The end is not in sight.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 258-176 Thursday to begin an impeachment inquiry into President Bill Clinton.

An article on CNN’s Web site described the upcoming investigation as a “free-ranging probe of perjury and obstruction of justice allegations.”

Most likely, nothing will be resolved.

The House will probably never adopt the articles of impeachment.

There is no deadline for completion of the inquiry, but Clinton doesn’t have that much time left in office.

Unless he resigns in the next few months, we could be seeing Monica, Linda and Kenneth every day on national television for a long time.

The infamous cigars are still smoldering, but they hardly seem worthy of all the energy that is being focused on them.

Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Florida, put the issue in perspective.

“The global economy is crumbling, and we’re talking about Monica Lewinsky.

“Saddam Hussein hides weapons, and we’re talking about Monica Lewinsky.

“Genocide wracks Kosovo, and we’re talking about Monica Lewinsky,” he said.

We also have a few homeless people, hungry children and drug addicts right here in the United States who could use some help, and our medical, educational and Social Security systems need attention as well.

However, some of our nation’s leaders seem more concerned about the upcoming election.

“We want to get this behind us and behind the country and move on,” said Judiciary Committee Chairman Henry Hyde, R-Ill.

If they wanted to get it over with, they shouldn’t have voted for a “free-ranging,” unrestricted inquiry that’s only purpose is to increase the political damage being done to the Democratic Party in general and to Bill Clinton specifically.

Democrats argued for a limited inquiry with a deadline of Dec. 1998.

Of course the Republican response was less than enthusiastic since they have barely had a chance to twist the blade yet.

Censure has also been proposed but that wouldn’t have done enough damage either.

One of those options would be preferable to this potentially drawn-out mess.

The inquiry is a waste of time and money.

We’ve already made up our minds.