Watch a YouTube clip of The View yesterday and ask yourself: Does this sound like a man working night and day to get Obama elected?
President Clinton sounds oddly detached, making analysis more powerful. (Indeed, he sounds less partisan than many pundits on talk tv.) He makes a good point that receives thunderous applause. After a long aside about how voters make up their minds, he says he have to stop looking for reasons to tear someone just because we are going to vote for the other guy. He’s right. The kind of rabid partisan that has spread from the web to tv is ultimately bad for the country.
Let’s think about this a little, though. Why are GOP negative television and radio advertisements often effective? They cut through the clutter and either raise new issues or old ones in a fresh way. If the press were more even-handed is examining issues as they come up, there would no shock value (and therefore benefit) from this ads. Instead, the press buries anything that might hurt Democrats. Compare the coverage of Palin versus Biden or Rep. Charlie Rangel. So the first most voters here of it is on the web, talk radio or a 30-second tv spot. That gives little time for a Democratic candidate to respond to issue in context–their responses are necessarily sound-bites and spots. In short, I suspect that this hyper-partisan atmosphere is driven by the press’ failure to weigh the merits and not pardon the offenses of politicians. Like welfare, media bias hurts those it is trying to help.
Next, in the Clinton appearance we hear a fair amount of praise for McCain. This is fair minded and clearly not an endorsement of the Republican nominee. Still, the heartburn in the Obama campaign must be off the Alka-Seltzer charts…
Finally, is the bombshell the press missed. Clinton says that Hillary didn’t really want to be vice president but would have accepted it as “her duty” if need be. Okay, some of this is sour grapes. On the other hand, if she thinks Obama is a loser, she may not want to be tainted by his loss. Kerry’s defeat didn’t position Edwards very well for the 2008 race. The Clinton calculatrix is always calculating.
I know it’s not a new or novel analysis, but why would she hitch her wagon to Obama?
If he wins and doesn’t blow it, 2012 is a non-starter for her.
If he wins and blows it, she has to hope he doesn’t stand for re-election (and incumbents, regardless of how poorly their administrations are viewed, rarely do that). Even if he does step aside, she’ll be running against a four-year record of Obama fiasco.
Yet if he loses, she’s the presumptive 2012 nominee with four years to raise funds and plot her victory.
Bill Clinton is the savviest politician to ever hold the office. He has to know that HRC’s best (only?) chance to be President is an Obama defeat in 2008.
Heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if they both personally pull the lever for McCain/Palin.
The Clintons know what the rest of the Democrats know but refuse to acknowledge: Obama is not ready.
Whose Side Is Clinton On? Easy, his own.
I watched that interview and for a moment I had that tingly feeling up my leg that I was listening to a real statesman wisdom and all. Then reality set in and I realized that Bill was just laying the ground work for a gauranteed Obama defeat, and a Hillary run in 2012. It most definately had its effect. Immediately the Washington Post puts out a partisan poll, showing Obama with a 9 point lead. Unfortunately for them on real facts it shows Obama stuck with just a 2-3 percentile not counting the margin of error. also Obama is failing in red states to swing the vote in his favor. This is the beginning of Obama’s Hail Mary pass strategy
Greetings:
Besides the obvious political considerations, I think the Clintons are keeping their weather eyes on Obama’s bankroll and waiting for their own personal bailout from their campaign debts.
Just because they did very little to acquire their wealth doesn’t mean that they want to use it to pay their own campaign debts.
And, on the other hand, Senator Obama probably does want to write any checks until he sees the delivered product.
I, too, didn’t think it would be wise for Hillary to be on an Obama ticket. If this guy does get elected, I think people will be begging for another “change candidate” four years from now, after the novelty of having a first black president has worn off and they realize a black guy can suck at it as much as a white guy can. Better for Clinton not to be associated with it.
The biggest thing about former President Clinton is that he has absolutely no shame, and is given the distinction of being the biggest liar in recent history. How he can continue to show his face in public, and how ANYONE is interested in what he has to say is and will remain a complete mystery to me.
Good Ole Bill is just doing his bit for The Party – in 2012.
And demonstrating for those who can’t figure it out that one sasses a Clinton (male or female) at your own risk. Clintons and Clintonites have developed a very strong memory for slights and snubs. The List is always expanding and reaching out…
HRC in 2012…Bill should carry a sign in the interests of intellectual honesty.
He would much rather see Hillary run again in 2012 then have to wait until 2016.
I think Bill’s so disgusted and dare I say it “hurt” by his own party and the turncoat media, I think it irks him to praise Obama. Don’t forget, he may have cheated on Hillary, but she’s still HIS wife. Besides, Hill has a better chance next time if Obama loses.
I would say the interview by Greta Van Susteren (sp.?) last night on Fox confirms Miniter’s and most the commenters observations. When she asked him the difference between a long-term association with David Duke and “Rev.” Wright, he simply looked away for what seemed like an hour, and basically refused to answer, making very clear what he thought – that that association alone disqualifies Obama. After that interview, I have no doubt those two will pull the McCain-Palin lever on Nov. 4.
My position is still that the only really palatable outcome for Hillary right now, if she still has Oval Office ambitions, is a McCain victory and four years of failures. That tilts the Dem playing field her way for 2012, leaves Palin with no coattails, hobbles the GOP.
So the Clintons ought to have the toe-knives out and be kicking carefully at Obama’s Achilles tendons, then Sen Clinton can spend the next four years trying to screw the McCain administration in the Senate.
An Obama victory pretty much leaves her on the sidelines until at least 2016. If he’s a flop and stinks up the Dem brand in 2012, President Palin then locks out the Dems until 2020.
“after the novelty of having a first black president has worn off and they realize a black guy can suck at it as much as a white guy can”
Any Obama failures in office will not be his fault, they will be the fault of “racism” in the Senate or the media or whoever’s handy. Or so we’ll be told until the first black guy who doesn’t suck at it comes along in another fifty or hundred years…
Why do you assume Obama would automatically have two terms? Jimmy Carter didn’t. And I suspect that Carter II wouldn’t either.
Clinton, the centrist, knows that Obama would be a disaster, leading inevitably to a Palin win in 2012, and 8 years of a Palinocracy. A bit late for Hillary, especially with the novelty factor of a female President gone.
Bill is on Bill’s side. If Hillary’s interest coincide with Bill’s, well, lucky for Hillary. If not, her tough luck. She knows what Bill is.
Teri – If Obama sucks, he screws up the Dem brand and gives the GOP an advantage come 2012.
And when was the last time that a sitting President didn’t get the nomination for a second term without voluntarily relinquishing it a la LBJ?
Barring James Buchanan levels of suckage on Obama’s part, an Obama victory means Hillary’s locked out of the Oval Office until she looks like John McCain.
Are Democratic Clinton fans also Philadelphia fans? I have never seen people shift alegiences so quickly if they see a perceived mistake. Praise the other side???? Horrors! He can’t possibly be speaking the truth! It must be he was for the other side all along! Geeze, If I wasn’t a conservative before, I certainly am one now. I do not want to be classified with any of these opertunists.
I’m starting to wonder myself! If you notice Bill didn’t campaign for Kerry or Al Gore. He doens’t want anyone to surpass him.
Is it so hard for him to let go of the Dem Party….
I’m starting to wonder.
In Bill’s dreams, they’ll get Biden yanked and replaced with Hillary, so she can save the day. Then after Obama/Clinton win the election, they’ll have Obama “Ron Browned”. Hillary will rise ascendant, and appoint Chelsea as her VP…..
Bill is naturally on his own side; but that’s somewhat limited these days as Hillary has him on a leash. He’s never played well with his party (except when it was politically advantageous or financially profitable) and the democrat leaders only put up with him because of his popularity.
Although, now that I think about it, democrats don’t play well with each other in general, and maybe they put up with him in SPITE of his popularity. He’s mostly hated(by democrats) for being too moderate, much like McCain and Republicans actually…
In the end though, he’s Hillary’s husband and we all know that she will always get him to do what is best; for her career; and herself. Distancing herself from Obama (even through the proxy of her husband) is probably for the best.
I don’t care if he’s being two-faced, or has a secret agenda, or is taking the long or wide view, or what. I’m just so pleased that WJ Clinton has finally figured out how to act like a President of the United States. Let’s give him credit for that much; it sure took him long enough.
Clinton, in interviews, gives a perceptive and appreciative evaluation of Palin. He also talks about the economy in such a way that you think he might understand what’s going on. There are many bad things to be said about him , but his political skills and intelligence are never in doubt.
I think it’d be awesome if one day Bill snapped and came right out and said the Dems picked the wrong candidate and told everyone that Barry sucks and to vote for McCain. Talk about heads exploding!
The ultimate burn would be for Biden to step down, Obama to offer Clinton the VP position and Clinton to turn it down, but offer to head the ticket with Obama as VP.
Bill’s protecting his legacy. He can’t back a candidate too much for fear of being associated with that candidate’s failure. Associations DO matter!
Also, past Presidents don’t generally campaign for nominees. That’s the job of primary losers. Of course, maybe my first paragraph best states why….
If Biden is cut loose it is only another example of Obama not picking the right people to surround him. Obama put himself in a political desert. The Clintons, can play sweet and innocent for the next four years. Obamba will surround himself with more political neophytes & long term Political Hacks ,who will make the Keystone Cops look like Rocket Scientists. Even today ,it took Obama & company a long time to offer a reply to McCain’s offer. They were so unsure of what to do as they want the election so badly but they don’t want to offer real solutions to the crisis at hand. They were to busy playing word games as usual.
“Clinton says that Hillary didn’t really want to be vice president but would have accepted it as “her duty” if need be. ”
Am I the only one that thinks this comment is partly set up to provide cover in the unlikely even that they drop Biden and tap Hill to be VP, and then O looses? Yes, I realize that is unlike, but in this event she would just be ‘doing her duty as a Dem’ and maybe not classified as the looser in the end.
I am glad that Clinton is talking reasonable and like a grown-up, whatever his reasons. Bravo, Bill. As an Arkansan, I have to wonder how pissed he is at the elitist BS coming out of the Dem party. He grew up in a culture not entirely different then Palin’s in a lot of ways (we shoot deer, not moose and we don’t have snow, but there are many similarities). Maybe he’s just pissed that the dems are a bunch of A-holes. Wouldn’t be the only one.
…thanks to former Pres. Clinton, my 6th grader came home from school one day an promptly informed me that oral sex was not really sex because Pres. Clinton said so….that is the clinton legacy in this house.
Bill smells political blood — Obama’s.
Hillary is not getting any younger – she has to run in 2012.
There’s a reason Mrs. Clinton wore ORANGE in her Dem Convention speech…
Orange = warning/ danger.
the only really palatable outcome for Hillary … is a McCain victory and four years of failures. That tilts the Dem playing field her way for 2012, leaves Palin with no coattails, hobbles the GOP.
OR more likely, a McPalin landslide in 2008, four years of astronomical “Country First” successes, followed by eight years of President Palin.
Hillary wouldn’t have a chance to win again until 2020…when she’s 73 (about McCain’s age now).
the only really palatable outcome for Hillary … is a McCain victory and four years of failures. That tilts the Dem playing field her way for 2012, leaves Palin with no coattails, hobbles the GOP.
OR more likely, a McPalin landslide in 2008, four years of astronomical “Country First” successes, followed by eight years of President Palin.
Hillary wouldn’t have a chance to win again until 2020…when she’s 73 (about McCain’s age now).
the only really palatable outcome for Hillary … is a McCain victory and four years of failures. That tilts the Dem playing field her way for 2012, leaves Palin with no coattails, hobbles the GOP.
——————-
OR more likely, a McPalin landslide in 2008, four years of astronomical “Country First” successes, followed by eight years of President Palin.
Hillary wouldn’t have a chance to win again until 2020…when she’s 73 (about McCain’s age now).
All those commenters plotting along with Bill, I have news for you. If Obama doesn’t win the Democratic Party is finished. The fallout when the left fails will tear the Party’ the media , every aspect of liberalism to shreds.
If you think I’m crazy, let me ask a question. Do you think the Democratic Party can move back to the center where elections are won? Tell me who and how that could be accomplished. If not, do you think going further left will salvage the Party?
The answer is no, and who can save the Party? Bill Clinton . Well he thinks he can.
He is busy right now, teaching Obama a two term President is not to be trifled with.
Re. “the Clinton calculatrix”:
Isn’t it nice to be talked to like an adult?
And, not incidentally, that is precisely the tone to take if his aim is to appeal effectively to those who harbor no positive feelings about Obama but still might vote for him because of a calculated appraisal of the issues. So why knock it?
And to those who aren’t over the Lewinski scandal yet: please, grow up.
Re. “the Clinton calculatrix”:
Isn’t it nice to be talked to like an adult?
And, not incidentally, his is precisely the tone to assume if the aim is to appeal effectively to those who harbor no positive feelings about Obama but still might vote for him because of a calculated appraisal of the issues. So why knock it?
Sheer brilliance, and far, far more than Obama et. DNC al. deserve from him. In fact, the deserve nothing, and any scrap they get is more than that.
The underlying problem we’re faced with is simply, “Can America survive four years of an Obama presidency?” I think not.
Clinton is campaigning for McCain best he can given his political affiliations. People talk about the Clinton “payback machine.” Does anyone seriously believe that there isn’t an Obama “payback machine” that will go into full swing against the Clintons and others should he be elected? Bill has more stake in this than just seeing Hillary run cleanly in 20012
I find it hard to believe that Clinton actually WANTS Obama to win. As a Canadian, I know what the evils of socialism can do to a country and it’s people. Like him or leave him, McCain is the only option.
iDLE MINDS CONJURE UP IDLE BLATHER.bILL IS NOW DOWN TO EARTH BUT JUST WAIT TILL HE CONNECTS AND YOU WILL SEE THE DEADLIEST ‘TAIL GUNNER’ IN ACTION
Bill never changes sides. He’s on the same side he is always on – his.
Barak Obama is handling this crisis well, however it’s not coming across as so on the major tv networks.
They are letting McCain get away as being the hero, who is running back to save the day.
In reality, both parties were already quite close in reaching an agreement (whether this is for the good or bad, no one knows.)
Also, Bill Clinton has been extremely detrimental to Barak Obama’s cause. For example, he went on The View and didn’t back Obama. Instead, he acted as a reporter, siting facts. The closest he came to an endorsement was to say that he thought Obama would win, but he also said this could change as a result of the debates.
Then he went on the air and as Chris Rock said so well – Clinton couldn’t even bring himself to say Barak’s name.
Lastly, Clinton’s interview this morning was the worst of all. He was on a major TV network and didn’t back Barak’s position to not suspend the race nor to cancel the debate. Why can’t he even once bring himself to stick up for Barak???? Instead, he made it seem as if McCain did the right thing. No networks other than CNN and MSNBC have had people on their shows sticking up for Barak’s positions.
If something doesn’t change here, Barak is going to lose due to McCain’s antics. Something has to be done and someone has to have a nice long talk with Pres. Clinton. Either he’s out there to back Barak or he needs to stay home!!!!!!
From the Greta Van Susteren interview it would appear Bill thinks the campaign is over:
Greta: How much time are you spending on the road doing this? I mean, how — how much of your attention?
Clinton: Well, NOW THAT THE CAMPAIGN IS OVER, I do as near to full- time as I can. I want — I’m working toward the day when I’ll be completely dividing my time between the Clinton Global Initiative and the activities of my own foundation.
You know, we have a big AIDS project, a big childhood obesity project in America, a huge global warming project in 40 cities on six continents, and a major economic development project in countries that have mining, where we’re trying to redo the economy and make them sustainable, and lots of other things.
And the third thing I have is the School of Public Service around my library at the university in Arkansas. And I’m moving as quick as I can to be full-time on all of that.
And I’m — I will never again, I don’t think, be as involved in any kind of political activity as I was when Hillary was running. And EVER SINCE THE CAMPAIGN IS OVER I have moved aggressively to get back in, get ready for CGI, and get my other foundation stuff going.
Hmmmmm?
Bill Clinton should just shut the hell up if he’s not going to fully endorse the Democratic ticket. What in the world is he thinking?????
clinton has no doubt born in-person witness to the disdain with which those surrounding obama treat…..
people like me.
clinton has no doubt born in-person witness to the disdain with which those surrounding obama treat…..
people like me.
in fact…..
me.
I am trying really hard not to get a kick out of Bill’s behavior lately, but I can’t help myself. I think the guy is an egotistical sociopath but I giggle everytime he “campaigns” for Barack.
“Hillary’s locked out of the Oval Office until she looks like John McCain.”
Ew.
Clinton’s not just another party hack. He’s an ex-President! Other than fund-raisers, it’s considered poor form for them to campaign for a candidate, for a couple of reasons.
1) It’s lese majeste (reduces his Majesty, aka beneath him). Hey, he OUTRANKS Obama. Obama doesn’t get to tell him what to do. He does what he wants. If Obama NEEDS a FAVOR…. ;
2) The next President relies heavily on input from previous Presidents. They absolutely need that input, because the number of people who know what it’s really like to sit in that chair can be counted on one hand. If he campaigns too heavily for the losing side, he can really alienate the next Prez, to the great detriment of the country. We need our Prez to not delay in calling up the ex-Presidents. Every ex-Prez KNOWS this, having experienced it themselves. They say the Senate is the most Exclusive Club in town? Bull!
Everyone should get a grip. I never cared for Bill Clinton, but he is the ex-President, and he did learn something about being Presidential! He’s doing what he can within the limits of propriety and his duty as an ex-President. Quit reading so much into what he says and does. He’s above the fray, as he should be, the only exception being when his wife is campaigning. That’s what he means by, “Now that the campaign is over….”
To the boob who said Clinton didn’t campaign for Kerry or Gore (as if Bill ‘doesn’t want anyone to surpass him’) — did you look any of this up — or are you just making it up out of whole cloth.
Bill Clinton was only too happy to campaign for Al Gore — Gore distanced himself from Clinton (and at the advice of the idiot Donna Brazile) did not campaign on their fabulous 8 year record or allow Clinton to campaign much for him because he did not want any association with Pres. Clinton’s personal indiscretion — even though he ended his presidency with 67% popularity, a enormous budget surplus and eight years of peace and prosperity — DID ANYONE FORGET THAT — Gore sure acted like he did — that was Gore’s idiotic move, not Clinton’s.
As to Kerry in 2004 — did this person also forget the Bill Clinton was having open heart surgery right in the middle of the campaign — and was in a hospital bed recuperating — as soon as he was physically able to stand (he looked so gaunt and skinny), he was back out on the campaign trail campaigning for Kerry.
Damn it, people, do your homework.
I know it is very late on this thread to pose further questions. I noticed no one answered The question I asked much earlier.
So I want to develop a bit further what I think Bill Clintons “end game”is .
The question I asked is not insignificant : what happens to the Democrats when they lose ? Well ,I for one think they will literally destroy themselves through internal dissension.
That kind of disintegration will force the Party to grasp for a savior. Someone who can guide the faithful back to the winning side again. And who has the stature to pull that off? Well, y’all know who.
No, Jonas, I don’t know who. I guess you didn’t read my posting just before yours. I’ll say it again.
Clinton is an ex-President. He doessn’t lower himself to the role of party hack.
Trying to explain power to little people….
He is on McCain’s side. If his wife did not need to run as senator/president again, he would be more forward about his support. It’s awfully hard to support someone who called you a “racist”.
The DNC is broken. Log on Just Say No Deal.com or Pumas and you will understand why the Clintons are just going along. The media has attact them so much that one wonders why the Democrats have become so angry and vicious. Republicans used to be like that but since Gumby ran for Pres the Democrats have made the party soooo corrupt and in shambles… ToooooBAAADDDD
McCain does not have the temperment to be President of the USA. In an election you have to choose, either someone with limited experience or someone that gets frazeled and makes rash quick decisions. There is really no point in fighting this out look at McCain and you will see someone who is on the verge of a breakdown do you really want to put him in the white house. Republican ideas would be better served by Obama. Consider what your last mistake (aka Bush) did to the GOP.