He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD (Pr 17:15).

Overview:

• Amid increasingly bleak reports, President Clinton flatly rejected Rep. Henry Hydeís appeal for his resignation, telling reporters in Israel he has ìno intention of quitting...î and that he has made ìevery effort to make every compromise with Congress.î
  
  
• Vice President Gore cancelled his pre-presidential campaign visit to New Hampshire to stay in Washington and lobby on his bossís behalf. Undecided Congressmen, Republican and Democrat, have received calls from presidential aides offering thinly-veiled bribes of assistance with the membersí parochial legislative wish-lists. Cabinet members, top Executive Branch appointees, influential Clinton supporters in labor and industry and various liberal activists have waged an all-out lobbying effort to save the Clinton Presidency. Even Hollywood actor Robert DeNiro was enlisted to make telephone calls against impeachment to members of Congress yesterday.
  
  
• Anti-impeachment rallies have been held and are scheduled in various parts of the country. People for the American Way established a toll-free number for Clinton supporters to call their Congressmen (130,000 callers used it on Monday alone). On Thursday, former NOW president Eleanor Smeal and other pro-abort activists will join Rev. Jesse Jackson in an anti-impeachment ìprayer vigilî on the Capitol steps.
  
  
• An ABC-Washington Post poll surprised pollsters by showing that a strong majority of Americans believe Clinton is guilty of perjury (8 in 10) and obstruction of justice (6 in 10). Fifty-one percent said he ìis still trying to mislead the public.î While a majority (61%) would still prefer the president not be impeached, only 29% said they would be ìangryî if he was forced by Congress to leave office. A slim majority said the President should be charged with perjury and forced to stand trial after he leaves office.
  
  
• Today, Rep. Jack Quinn (R-NY, previously declared "against") and Rep. John McHugh (R-NY) announced that they will vote for impeachment. On Monday, undecided Republican Representatives Frank Lobiondo (NJ), Jim Walsh (NY), Zach Wamp (TN), Charles Bass (NH), and Rick Hill (MT) announced their intentions to vote "for". Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT, previously "against"), told constituents he ìwas willing to reconsiderî his position. He also demanded a face-to-face meeting with the president and White House Chief of Staff John Podesta set up the meeting for Wednesday. Others, while making no declarations yet, gave clear indications they are leaning toward impeachment. Two hundred and eighteen votes (out of 435) are needed to impeach. Since 3 Democrats say they will vote for impeachment, 14 of the 228 House Republicans must vote against for the impeachment vote to fail.
  
  
• Rep. Henry Hyde will lead the impeachment fight on the House floor and House members will have just six hours to debate before the vote is taken this Thursday, December 17th, or Friday, December 18th.
  
  
• Yesterday, House Majority Whip Tom DeLay said it could still go either way, that some members may change their minds at the last minute, literally ìwhile walking to the House floor to vote.î Listed below is an updated list of those who have either not declared, or who may yet switch.