Clintonista Central ('I don't remember anything like all this live coverage when Bush 41 opened...')

Wash Post ^ | 11/19/04 | Howard Kurtz

[Cableguy]

If you were watching cable yesterday, you'd have thought that the capital had been moved to Little Rock.

The media can't resist a gathering of presidents, and never could resist a story line involving Bill Clinton (remember his hospital-bed advice to John Kerry?). Especially when his wife (who's also making the TV rounds, including Larry King and Greta Van Susteren) may run for his old job.

But I don't remember anything like all this live coverage when Bush 41 opened his library, do you? And the ex-prez got an hour with Peter Jennings on "PrimeTime" last night.

(Fox seemed to be spending more time talking about impeachment and Clinton's failure to get Osama, at least when I was clicking over.)

Clinton 42 is an endlessly fascinating character. The publication of his book, and his first interview with Dan Rather, was a huge publishing event. The impeachment section of his library gives the press a chance to talk about Monica again. And the Democrats' second straight loss since Clinton left the White House adds an element of urgency to the debate over what he had that Mondale, Dukakis, Gore and Kerry didn't. Was it his persuasive personality, or a more centrist brand of politics that didn't turn off all red-staters on the cultural front?

There was a funny moment when James Carville said the event was bringing back a lot of memories--and, after this month's election, memories is all the Democrats have right now.

The ceremonies also provided the legacy-minded Clinton with a chance to burnish his reputation by reminding people what they liked about the peace-and-prosperity '90s. And Clinton, who maintained his high approval ratings through the depths of impeachment, has gotten his numbers back up after the pardons scandal that marred his exit from the Beltway.

[Southack]

"no foreign quagmires"

You mean you actually believed that we got out of Bosnia and Kosovo by Christmas, 1999?!

[winodog]

Slick was the luckiest P in history. He took a ride on RR's coattails and the gravy train called the internet. Thanks to RR and Bush sr the military was built up and kicking butt. They had shed off the loser image from vietnam. The thing slick did well was stay out of the way of the booming economy untill the end and then he had to go after Gates and Microsoft because Gates did not kiss his fat white butt. That started the downfall of tech.

[EllaMinnow]

I saw Carter in the flesh last May, and he looked ancient. And tiny.

[ChuckHam]

I love it when a clinton kneepadder outs themselves.