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Home My WebLink AboutTimes-Advocate, 1999-01-13, Page 76 Aqg ag Exeter Tirtae-Advocate Wednesday, January 13, 1999 Editonal&Opmion •FiL\ ll .s -ADVOCATE PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER 07511 Jim Beckett Publisher and .editor ' Don Smith General Manager Deb Lord Production Manager Published by J.W. Eedy Publications limited 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850 Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • (519) 2354331 EDITORIAL Afew could spoil::. 10 bi'#aui ��It undreds of people living in this area believe there is no finer winter experi- ence than jumping on their snowmobile and taking off for an exhilarating ride.. . Machine owners have spent thousands on their winter hobby and are ready to`take advantage of their pent up desire to hit the trails. In the vast majority of cases local snow- mobilers enjoy their lifestyle, obey the rules" and contribute to a very important winter business. However, a few snowmobilers are becoming a nightmare to many town residents who have been forced into being a part of the snowmo- bile scene whether they want to or not. We've heard stories of snowmobiles almost running over people when they are removing snow on their own properties. Others have called to say the high-pitched noise of powerful sleds screaming down their streets goes well into the night. Sometimes there'q, a fine line regarding when 'a si(iWmobiler's right to have a little winter fun tramples on the rights of residents to enjoy their homes and property in peace and quiet. To others who live on streets not fre- quented re quented by snowmobiles there is an attitude of "what's the big deal?" It's the only winter recreation some people get. This is a problem that Exeter council has been dealing with for some time...and it looks like they are having some success, thanks to a good relationship with the Pineridge Snowmobile Club. Somewhere between banning snowmobiles from operating within town limits and having taxpayers driven to distraction by the noise and sheer volume of traffic on their streets should be reasonable for snowmobilers and non-snowmobilers alike. Certainly the club has work to do before these noisy beasts of winter are welcomed on all streets in town. Even if virtually all their drivers are considerate of others there still must be a few who think they can drive any- where they want, as fast as they want and make as much noise as they want. Their selfishness certainly makes it much tougher for all the good drivers who just want to be able to enjoy their sport. U.S. Senate should impeach Clinton All right, Bill, it's time to quit your day job and ride off into the sunset. . Despite strong public support, U.S. President Bill Clinton is now a mere shadow of a president. Recently impeached by the House of Representatives, Clinton is desperately hanging onto the last. shreds of his office by his fingernails. As this column was being written, the U.S. Senate was beginning its impeachment trial against Clinton for charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. Conventional wisdom suggests the Senate will not impeach Clinton because any vote needs a two- thirds vote to win and the Republicans don't have two-thirds of the Senate. And it's not very likely any Democrats will vote to impeach one of their own, even if Clinton does deserve it. Why does Bill Clinton deserve to be thrown unceremoniously out of office? Is it because he had an affair with an intern almost the same age as his daughter? No, that merely makes him a bad husband and a creep. The real reason Clinton should no longer be president is because he has displayed a massive amount of arrogance, stupidity and a pathological, abili- ty to lie. For some reason, Americans don't seem to care that Clinton looked straight into a camera lens and told them, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky." He also made similar remarks while under oath in his Paula Jones sexual harassment case. Later on, of course, Clinton admitted in an ingenuous- ly maudlin public speech that he did in fact have an "inappropriate relationship" with Lewinsky. He has admitted he made a mistake and is apparently sorry for cheating on his wife and lying to the American public. Of course, believing that Clinton really feels sorry for what he did would be like believing ... well, like believ- ing elieving any other politician. Why would Clinton be telling the truth now when he has been caught in so many lies in the past? The problem is, Americans are unconcerned Clinton lied to them and that's a horrible indication of the cyni- cism people feel towards politicians. If the public all of a sudden starts letting politicians off the hook for lying to them, what else are politicians going to be able to get away with? No, Clinton must be held accountable. Citizens should demand the truth from their politicians. Another reason Americans don't want Clinton to be impeached is because they say they're tired of the._. Lewinsky scandal and they just want it to go away. Well, can't argue with that logic. What if we solved all of our problems like that? While it would be surprising if they ever admitted it, the real • reason Americans want Clinton to stay in office is because the American economy is riding high and they see Clinton as the main reason for it. In other words, as long as Americans have two new cars in the driveway and a big wide-screen TV, Clinton can do whatever he wants. Even if Clinton does survive the Senate trial — and many think he will — his sophomoric behaviour has forever sullied his reputation in the history books. He will be remembered only as the president who was impeached by Congress because his libido was out of control. And that's basically the repu- tation he deserves. And ignoring Clinton's sexual scandals, lees not forget the investigations into Clinton's Whitewater problems and the other accusations of corrupt fund-raising. Those, in truth, are more serious crimes. In the meantime, Clinton has turned himself mid the American presidency into a joke. Who among es ass look at a picture of Clinton i:fit. langling and thinking of his sexual impro richest► So let's watch with inter as the UM. Sandie ilei RIF president under the microscope. And left hope Munro fades away, because he's, not worthy to hold public office. SCOTT NIXON AND ANOTHER THING About the Times -Advocate Address & Office Hours Times -Advocate, 424 Main Street South. P.O. Box 850. Exeter. Ontario NOM 1S6. Our office is open Monday to Friday. 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. 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