SOTU So What?
Why is it that commentators think they have established Clinton gave a good speech by noting that it would have impressed visitors from Mars? Why are congressmen from both parties supposed to applaud when the President promises "to build. . . . [a]n America where scientists find cures for diseases from diabetes to Alzheimer's to AIDS"? Was that one of the "moments of soaring poetry" one conservative talking head claimed were in the speech? Not to applaud such inanities—which do not so much soar as float into the ether—is somehow taken as disrespect for the President. In a sane world, such rituals would be seen as just as tawdry as anything in the news over the last week.

Law v. Politics
The division between President Clinton's political and legal advisers has been widely remarked. Less often noted is that us anti-Clinton conspiracists divide along similar lines. The legal types counsel patience: let Ken Starr and other investigators slowly build up their case, working from underlings up; the legal facts will trump Clintonite maneuvering in the end. The political types roll their eyes at such hopeless naiveté: they say that Starr et al are in a war—a political war—and they should proceed accordingly. For the former group, the ultimate issue is punishment for crimes; for the latter, it's political accountability.

The First Lady's statements over the last few days, coupled with James Carville's over the weekend, ought to but probably won't tip the balance toward the politicos. They have declared war—explicitly, in the case of the snapping turtle. If Starr doesn't put this gang in jail, they'll put him there. Think about it: if the charges don't pan out, and quickly, Clinton might have enough cover to order Janet Reno to fire him. (Which he ought to do, if he really believes his own and his wife's comments about him.) And then perhaps the Justice Department could investigate prosecutorial abuses. . . . And even if no legal harassment ensued, the Clinton crew would reduce Starr to rubble. As this space noted on the second day of the Lewinsky story, this is mortal combat. Starr's detractors say he has been out to bring the President down from day one. He certainly has good reason to now.