President Bill Clinton then and now
There’s been a lot of talk about President Clinton’s performance on the campaign trail this year. Has anything he has done or said changed your opinion of him?
My own personal opinion has changed a bit. While I still believe he was one of our best presidents, I feel he has lowered himself in some way by getting down in the campaign trenches. I think that he could have been supportive of his wife and made appearances with her without becoming just one more voice in the campaign circus. I don’t know if people are hearing her when he’s talking.
My own personal opinion has changed a bit. While I still believe he was one of our best presidents, I feel he has lowered himself in some way by getting down in the campaign trenches. I think that he could have been supportive of his wife and made appearances with her without becoming just one more voice in the campaign circus. I don’t know if people are hearing her when he’s talking.
posted by pissed off patricia at 1:49 AM
29 Comments:
PoP- I could not agree with you more.
I think he has gone too far and has been one more strident voice in her campaign.
Politics and our democracy (such as it is) are very important to me. I am an emotional person in many ways, but a highly pragmatic voter.
And sadly neither Senator Obama or Senator Clinton has captured my soul first and then given me many reasons to fall in love with them.
More sadly - Bill's angry and defensive sounding self has only added to that.
Eh. Every time he says or does another low thing, I'm like, "Pffft. Figures." Something tells me people who want to hear her will hear her, and she'll make damn sure the rest of us have to hear her to? :-) Sorry -- still not diggin' the broad.
I think Bill is an example of a strategy gone wrong. I think the plan was for Bill to get down in trenches and fight the good fight and let Hillary remain above it all. Hasn't quite worked out the way they planned.
It's been kind of disappointing because in some ways Bill is saying the things that need to be said, but people just don't like that type of confrontation.
I agree that some of his actions on the campaign trail have eroded my respect for him a little. I am also rethinking my position on NAFTA which was his baby.
I think both Clinton's are campaigning now as they and all the others have done in the past, seek and destroy.
Americans are tired of this mantra as it has helped bring about a forever war and the destruction of the U.S economy.
i agree with you. i'm disappointed in him.
As I am a Bill lover, I am not prone to see any of his actions as condemnable. I see his, perhaps, politically ill-advised behavior as protective and very "Stand by Your Woman." However, my judgment about him is always biased and totally subjective. ;-)
"I am also rethinking my position on NAFTA which was his baby."
I wish people would stop that. It obviously had plenty of support on both sides, since it had already been signed by Bush when Clinton took office. Bill continued what had already been started.
As for now, he'll be criticized no matter what. If he were quieter, he'd have people saying he doesn't support his wife.
everyone has a right to run for president, even ralph nader. just because one can doesn't mean one should. i think bubba shot hillary in the foot.
I think the problem has more to do with why we shouldn't have political dynasties. Would Bill Clinton make such comments and take such a tone, as a former President, if neither of the competing candidates were his wife?
He killed her campaign
he was a great president, but i think he'd be a lousy first man.
he was back then and is now a bit of a disappointment. But people see his charisma and the star power of the Clintons-- people love that. Sometimes a slick politician can get a few things done, sometimes health care and others issues just get forgotten. The biggest criticism of Obama is inexperience, that lack of slickness that can get things done. but who can predict what a person can/will do?
I am also a Bill lover, and I have thought from the beginning of Hillary's campaign that he'd be screwed either way--he'd either be thought of as not doing enough for her or as doing way too much. I think it's in his nature to get out there and look for that big ego/energy boost from the crowds, but a lot of people just want to criticize him no matter what. He's not doing anything that a lot of other spouses are doing (see Michelle Obama), but he gets a lot more attention than the other spouses.
I do worry about the dynasty thing, and about how much he'll try to get back in the driver's seat if Hillary wins. But even if he totally got over-involved as First Gentleman, we could still do a lot worse than Hillary and Bill as co-presidents.
Part of the problem is the media's obsession with all things Clinton. Granted, a part of that is the fact that he, unlike Michelle Obama, is an ex-president.
But to expect the media to focus on the views and votes and facts surrounding a candidate in lieu of gossipy shit is like expecting bags of cash outside your door each morning.
I can't wait until this fucking thing is overwith. Corporate Dem or lunatic, just let me know which so I can adjust my booze intake.
I have mixed feelings about Bill. While I think he had good intentions when he became president, he didn't fulfill them. (For instance, why couldn't he just do an executive order to allow gays to serve openly? Isn't that what Truman did for desegregating the armed forces?). Instead he settled for this stupid compromise of "don't ask, don't tell." Maybe it's not all his fault but I think he should have stood up for his principles more.
And then with the whole Monica thing - he really ruined the legacy he might have had. I'm not saying the Republicans weren't at fault for making more out of it than it should have been; but let's face it, if he'd had the brains not to fall all over a silly22-year-old intern we never would have had the problem in the first place.
And ultimately I think he is too involved in Hillary's campaign and would be too involved in the office if she were elected. I agree with DGuzman that I worry about the "dynasty" thing. Of course, it could be worse - it could be another Republican. So as I've said before, I will support whoever is nominated.
i loved bill
but he has been a big disappointment on the campaign
but in a way he was doomed as a campaigner ---- damned if he did, and damned if he didnt
but the whole dynasty thing leaves a very very bad taste in my mouth
He has knocked himself down a few notches in most eyes. I heard Hillary accuse Obama of plagiarizing Patrick. It was a stupid line used often.
They were showing her Plagiariizng Bill's One liners, so frigging what. Because someone says something once it can never be said again. Bull! Anyway Bill has made himself look pretty piddley and I believe adversley affecting Hillary which is fine by me.
Do you think he's ever porked Hillary in the kiester?
I'm embarrassed to admit that I've tuned out on the campaign.
Good question, though, in this unique situation.
Had he become "just one more voice" I don't think anyone would have had a problem. But he's hardly just another supportive spouse; his presence sucks the oxygen out of many a room. And his negative sniping has reduced his status to political hack, appearing desperate and hardly Presidential.
Someone at our house thinks Hillary Clinton hasn't been aggressive enough. Bill certainly tried.
And come on, folks, despite her holy status as wife and mother, Michelle Obama can get pretty arrogant.
Gloves come off, folks, during these campaigns.
Tit for tat.
Michelle has class. Bill, not so much anymore. My .02.
She is the more boring (and phony: you can hear it in her voice) speaker of the two by far, but I agree with you. He could have done far more I think by appearing "Presidential" and only issuing statements periodically.
During his presidency, I tended to see only the good things about both Clintons. I thought he could've/should've done more, but the impeachment ham-strung him. Still, he left us with a fairly balanced budget & chunky fiscal surplus (which repubs don't accomplish despite all their rhetoric about dems being the tax'n'spend party).
I had good feelings about Hillary becoming Senator, too. When she got the powerful Armed Forces Committee, I thought she was on the fast-track to being a great senator & legendary majority leader someday.
While those good feelings haven't been entirely destroyed during this campaign, they have been bruised irrepairably. I now look at them as a power couple who will do anything to stay in power. They're addicted. Hillary's campaign should never have allowed Bill to do more than a few good speeches. He carries the full weight of the presidency wherever he goes & whatever he does & nothing can prevent the power that imparts ... nothing except when he embarrasses himself by stooping to mud-slinging & sly innuendos ... then he is revealed as the slick willy I previously refused to see.
Well, I can't wait until March 4 because then Texasssss will have voted and maybe we'll know if Hillary is going to drop out. And then I don't have to see and/or hear all the ads anymore!!!!
I am sick of the petty nit-picking which seems to be mostly originating on the Clinton side, and I think Bill should back down. I respect both Clintons, but I don't care for some of their recent tactics.
Nope. Always thought he had no Integrity and he never misses a chance to prove it.
Peace.
I think he would have been a more effective advocate by supporting his wife, talking up her good points, and maintaining presidential dignity instead of wallowing in the dirt. He cheapened himself and negated his value.
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