Clinton Book Weighs Failures and Successes; Memoir Contradicts Testimony on Lewinsky

Washington Post ^ | June 22, 2004 | By John F. Harris and Linton Weeks

[bannie]

Former president Bill Clinton concluded that President Bush was a "formidable politician" the first time he saw him speak on television, but predicts that the high court ruling that ended the 2000 election deadlock will "go down in history as one of the worst decisions the Supreme Court ever made."

Clinton's memoirs, "My Life," which went on sale at midnight, are filled with rueful commentary on the 2000 election, Bush's success and what Clinton believes was Democrat Al Gore's failure to effectively run on the administration's record or enlist his help. Clinton said he could have helped Gore win Arkansas, which would have been enough to give Gore victory, and compared the high court's decision ending the Florida recount to the Dred Scott slavery case as similarly motivated by a politicized and "reactionary" court.

Clinton's own legal battle with independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr accounts for one of the book's more peculiar revelations. In his August 1998 grand jury testimony, Clinton said he began an inappropriate sexual relationship with Monica S. Lewinsky in "early 1996." His testimony, as was widely noted at the time, was in conflict with Lewinsky's story: She testified the relationship began on Nov. 15, 1995, in the midst of a government shutdown.

Starr's prosecutors, in their report to Congress, accused Clinton of lying about the date of their relationship in order to avoid admitting that he had sexual relations with an intern, as Lewinsky still was in the fall of 1995 before being hired for a paying job in the winter.

Without explanation, in his memoir Clinton departs from his grand jury testimony and corroborates her version: "During the government shutdown in late 1995, when very few people were allowed to come to work in the White House, and those who were there were working late, I'd had an inappropriate encounter with Monica Lewinsky and would do so again on other occasions between November and April, when she left the White House for the Pentagon."

Clinton aides yesterday said they could not explain the discrepancy, and his attorney, David Kendall, was traveling and did not return a call.

[lepton]

but predicts that the high court ruling that ended the 2000 election deadlock will "go down in history as one of the worst decisions the Supreme Court ever made."

Well, if any of the members of the SCOTUS had actually agreed that SCOFLAs ruling had been correct he might have a smidgeon of a point. ...Or if upholding the 5-4 SCOFLA opinion wouldn't have meant overturning the 9-0 SCOTUS ruling from a couple weeks before, for no particular grounds. The only benefit to not halting the recounts would have been to give the SCOFLA a couple of hours to redo from the beginning what they had failed to do in several weeks, and would have still resulted in a Bush victory.

[small voice in the wilderness]

It's o.k. clinton's whole life is a re-post. same s***, different day.

[lepton]

but predicts that the high court ruling that ended the 2000 election deadlock will "go down in history as one of the worst decisions the Supreme Court ever made."

Well, if any of the members of the SCOTUS had actually agreed that SCOFLAs ruling had been correct he might have a smidgeon of a point. ...Or if upholding the 4-3 SCOFLA opinion wouldn't have meant overturning the 9-0 SCOTUS ruling from a couple weeks before, for no particular grounds. The only benefit to not halting the recounts would have been to give the SCOFLA a couple of hours to redo from the beginning what they had failed to do in several weeks, and would have still resulted in a Bush victory.

[bannie]

After he blows all his cash, look for another book titled "Monica and Me"

It'll probably be a short movie (short and bent)...one of those for which dialog is not necessary.

I can almost picture them both playing themselves, and it makes me almost wish I were blind!

[Darlin']

What utter nonsense. I haven't accessed the article but presumably Clinton would have us believe this "message" was sent during the 2000 compaign. Now, why would they do that ? To explain to Clinton, a seasoned, accomplished politician and at that time the sitting president why they were running against the failed policies of Clinton-Gore ? LOL An apology ? FOFLOL. Truth be known, it didn't happen, at least not in the context Clinton now trys to portray. Porter may have spoken with Clinton but he certainly wasn't a messenger.

[kitkat]

***"Early on the morning of August 19, 1946, I was born under a clear sky after a violent summer storm to a widowed mother..."***

Hi, bannie. How many of us know what the weather was like on the day we were born? Klintoon is still spinning, even about unimportant things.

[bannie]

But...but...this sounds so much like the birth of a savior...he thinks he IS the sun (son) shining on the earth after a dark period.

If he weren't such dangerous scum, he would just be laughably entertaining.

The biggest laugh in this, for me, is his blatant claim that his mother was not just an unmarried woman...she is a "widowed mother."

NOT!!!!!!!

[chiefqc]

Bent willie the pervert is unable to tell the truth.

[goldstategop]

This guy is a born liar. Quite frankly, the book isn't worth the $35 offered for it.

[maggief]

Two women look at copies of former President Bill Clinton (news - web sites)'s new book at a New York City bookstore just after midnight June 22, 2004. So many pundits, newspapers and broadcasters have blitzed the public with snippets and views of Bill Clinton's memoirs that readers may feel they hardly need open the book themselves. 'My Life' hit bookstores at midnight on Monday, but the public already has been regaled with the story of how the former president told his wife of his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky and was banished to sleep on the sofa. Photo by Jeff Christensen/Reuters

[Southack]

Update: Mild-Mannered Porter Refutes Clinton Story About Him

[Remole]

Furthermore, regarding WJC's opinion of Bush v. Gore: the SC decision makes it abundantly clear that their judgement was not to be viewed as a precedent but was limited to this specific collection of facts. Thus, WJC must decry the decision precisely because it led to Bush's presidency. [actually, it did no such thing--even if SC had remained silent on the matter, the Florida legislature had already elected a set of electors for the Bush slate]

[lepton]

even if SC had remained silent on the matter, the Florida legislature had already elected a set of electors for the Bush slate]

And by Florida law, the courts proceedings had become irrelevant weeks before: The law requires each side get a consecutive period of 10 days to contest the results and rebutt, followed by the courts decisions.