This afternoon in this room, from this chair, I testified before the Office of Independent Counsel and the grand jury.
I answered their questions truthfully, including questions about my private life, questions no American citizen would ever want to answer.
Still, I must take complete responsibility for all my actions, both public and private. And that is why I am speaking to you tonight.
As you know, in a deposition in January, I was asked questions about my relationship with Monica Lewinsky. While my answers were legally accurate, I did not volunteer information.
Indeed, I did have a relationship with Miss Lewinsky that was not appropriate. In fact, it was wrong. It constituted a critical lapse in judgment and a personal failure on my part for which I am solely and completely responsible.
But I told the grand jury today and I say to you now that at no time did I ask anyone to lie, to hide or destroy evidence or to take any other unlawful action.
I know that my public comments and my silence about this matter gave a false impression. I misled people, including even my wife. I deeply regret that.
I can only tell you I was motivated by many factors. First, by a desire to protect myself from the embarrassment of my own conduct.
I was also very concerned about protecting my family. The fact that these questions were being asked in a politically inspired lawsuit, which has since been dismissed, was a consideration, too.
In addition, I had real and serious concerns about an independent counsel investigation that began with private business dealings 20 years ago, dealings I might add about which an independent federal agency found no evidence of any wrongdoing by me or my wife over two years ago.
The independent counsel investigation moved on to my staff and friends, then into my private life. And now the investigation itself is under investigation.
This has gone on too long, cost too much and hurt too many innocent people.
Now, this matter is between me, the two people I love most -- my wife and our daughter -- and our God. I must put it right, and I am prepared to do whatever it takes to do so.
Nothing is more important to me personally. But it is private, and I intend to reclaim my family life for my family. It's nobody's business but ours.
Even presidents have private lives. It is time to stop the pursuit of personal destruction and the prying into private lives and get on with our national life.
Our country has been distracted by this matter for too long, and I take my responsibility for my part in all of this. That is all I can do.
Now it is time -- in fact, it is past time to move on.
We have important work to do -- real opportunities to seize, real problems to solve, real security matters to face.
And so tonight, I ask you to turn away from the spectacle of the past seven months, to repair the fabric of our national discourse, and to return our attention to all the challenges and all the promise of the next American century.
Scot
Why did you sign it Bill Clinton? Also how did the Lewinsky broad fit into all this? She was nowhere near the coffee pot I would have noticed.
Anyway, it was a damn good apology by any standard and I accept it. I'm done with the poetry for now anyway. I am thinking of taking up aikido instead. I am attracted by the clothes and they say women love a man in uniform.
I just came home and the barking I gave my neighbor for reading my Sunday paper will cure him from ever again coming close to my damn house.
If it wasn't that I had planned to take the entire paper, plastic bag and all, to Siberia it would not have bothered me so much.
Izzi,
There are some definite things the ladies will have to do (and let us do) our way.
Arranging the initial transportation transfers is one of them.
We'll meet, maybe even have a toast before leaving the airport if the car driver doesn't have an itch to get out of there, but there is no way we can all fit in a small car when 3 of us are carrying luggage.
I only have one suitcase and a rolling carry-on, but the suitcase is huge.
Like you said, we can meet when we come back to E-burg...maybe even entertain at the apartment before or after we go somewhere.
In five days from now, I'll be 30 minutes in the air already...:))
Well at least it was funny. Not as good as my stuff but not bad.
Toad
I already told you don't worry about it. I already told her you had other plans and I will repeat tomorrow. She is just trying to be super hospitable, unfortunately it is getting in the way. She is going to have to start listening to me sometime now is as good as any time. I think she really doesn't want Lena to think she is bad mannered. Apparently this kind of thing is very usual out there. I think it is akin to the flagging down of cars to get a lift for money. i.e. every car is a potential taxi. (and a serial killer)
You know I went back to the beginning of this thread and looked at the dates. I can't believe that it was only 20 days from the time I first wrote to Marina that I bought the plane ticket. I have been waiting over 3 months.
I popped back in between packing and repacking. I don't know how many times I have molested that bloody suitcase. I keep buying crap and then I have to reshuffle. I have a dirty big strap on it to make sure it doesn't go poof all over the inside of a 747.
The Russian Woman was pissed this morning because I didn't write yesterday. Her reasoning was
A) I was too busy screwing around with my suitcase which is turning into a phobia and I should go to suitcase anonymous. (Hi my name is Izi and I'm a compulsive packer)
or
B) I was too busy screwing around with another woman in which case she will kill her and she will never collect her pension. There is no way I am going to piss this woman off. She is bribing my cat to guard me from other women by enticements of fish! So she is witholding payment. He's pissed because he is disloyal and shallow.
Anyway I am going back to sleep. Goodnight everyone and I hope you feel better soon Martin, remember if you pick at it it's never gonna heal.
Have you noticed that when Martin posts his stupid song lyrics - to us they see just like disjointed writing - he repets the phrases that would be used in the chorus (I guess) over and over as if he knows the song that these lyicis are supposed to go with and he assumes that we do to.
These tunes just constantly play in his head - these tusens and lyrics and voices - that he hears in his own head - and he thinks that we naturally hear to.
Does anyone need another reason to beleive that martin is in need of psychiatric help.
OK, now that the air seems to have cleared a bit, let's get back to commenting on E-burg...:))
Go confirmation on the train-airport-hotel transfers this morning, Izi. Had to wait till Lena gave the specifics of her train arrival, car #, etc.
This FSU guy Dimitri from Atlanta did a heck of a job, very professional and efficient. So far so good...
Let's just hope the driver doesn't show up behind the wheel of a russian FIAT (LADA)..:))
Hooray!!! Finally he is gone!!! Now we can get back to having some fun and swapping information.
Olga Thank you thank you thank you.
I've got my thread back woohoo!!
Oh, horrible thought. Is he gone for good or did you just wipe his stupid posts? I am hoping he is gone for good.
Toad
Is that Atlanta, Georgia, USA? How did you find this guy? Does he do other stuff? Also it turns out Marina is short sighted, no laughing. I said no laughing I hear giggling at the back over there. She doesn't want to wear glasses or lenses. This is encouraging for the drive back to her place at 11.30 pm in the frigging dark with ice and snow everywhere. They might be burying my body in a foreign field somewhere in Russa. "The Unknown Suitor".
Anyway tell Lena to look out for La Rubia with the claret boots and hat and I think scarf. I don't even know what claret is - must be some Russian Woman thing. Anyway she is half blind so a little help would be appreciated. I sent the picture of Lena so I know she will make an effort. Unfortunately as I said , she can't see diddly.
Glad we got our forum back from that idiot. Moron stopped play there for a bit.
I am so glad we are finally getting back to normal. I have 2 full days left before I start the process of getting to Ekaterinburg. I have a lot of worries and I don't mean about the logistics of the trip. I know you see me joke a lot but I am quite nervous. I really don't want this to go south and my feeling is it could in a heartbeat. Wish me luck because I can't afford any wasted tips over there. Each one has to count.
I hope you are right about this place is getting back to normal... I already missed you guys.. hehe
IZI, whatever you do, if you and Marina are about to cross a heavy trafficated intersection.. Whatever you do.. don't say "biiiip" "biiiip" "biiiip"... She will problaby start walking instantly.. LOL
Don't be nervous guys, you are about to have the time of your lifes!!
I envie you, I wish I could go also, but I have to wait another month or so..
If I am lucky my princess will come to Norway for a weekend during May, then 2 week vacation here in July...
You might want to take some Benadryl with you. I usually take one or two after take off, and I am able to get a fair amount of sleep on the plane prior to arriving (in Moscow for me). Then I am not so wacked out with the time change. That was always the problem for me...being so tired all day, then I perk up when everyone else is ready for bed.
Be careful what you eat and drink also. I knew my girl really cared for me when she took great care of me in the middle of the night while I was puking my guts out. Not very pleasant first meeting!!! Bring meds for it...and immodium too.
Also when I was there in January my warm wool socks saved my feet. Hope you have some too.
Good luck and have fun. Drink a Tinkoff for me. (Russian beer)
Izi,
I have no doubt the girls will be looking for each other while the wait for us.
I have so much work related stuff to do before Friday it's not even funny. All last minute shit, too.
Oh, well...a little procrastination is not going to kill me.
Yes I have work to do also but it is distracting. As for getting sick, never thought of that. Had a week of amoebas in Gutemala, not fun, you get better then exactly 7 days later you get sick again. I'll never eat a 3rd world hotdog again. Thought I'd gone native and took a chance that could have cost me my life. I will get some immodium as for benydryl I will take a couple of my pain kilers on the way over. Double purpose sleep and cover up of the discomfort caused by my vertabrae in my neck.