On to November
Another day, another plaint that it's "time to move on" to "the issues." You know, like which HMO-regulation bill to adopt. This is much more important than judging whether the leader of the Free World is fit to hold office. E.J. Dionne Jr., whose column is usually smart, contributes a ponderous example of the genre to today's Washington Post. ("If opponents of the measure believe in the merits of their arguments that the patients' bill of rights would force up health costs, why not let the debate happen and argue their case? . . . The issue is being hidden by impeachment." Oh please.)

Like it or not, the elections are going to be a referendum on Bill Clinton. And they should be. The public knows the parties' basic positions on the public-policy issues. The voters are closely divided on those issues; that's why Congress is so closely divided. They're not going to learn any more about those issues between now and November. The fate of the Clinton presidency is the most important issue on the table. Let the people decide.