Stardate 20010719.1358 (On Screen): This article makes what I think is a valid point: Representative Condit should resign, not because he has been cheating on his wife but because he lied to the police about it. (She uses the more polite term "dissemble", but I'm not going to wuss out here. He's a bloody liar.) She discusses the fact that the Framers (especially Madison) knew that government would be by weak and imperfect men, so they built in checks and balances to keep them under control -- and by and large that's worked pretty well. She speculates that he won't actually resign (though he should), and I think she's probably right.
She does not, however, go the next step and see the Framer's wisdom. We have defenses in depth, and in the long run it won't matter. Next year, Representative Condit will stand for reelection and this is sure to be an issue brought up by his opponent, whoever that might be. I think that unless that opponent is a blithering incompetent, the chance of Representative Condit being reelected is nil. (discuss)
