PUBLIC OPINIONS
The Senate appears unlikely to boot President Clinton from office following the House vote for impeachment, which means that Americans may get exactly the scandal result they seem to want: punishment but not removal. The public, of course, doesn't realize this yet. Clinton's impeachment wasn't a popular move, according to the polls. Despite this, it may wind up being precisely the kind of rebuke Americans have been telling pollsters they want. As NR has argued, there is no better censure than impeachment. Whether the public eventually comes around to this view remains to be seen.

FIRST OFF THE BLOCKS

Sen. John Ashcroft (R., Mo.) looks like he'll be the first candidate of either party to jump in the presidential race. He is set to make "an announcement" on January 5, and all indications are that he's running. First it appeared as though Sen. Bob Kerry (D., Neb.) was going to be first, but then he said he won't run. Then former Sen. Bill Bradley (N.J.) and Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) made some noise. Both may eventually get in, but not before Ashcroft.