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Click here to read and hear what callers to BBC World Service Radio's Newstalk programme had to say about the issue.

I think we should amend the United States Constitution to allow someone from England to serve for President for eight years. Would you be willing to let us borrow Lady Thatcher?
Frank Skinner, American (living in Canada)

My only comment may throw more light on my ignorance of the US constitution than of the current situation. However, how can the process in the Senate be described as a trial, since most of the 'jurors' seem to have made up their minds and no attempt is being made to find jurors who have not been influenced by all the information and comment? Considering the efforts made in other very high profile cases to find such jurors, presumably based on some point in US law, why is this trial any different?
Rosemary Alliston-Greiner, UK

The only deal should be dealt is for Clinton to go. He is the only one who thinks you can fool all the people all the time. He is wrong. Clinton is in great deception himself. If he remains he will lead others into the same deception.
E Ong, Australia

It is too late for a deal, Clinton is either convicted in the Senate, in which case the rule of law continues in the US. Or he is let loose in which case the elected officials in the US are above the law.
Richard T. Ketchum, USA

Picture this. A shopkeeper is put on trial for perjury. 75% of his co-workers consider him good at his job. Would a jury in America say 'ah shucks let him off, he's good at his job.' or would they put him on trial for the offense as the law of the land demands?
Will this new rule also extend to rape, theft, murder etc? We could call it the 'Clinton law'. If you are good at your job you don't have to be tried for an offense.
Roy Matthews, England

Why does the media delve so deeply into the personal lives of those in office? I believe what President Clinton did was wrong, but that we've spent so much time and money on something that practically all leaders have been guilty of is ludicrous. On the other hand, it's scary to know that our president is living in a fantasy land and has no idea of what is meant by telling the truth or having sex!
Rosemary Lovatt, USA

Look at the economy and ask yourself if you are better off today than you were six years ago? Bill Clinton has helped the average American live a better life because of his policies. Now the rich people will tell you he is not responsible for this good economy but the same people blamed the high interest rates of the 1980's on Jimmy Carter, but look at who was president.
Also, if you got caught with your hand in the cookie jar wouldn't you lie too! If you have ever filled out an application of any kind for credit the bottom line says that you swear that all the information true and correct under penalties of perjury. You better check your information before you send it off or you are just a guilty as the President.
Harold Helton, USA

Let him finish his term. He has done a lot of good things for the country.
Iwan Harsono, Indonesia

I don't think Clinton should be allowed to resign. We shouldn't have to pay for his traitorous acts for the rest of his life. He should be tried, PERIOD.
Hugh E. Doebrick, USA

I am disturbed that some Americans don't believe that the Constitution of the USA applies to everyone equally. Perjury and Abuse of Power is what Mr. Clinton is to be tried on. He has lied on numerous occasions on public TV, but when he lies under oath to God to a Grand Jury he has gone too far and needs to be removed from office. He could resign, but doesn't have the moral fiber to do so honorably. So he is the one forcing the trial.
George Brandt, USA

Although I did not vote for him, Mr. Clinton has done a decent job as president. But because of his admitted lying and out of respect for the presidency, I believe he should resign. The Republicans are going to hurt their chances come Y2K to get someone in the White House if they don't lighten up. They've pressed this issue so hard they are in danger of becoming what they despise most.
HFB, USA

I overheard two grade school children at a local shopping mall talking about a friend who was in trouble, and had to go to the principal. One of them said to the other what did he do? The other kid said that "he pulled a Clinton", meaning that he had lied. When the president of the USA is used by a grade school child to describe the trem of lying; it is time for him to go.
Mike Percival, USA

I don't think President Clinton should be impeached although he did commit crime and perjury by lying under oath. Monica Lewinsky's affair is completely a private matter and it is up to Hilary to judge her husband. A president is also entitled to private life.Who among the distinguished Republican Party members can say that he never lies, whether public or private? The Republican Party should understand that if they don't forget about this debate, they are facing another major defeat in the upcoming presidential election.

Tihamiyou B.Moussa, Republic of Benin

The United States is a constitutional republic, not a democracy. It is governed by the rule of law, not public opinion polls. President Clinton has been impeached by the US House of Representatives on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. He will be tried in the US Senate and removed from office if found guilty. In this country the president must obey the law. He is not a king.
Anthony Williams, USA

Congress as an instrument of morality is, perhaps, the ultimate non-sequitur. Mark Twain would be having a field day with these jokers. Why don't they just shut up and get on with the real work that they were presumably elected to perform. As for Bill, I wish he would stop whining and apologizing.
George Petrov, USA

Regarding Clinton's definition of sex. If he saw his daughter doing to a male friend what Monica did to him, I think he would change his mind!
David Lucas, USA

From the US polls which indicate that the people (mostly left) still admire Clinton, it appears that we are going to hell in a handbasket. Without morality and law we will fall as the Roman Empire did.
Maureen Demot, USA

I am ashamed of the president of our country. It is very embarrassing to me that people have their heads in the sand and will not pay attention to see what is really going on. They are too busy to care, and that is a shame. They don't want to know what he's doing. Also, a lot of them are doing the same thing, so they don't find anything wrong with his actions. This is too bad. I hope he will eventually resign, but feel he is too arrogant to do so.
Jean Rayner, USA

Clinton would be a disgrace if he was the Commander-in-chief of the United States Sewer system. He is a disgrace not only to America but to the world.
Jerry Griner, USA

The President of the US is a disgrace. Even worse than his reprehensible behavior is the apathy of the American public and the role of the US media in suppressing negative news stories about him. The widespread protests of his impeachment bombing campaign in Iraq, for example, were not even mentioned by the US news media. This collaboration between a corrupt President and a silent press is a frightening precedent for the world's superpower, don't you think?
Sylvia Arkes, USA

Our President, of the USA, Bill Clinton, should absolutely NOT resign. He is doing a terrific job - the rest is baloney to throw us off course and away from at least a semi-humanistic presidency.
Are you angry at him for bringing peace to Ireland? Are some of your colonial feelings welling up? Clinton is terrific; I am sorry that I could not say the same for your poll which absolutely does not reflect how AMERICANS feel about the President.
Pat Margulies, USA

How can Hillary Clinton be praised for "standing by her man" when she is in fact insulting women by condoning his actions?
Mary Chan, Malaysia

Bill Clinton has treated the American people with utter disrespect, he lied and then denied the lie. Please, won't he just resign!
S Hayek, USA

He should stay in office for as long as it takes to finish this magnificent "outing" of the US liberal press and the neo-McCarthy-ism of the Democratic Party.
Dave Young, USA

President Clinton should be impeached, but not because of Monica. More important is his disregard of law represented by his illegal bombing of Iraq.
John D. Bartram, USA

Clinton does not respect the people, presidency, or the constitution. These are things to be used by him for his own needs and means. With full thought and intent, he broke the law. I am ashamed of what my country has become.
Kemt, USA

I think it is time to now for a deal. The President has been harshly treated by his people. He committed a sin, and the God is always forgiving, why don't people. The image the US has been tarnished by the whole issue.
A/Rahim Siddig, Sudan

Clinton is the most effective leader in the world -- the political and personal hatred driving his prosecution is more a scandal than his actions. Congratulations to PM Blair for maintaining his friendship and support for Clinton.
Don Edman, USA

This man is a sociopath. He is a danger to this country and in fact the rest of the world! My greatest fear is that the Senate with shirk its duty and cave in the popular sentiment of the ignorant.
Don Wilson, USA

It is Paula Jones that should be on trial for bringing her great nation to this humiliating position. Posterity will judge this situation to have been utterly ridiculous and its politicians to be extremely short-sighted in their partisan approach.
Peter W Taylor, New Zealand

Our Republican party has really been dominated by the far right wing, they are an embarrassment to our country. Fortunately, the process was set up by the founding fathers to take into account human frailty like this. One notices that the Senate is not quite so keen to impeach the President over this, and that was the way it was intended to be. Just be glad nothing bad happened to Clinton and Gore in the last year, because then Newt would have become President, and Iraq would be a large plane of glass from the nuclear bombs that jackass would drop on them, and then the world would really hate us!
Lee Latham, USA Clinton has embarrassed us in front of the entire globe. Many of us feel that he is unable to tell the truth which makes him a danger to many. Many feel that he and Hillary are both power hungry. He lied several times under oath before a Federal Grand Jury - this is perjury.
Joyce E. Byrum, USA

I think President Clinton's actions have given us an opportunity to evaluate the meaning of Democracy and the Presidency. I am quite proud that the world is watching us search for a civilized and just answer to this "moral" issue of sex and lies. I hope that we are setting forth a good example of an "ideal" ... Democracy.
Stacey Paulette Cheatham USA

Clinton's personal problem should be left alone. The investigation & impeachment process have cost so dearly that if you calculate the amount, it can feed a hungry nation for a month!
Jo Clemente from Malaysia

I feel sorry for the American people. Once in their life they have an admirable political leader and a small minority want to get rid of him on what is a technicality and certainly something that should be dealt with by his wife just so that the minority get the opportunity to mis-use their power.
James Barnard, England

The system appears to be working. Let Clinton stand trial before the Senate and be convicted or acquitted. Censure is too harsh if he is innocent of perjury, and too weak if he is guilty.
Paul Rose, USA

The trial should be played out. We don't know all that has happened yet as the White House has not been very forthcoming. The country will run without him. Anyone with any self respect would have resigned 6 months ago
Jes, Canada

I have been following this saga with gripping and absorbing interest for almost a year now and am still waiting with bated breath for each and every turn. It seems to me that the Americans are able to separate from Clinton the Man and Clinton the President. Personally, I can't tell the difference between the two, can you? Can one govern the nation without moral authority?
Cheng Ann from Singapore

It is not a humiliating experience for me as an American, nor do I feel 'shame' from those in other countries who may not understand or appreciate our open, raucous form of republican democracy. The questioning now is not about sex, but the subversion of our judicial system with reference to lying about otherwise private matters. Whether I think that President Clinton has or has not received a fair deal is not relevant to this discussion. What is relevant is that we as Americans can operate our system of government in public, with the warts of partisan politics and all, for those in the international community to observe.
Ron Musto, USA

I don't think that America is in agony. That begs the question that I can be humiliated by someone else's actions. However, I do feel that the government of the United States is the laughing stack of the world. It is our fault because we elected a liar to office twice; it is the politicians fault because the refuse to budge from partisan politics and it is the media's fault for making this a sex scandal rather than a constitutional question.
Kermit Riley, USA

I believe that Mr. Clinton should be left alone! They spent $40 million to investigate what he did in his oval office. Kenn Starr didn't even mention the other things he was investigating. GOOD LUCK MR. CLINTON!
DCA, United States

The US is not humiliated by the Clinton impeachment debate. Clinton certainly is. However, the constitutional process is working as it should. The country has a strong system and can conduct its business perfectly adequately with the President under fire.
Bill Thomson, UK

Clinton has lied to all three branches of government and should not be allowed to continue in office!
Glenn Focht USA

The president may have something wrong in the eyes of the American people but think how much good things he has done to the country and his people - no other president did like him, so see the good side of the man, don't see the bad side of him.
Kirubalan from Srilanka

Clinton should be sent packing and this is long overdue. He has lied on camera and the longer he stays in office the worse it looks for the U.S. I don't know why the U.S have put up with him over the last year. In the U.K, heads of politics are quickly gotten rid of whenever they cause concern e.g Thatcher and Major. Why can't the U.S follow this same principle? Boot the bugger out - he is a disgrace to the country he is supposed to be leading.
Gary Kerr, Canada

The whole process is just nonsense. Impeachment is politically motivated...a bit too harsh...I just can't understand why the whole process started in the first place?
Saurabh Gupta, India

I think it makes us look foolish and dumb to the rest of the world. I would just like it to be over and done with so our government might get something done next year. They didn't do much this year !!!
TerraAnn, USA

The presidency has not been damaged, since you can always change the president. What is disconcerting from a non-American point of view is that the American people have seemingly attained such a level of wealth and comfort that they have nothing better to do than embark on such a ridiculous crusade against an otherwise perfectly good president.
Graham Bell, Brazil

While it disappoints me to know this matter has embarrassed the USA, I must admit, the antics of the Republican party are indeed shameworthy. It is no secret that the whole process is a partisan effort to curb a Democrat president with run-away popularity. As for a deal, however, I am not in favor. A "deal" would effectively reduce our "checks and balances" system, as well as set a dangerous precedent for what amounts to a "no confidence" vote -- something entirely outside the American fabric.
Wayne Paulter, Washington, DC USA

The most frustrating thing for me as a US citizen is having my tax dollars go towards a non-stop series of investigations that have produced a negative return to the American public. Let us not kid ourselves, the president has not been accused or proven to have breached national security or any other high crime or misdemeanour. Our country likes to pride itself on its economic stability, cultural diversity, military prowess, and its democratic government. What is now failing to do is listen to its most important constituent - we the people. Let's cease this nonsense and get on with the business of the country and its citizens.
Paul Edwards USA

I ask for his resignation and pray that Bill Clinton will admit that he has lied and I pray that the TRUTH of all that he has done will come out. I love him as a person, but grieve over the sorrow that he is causing this once wonderful nation.
A senior citizen, USA

I think that the majority of US citizens are certainly embarrassed by the ridiculous circus taking place in Washington these days. I don't know that we would go so far as to admit humiliation, though. Americans, by and large, are a particularly proud and defiant people, and I don't think we would want to impeach our status as the torch-bearers of Western Democracy with wretched grovelling on the world stage--this would be contrary to our arrogant, bullying, insensitive nature, and such weaknesses as conscience and retrospection are to be suppressed, not encouraged. Clinton's peccadilloes may cause our white-haired politicians to blush and rant about the decline of morality and good taste in America, but they are not the sort of thing that will lead to an interruption of America's ongoing campaign against the Rule of World Law. America does as America wishes--and everyone else be damned to midnight bombings and economic terrorism.
Nate McFadden, USA

NO I am not embarrassed, after all despite rampant anti-Americanism around the world even in so-called allied nations we must still serve as the world cop because if not us who will? I do not see that changing because nations who need help will always ask the US for help despite how moral or lacking in such the President at that time may be. People often speak of the partisan lines on which the articles were passed but if republicans all voted for them and all democrats voted against them are the democrats being just as partisan as the republicans by just voting against them as the republicans just voted for them?
LS, United States

Yes I feel that this is a matter of national disgrace to have the dirty laundry of a respectable Presidency be exposed in this manner. But this is not a feeling shared by a majority of Americans. Most Americans a actually shocked, concerned and offended by the fact that the President would lie to a Grand Jury. It seems like the sexual matter is for discussion between Hillary and Clinton and if she is ok with it, then it is essentially no one else's business. Now, if Hillary had reacted in a more public manner, with an emotional display that is typical for what most Americans would consider appropriate for this kind of indiscretion, then more Americans would be more concerned with the sexual nature of this whole deal and feel a bit embarrassed.
Vic, USA

It is vital to our legal system and constitution that this matter go through a trial. There is too much at stake to let perjury go unpunished. Letting it go unpunished could mean a total legal meltdown or erosion. It's time for Willy to throw in the towel. He's a liar and serial sexual predator -- not to mention a civic embarrassment.
Jerry L. Dunn, USA

Take a deep breath. The "humiliation" is of Clinton. The country will survive just fine. This is not a perfect democracy, and the election of Clinton in '92 was, to begin with, an obviously imperfect choice.
A. Kingman Pratt, Jr.,USA

Opinion polls detailing the American people as being fed up with the impeachment process are disturbing. As our nation sits entranced by the latest Jerry Springer clash, the real issues of justice and honesty completely elude us. The American people have wavered in their commitment to justice simply because its not as interesting as the latest pop culture fad. Unless we are careful and shake off our apathy toward what is good for the country, we will continue to elect and support representatives who lie to us and think we will remain apathetic.
CPT Christopher de Morrow, USA

Clinton is the first peace time president. We have too much time on our hands, no news; and ever mushrooming channels, except Saddam bashing. He should not allow the opposing team, of Republicans; I am a Republican, to brow beat him into submission, for what passes as normal activity for many successful married men. I wish it had never happened. There is a minority view, that he was entrapped - stroke by stroke documentation? A President should not have less rights, than Joe six pack. From Divine Rights to No Rights, that is a bit much!
Naseem A. Khan, USA

I love the USA and its people, but since my first visit the state is becoming more and more paranoid. The country is driven by lawyers, and there seems no trust anymore. This is probably caused by the absurd damages awarded to all kind of so called victims. Mr. Bill Clinton apparently a man with a big sexual drive has been followed by vultures like Paula Jones who thought to find easy money in a law suit. My standpoint is clear. Lying is never to be tolerated, let alone under oath. Cheating of your wife and family is not tolerated, but we all know it happens all the time. Digging in people's personal life with bugging devices, only with the purpose to find something to catch him or her, is however morally unacceptable and far worse in a country that claims to guarantee individual freedom.
W.F.G. Van der Elst, Netherlands/Oman

Yes this has been a humiliating experience for the US and Americans. The actions of our President and the subsequent reactions by Congress have made it clear that the US political system and government leaders are no better than others in other countries whom we often criticize. I strongly suggest that no trial be held because everybody already knows what happened and based on that the Senators can make up their minds. For those who cannot decide, there are multiple opinion polls that may help. The show trial should be avoided.
Steve Socolof, New Jersey, USA

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