*January 15, 1999 Day Two. The House Managers continue their opening statements.*

The day began with Bill McCollum, " Any President who committs the crimes of perjury and witness tampering should be removed from office ". He showed how perjury is more seriously sentenced than bribery. He chronicled the obstruction of justice charge from deposition to Whitehouse to Grand Jury testimony. After a break, George Gekas did an unrehearsed summary of the law on obstruction of justice.

Steve Chabot summarized the law on perjury, sections 1621 and 1623. He talked about the three elements needed: 1) The oath - he showed video of it being administered, 2) Intent - he played the Charles Ruff line George Sensenbrenner mentioned yesterday ( see: Alan Dershowitz calls George Sensenbrenner a liar? ( 1-15-99 ) ), and 3) Materiality - Grand Jury testimony is inherently material. He debunked several possible Whitehouse defenses, finishing with, " The President's statements were not literally true or technically correct ".

Chris Cannon, " John Locke once said wherever law ends, tyranny begins ", explained what legal precedents are applicable to this case. After the final break, Bob Barr illustrated specific instances of witness tampering, perjury and obstruction of justice in Bill Clinton's conduct, from filing a false affidavit to a lawyers letter to a judge explaining an incorrect ascertion.

The most interesting moment to someone who already knows most of the facts, was the opening Democrat clown act by Senator Dung Heap himself, Tom Harkin. I suppose Harkin could just not control himself any longer ( or maybe his " au de outhouse " was wearing off? ), and he stood up and made an objection. He objected to being called a juror, and not Senator. I think we all know where that is coming from, as he has already betrayed his oath of impartiality. He is setting up the situation to rationalize voting for acquittal on Bill Clinton, though the facts may clearly point toward conviction. Republican Senator Judd Gregg had to make a point of order to cut off Tom Harkin's rambling grandstanding effort! Chief Justice William Rehnquist did uphold his objection and ordered the Managers not to refer to the Senators as jurors.

- Bongo ( I wonder if Harkin does Beer Halls? )