters in this constituency don't believe he's a Conservative; that's why he's done badly."

Farage is already dreaming of even greater success in the European elections: "It's my intention to lead this party into the European elections next year where I think we can cause a real earthquake. I think we can come first. My intention is to win those elections nationally." He warned Cameron: "Call a referendum before the next election or get wiped out."

Farage also had a decent line that if Cameron wasn't splitting the conservative vote they would've beaten the Lib Dems

[mongers]

So the LibDems are now 'New Conservative' and UKIP is the 'Old Tories' ? 

[Sheilbh]

And the wife's also been convicted. Sentencing soon, both apparently were warned by the Judge that they'd probably be jailed:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/mar/07/vicky-pryce-convicted-chris-huhne

[mongers]

And the wife's also been convicted. Sentencing soon, both apparently were warned by the Judge that they'd probably be jailed:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/mar/07/vicky-pryce-convicted-chris-huhne

It's almost 'Greek' isn't it.

Though I hope they don't trash too much of their shared financial resources, as the truly innocent, the children, shouldn't suffer.

[HVC]

Hope she gets more jail time then him.

[Sheilbh]

Hope she gets more jail time then him.

I hope not. She revealed the crime.

It's almost 'Greek' isn't it.

It's another emotional register than any other political scandal I can think of. You just feel very sorry for everyone and at times it's felt very much like intruding on personal grief - Huhne's text messages to his son. It's very sad.

[mongers]

Hope she gets more jail time then him.

No, A woman scorned has the right to seek revenge, though that not to say she shouldn't be jailed for the original offence.
 
I don't think you can jail someone to extra time just because they carried out an entirely legal form of revenge.

[Ed Anger]

Snitches get stitches.

[HVC]

Hope she gets more jail time then him.

I hope not. She revealed the crime.

. Not for moral reasons. She tried to ruin his life for vindictive reasons. She gets no sympathy from me.

[mongers]

Hope she gets more jail time then him.

I hope not. She revealed the crime.

It's almost 'Greek' isn't it.

It's another emotional register than any other political scandal I can think of. You just feel very sorry for everyone and at times it's felt very much like intruding on personal grief - Huhne's text messages to his son. It's very sad.

Yes, the breakdown in family relations is particularly sad, I hope Huhne is punished, but lets remember he's not in the same league as Archer or Jonathan Aiken.

[DontSayBanana]

No, A woman scorned has the right to seek revenge, though that not to say she shouldn't be jailed for the original offence.
 
I don't think you can jail someone to extra time just because they carried out an entirely legal form of revenge.

Did you miss the part where she originally tried to spin it so he pawned off his points on an aide?  Got her judge buddy busted trying twice to edit herself out of the story?  Legal seems a pretty strong choice of words, methinks.

[PJL]

And the wife's also been convicted. Sentencing soon, both apparently were warned by the Judge that they'd probably be jailed:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/mar/07/vicky-pryce-convicted-chris-huhne

It's almost 'Greek' isn't it.

Though I hope they don't trash too much of their shared financial resources, as the truly innocent, the children, shouldn't suffer.

Pun intended? She's from Greece. Must admit being a bit surprised at the verdict, but maybe it could be a cultural thing re the marriage coercion. Ironic that she's an economist given the current troubles in Greece.

[mongers]

And the wife's also been convicted. Sentencing soon, both apparently were warned by the Judge that they'd probably be jailed:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/mar/07/vicky-pryce-convicted-chris-huhne

It's almost 'Greek' isn't it.

Though I hope they don't trash too much of their shared financial resources, as the truly innocent, the children, shouldn't suffer.

Pun intended? She's from Greece. Must admit being a bit surprised at the verdict, but maybe it could be a cultural thing re the marriage coercion. Ironic that she's an economist given the current troubles in Greece.

Oxymoronic isn't it.