No, this isn't a shocking expose of Dennis Hastert's sexual escapades -- I'd be amazed if there were any -- it's about what we aren't seeing, the great "debate" on conviction of Clinton. I guess I'm in the minority here, as I wanted this to take place in private. Not so much for this trial, because all we're missing is some major Senatorial bloviation, but for future trials. I honestly think that there is more likely to be a real exchange of ideas, with serious questioning of positions, if cameras are not present. I understand the arguments advanced that great issues, including war and peace, are discussed and debated in full view of the public. I just think this issue, with all the quasi-judicial trappings it has, would best be served with a private exchange of opinions and facts. Reasonable people can surely disagree with this position, and they have.

For historical purposes, all the speeches will be entered in the record of the trial, making tedious reading indeed. To save you time, I'll give you the generic speeches here, just so you don't think you're missing anything.

Republican Speech:

My fellow Senators, it is with a heavy heart and a sense of the overwhelming gravity of this moment that I rise to speak. Make no mistake about it, this is not about sex. It is about whether the President of the United States is above the law. It is about whether the chief law enforcement officer shall be above the law. It is about protection of the legal system. ..blah blah blah… young girl who could be your daughter…blah blah blah…trust…blah blah blah…abused his office…blah blah blah…with a cigar!…blah blah blah…lied to the American people…blah blah blah…called her in the middle of the night…blah blah blah…had Vernon Jordan get her a job to shut her up. Betty Currie hid the evidence…blah blah blah…spilled his Presidential bodily fluids on the blue dress…blah blah blah…but it's not about sex…yada yada…and he sent Sidney Blumenthal out to lie…blah blah blah…all this to deny Paula Corbin Jones her day in court…blah blah blah…what can I tell my children?….blah blah blah… a word on behalf of the courageous job done by Kenneth Starr…blah blah blah…White House campaign to discredit him…blah blah blah…it's not just about sex…blah blah blah…and I want to praise the wonderful job by the House Managers and their staff, whose diligence has been admirable. I know this isn't the popular thing to do. But as Edmund Ross of Kansas did in the impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson, I look down into my open grave and must follow my conscience. I find that the evidence leads, no, the evidence demands that I vote to convict William Jefferson Clinton and remove him from office.

Democratic Speech:

My fellow Senators, it is with a heavy heart and a sense of the overwhelming gravity of this moment that I rise to speak. The President has committed unforgivable acts….blah blah blah…I abhor this…blah blah blah…betrayed his trust…blah blah blah…I am not condoning these acts…blah blah blah…with a cigar…blah blah blah…but these are private affairs, which, although reprehensible, do not rise to the level of impeachment. The President's actions didn't threaten the constitution or the government, therefore whatever "crimes" he may have committed, they do not rise to the level of "high crimes and misdemeanors" laid out in the constitution. Remember we are here to do the will of the people. Let us look at the evidence…blah blah blah…Linda Tripp…blah blah…man is she ugly…blah blah blah…you call her a friend?….blah blah blah…Kenneth Starr….blah blah blah…four years and forty million dollars…blah blah blah…vendetta…yada yada…no witnesses in the House…blah blah blah…the will of the people…blah blah blah ...Monica Lewinsky said "he never told me to lie"…blah blah blah…Vernon Jordan is a wonderful human being, I would let him date my daughter…blah blah blah…Betty Currie didn't think Clinton was encouraging her to lie…blah blah blah…Sidney Blumenthal???…blah blah blah…the will of the people…blah blah blah…the budget is balanced…blah blah blah…the case was thrown out of court…blah blah blah…the will of the people…blah blah blah…the House Managers have been selective in the testimony they used and care not about the truth but only about winning. This is about sex, about an irrelevant part of dismissed case. Hardly the stuff of which the impeachment and removal of the president is made. I condemn Bill Clinton's actions in the strongest terms, but like the American people, I say it is time to move on. As Edmund Ross of Kansas did in the impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson, I look down into my open grave and find that the evidence does not merit the removal of the President.

There, aren't you glad that was in secret session?