Chas_P, on 2017-July-24, 18:20, said:
"If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor." And "It depends on what the meaning of the word is is. If the...if he...if is means is and never has been, that is not - that is one thing. If it means there is none, that was a completely true statement." come to mind.
"It depends on what the meaning of the word is is" is a fine illustration of the difference between legality and common sense. If I stand in front of you and say "I am not having sex with Monica" that certainly is true because I am standing it front of you and Monica is nowhere in sight. Exactly how far that sort of argument will stand up in a court of law, and I hope there are limits to this, is a matter for lawyers to debate. You and I know a lie when we hear one, regardless of just how it is constructed.
There were several aspects to this. You no doubt recal when .Madeleine Albright gave her statement of support, here is a review of it.
https://partners.nyt...on-friends.html
Quote
The highest profile members of the administration, no doubt, will also be sorting out their feelings. In January, Clinton assured his Cabinet he was innocent, and Madeleine Albright, the secretary of state, stepped out onto the White House driveway to back him up.
"I believe the allegations are completely untrue," she said.
"I'll second that. Definitely," said William Daley, the commerce secretary.
"Third it," said Donna Shalala, the secretary of health and human services.
Ok, nobody expects all that much from Commerce or from HHS, and as I recall the Education guy was there too, but the Secretary od State? My reaction was that we are serious trouble if she really is that naive. Sort of like the current Cabinet telling Trump how great he is. Or Scaramucci saying how much he loves him. Good grief. If I ever started telling everyone how much I loved any boss I ever had he, or she, would probably fire me. Or at least strongly suggest that I shut up about it.
But still, there are differences in degree. We need to have some work done on our garage floor, and I have had someone out. Of course I will read the contract before I sign it, but my gut tells me the guy is a straight shooter. He and his son were out, I liked them both. A couple of years ago we needed our roof replaced. I could barely stand to deal with the salesmen I encountered. At one point, in exasperation, I said to one of them "I guess this is how things are done in the roofing industry, I will just have to deal with it". No doubt I was just having some bad luck, I eventually succeeded, but I see Trump as one of those roofing salesmen. He is a reality that we have to accept, but really I think it is reasonable to expect better, even from a politician.
Of course we are told that Trump is not a politician, he is a real estate guy. Enough said.