Clinton sees 'dark faces' while having heart surgery last year

Associated Press | May 19, 2005

[HAL9000]

NEW YORK — In the paperback edition of "My Life," former President Clinton acknowledges that his memoir may have been too long, recounts some friendly faces from his book tour and some odder ones sighted under the influence of anesthesia as he underwent heart surgery last September.

"At first I saw a series of dark faces, like death masks, flying toward me and being crushed," writes Clinton, whose book comes out May 31 in both trade and mass market paperback. "Then I saw circles of light with the faces of Hillary, Chelsea, and others I cared about flying toward me, then away into a bright, sun-like source."

When Clinton regained consciousness after surgery, he "waved to people, said I was all right, and laughed." At least, that's what his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, told him. The former president himself doesn't remember.

"My Life" has sold just under 2.2 million copies in its 957-page hardcover edition, and interest apparently is strong for the paperback. The trade paperback, which has the same dimensions as hardcover, will have a first printing of 300,000 — 50,000 copies more than originally announced. The mass market paperback, a cheaper, pocket-sized edition, will have two volumes, the first with a printing of 600,000, the second in late June at 575,000.

Much of the new material — a 12-page afterword, and a brief preface — summarizes Clinton's recent activities, from the building of his presidential library in Little Rock, Ark., to raising money for Tsunami victims. He also offers a quick analysis of last year's presidential election, urging fellow Democrats not to move "hard to the left."

Clinton acknowledges complaints about the book's length and names a possible culprit, his wife. He calls the senator's memoirs, "Living History," a "fine book" (he has called his own book "pretty good") and says that her success "added to the pressure" for him to meet a June 2004 deadline.

"Most people thought it was too long — a fair criticism. Thomas Jefferson once said that if he had had more time he could have written shorter letters," writes Clinton, whose afterword helps make the trade paperback even longer, 969 pages.

Many reviewers were bored by "My Life." The Associated Press likening it to being trapped "in a small room with a very gregarious man who insists on reading his entire appointment book, day by day, beginning in 1946." Clinton directly mentions only a favorable review, by novelist Larry McMurtry, and otherwise pans the press for caring more about gossip: "The reviewers who were interested in people, politics and government seemed to like it better than those who weren't."

He remembers a better reception on his promotional tour, such as the young readers who thought the book would "offer guidance about how they, too, could live their dreams." He also notes those of "modest means" who had purchased a copy of the hardcover, which has a suggested retail price of $35.

"When I saw how many people of modest means came to the book signings, I worried about my long and heavy book also being too expensive," writes Clinton, whose book has a $17.95 suggested price in trade paperback and $7.99 for each of the mass market volumes.

"I can't change the length, but I hope the paperback edition, in reducing the weight and cost, will make `My Life' accessible to a new round of readers."

[Tymesup]

I wonder if he saw Juanita Broadrick.

[Wiseghy]

I will acknowledge that surgery and full anesthesia can alter the way you feel about the boundries between life and death.

However, why do I keep seeing HRC in a hooded cape?

(Senator Palatine....???) Awh, nevermind...its probably nothing.

[TheBattman]

Boy - it doesn't take an Old Testament Daniel to interpret that dream....

The dark faces were his spirit guides (read that DEMONS) that have been guiding his life and career.

The faces of Hildabeast and Chelsea (can you say a halloween mask to beat all!) are two forms his spirit guide-demons have taken.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

I don't need to visualize it, it's for real.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Reminds me of the "get even" scene in "Ghost".

[Azzurri]

"When I saw how many people of modest means came to the book signings, I worried about my long and heavy book also being too expensive," writes Clinton, whose book has a $17.95 suggested price in trade paperback and $7.99 for each of the mass market volumes.

Barf alert!

[KoRn]

The combo of Verced, Fentanil, nitrosoxide, among other things tends to have a strange affect on the mind. My personal experience, I was chatter box lol. I told the Doctor he looked like John McCain.

I remember them all laughing, then the next thing I knew I was waking up.....

[Nachum]

It was his victims.

[Dog]

He was tripping on the mushrooms he had for lunch...

[marvlus]

You sure this story isn't out of Scrappleface?

[bonfire]

BC's such a wanna-be.

[Billthedrill]

Uh, Bill? That Lake Of Fire you saw? Not a good sign, buddy. Not a good sign at all...

[righttackle44]

Were those dark faces Al Jolson and Eddie Cantor?

[mwyounce]

urging fellow Democrats not to move "hard to the left."

I've got a joke to tell here.....

[texas_mrs]

"At first I saw a series of dark faces, like death masks, flying toward me "

Maybe it was all these people:

Mary Mahoney
White House Intern

died 7/97

An attractive 25 year old woman, Mary was a former White House Intern for Bill Clinton working as the Assistant Manager at a Starbuck's Coffee shop in Georgetown. In the pre-trial publicity surrounding Paula Jones lawsuit, and mere days after Newsweek's Mike Isikoff had dropped hints that a "former White House staffer" was about to go public with her story of sexual harassement at 1600 Pennsylvania, gunmen entered the Starbuck's while the crew was cleaning up after closing. Mary's two associates were taken to a room and shot. Mary herself had five bullets in her. No money was taken. As of this writing, Mike Isikoff's "former White House staffer" has never appeared.

Vincent Foster
White House Counsel

died: 7/21/93 - Found dead in Ft. Marcy Park in Washington, DC, of a supposed suicide by gunshot. A suicide note was supposedly found a few days later, torn into several pieces, in his briefcase, after his office had been entered by WhiteHouse staff and materials removed. The gun which he supposedly used to kill himself was reported to be still in his hand, but the person who first found the body reports that there was no gun at that time. Many irregularities surround the deathand the investigation of it. - Foster was also from Hope, Ark., like Clinton, and also worked for the Rose Law firm. Foster had intimate knowledge of the Clintons' personal finances. Foster was involved in an investigation of their finances, and reportedly made a phone call to Hillary Clinton, in Little Rock, just hours before his death.

DEAD BODYGUARDS

Maj. Gen. William Robertson
Deputy Commanding General, V Corps, Europe
Col William Densberger
V Corps Chief of Operations and Plans
Col. Robert Kelly
V Corps Chief of Intelligence
Spec. Gary Rhodes
Crew Chief

died: 2/23/93 - All were killed when their helicopter crashed in Weisbaden, Germany. No cause was ever determined. - V Corps figured prominently in the US Bosnia-Serbia peacekeeping operations, along with the carrier Roosevelt. These men, and 8 others associated with Clinton's visit to the Roosevelt all died within 4 months of each other.



Steve Willis
Clinton bodyguard
Robert Williams
Clinton bodyguard
Conway LeBleu
Clinton bodyguard
Todd McKeehan
Clinton bodyguard

died: 2/28/93 - "executed" by gunfire in the Waco, Texas assault on the Branch Davidians. - All four were examined by a "private doctor" and died from nearly identical wounds to the left temple, so-called execution style. According to Linda Thompson, videotapes and other evidence indicates that none died from guns fired by Branch Davidians.



Five Navy aviators
Clinton bodyguards/escorts

(names not determined) died: 3/26/93 - all died in a crash of an E-2C Hawkeye in Italy. The crash occurred shortly after the plane was "waved off" from a landing attempt on the Carrier Roosevelt, due to a "foul deck". - All five men had been Clinton's escorts during Clinton's visit to the Roosevelt 2 weeks prior. Three other men, who had flown Clinton to the Roosevelt for that visit also died later in a helicopter crash.

Staff Sgt. Brian Haney
Clinton bodyguard
Marine Sgt. Tim Sabel
Clinton bodyguard
Maj. William Barkley
Clinton bodyguard
Capt. Scott Reynolds
Clinton bodyguard

died: 5/19/93 - All four men died when their helicopter crashed in the woods near Quantico, Va. - Reporters were barred from the site, and the head of the fire department responding to the crash described it by saying, "Security was tight," with "lots of Marines with guns." A videotape made by a firefighter was seized by the Marines. All four men had escorted Clinton on his flight to the carrier Roosevelt shortly before their deaths.


DEAD FUNDRAISERS

C. Victor Raiser II
National Finance Co-Chairman, Clinton for President Campaign
Montgomery Raiser
Son of C. Victor Raiser II

died: 7/30/92 - Both men died in a private plane crash in Alaska, en route to a fishing expedition. No cause was ever determined. Five others not connected to Clinton died with them. - DeeDee Meyers described Raiser as a "major player" in the Clinton organization. Victor raiser was also chairman of Mobile Telecomm Technologies Corp., whose subsidiary, SkyTel Corp. is an international paging company used by federal police agencies such as the FBI.

Paul Tully
Democratic National Committee Political Director

died: 9/24/92 - Found dead in a hotel room in Little Rock Arkansas of "unknown causes." No autopsy allowed. - Described by Clinton as a "dear friend and trusted advisor. Tully authored several key strategies for Clinton and the party.


Ed Willey
Real Estate Attorney, Clinton Fund Raisor

died: 11/30/93 - Died of gunshot to the head. Body found in deep woods in Virginia. Ruled a suicide, no note was found, nor was any motive identified. - Intimately involved in several Clinton fund raising events.

Hershell Friday
Attorney and Clinton fund raiser.

died: ??? - Killed when his plane exploded. Cause unknown.


DEAD WITNESSES

Jerry Parks
Head of Clinton's Guberntorial security team in Little Rock.

died: 9/26/93 - Gunned down in his car at a deserted intersection outside Little Rock. - His family reported that shortly before his death, they were being followed by unknown persons, and their home had been broken into. Parks had been compiling a dossier on Clinton's illicit activities. The dossier was stolen.

James Bunch
Influential Texan

died: ??? - Died from a gunshot suicide, similar to Vince Foster. - Was discovered to have a "little black book" containing the names of many influential persons in Texas and Arkansas who visited certain prostitutes.


John Wilson
Former Washington DC Council member

died: 5/18/93 - Found dead from an apparent hanging suicide - Suicide appears suspicious due to an unusual number of reports made to the media concerning his "depression". Was reported, but not proven, to have ties to the Whitewater affair.

Bill Shelton
Arkansas state trooper and fiancee of Kathy Ferguson

died: 6/94 - allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself at the gravesite of his fiancee - Officer Shelton was the fiancee of Kathy Ferguson, who was the ex-wife of Trooper Danny Ferguson. Kathy Ferguson also committed "suicide" 6/94 when she shot herself in her living room. Oddly, next to the body were her packed bags, as if she was expecting to be going somewhere. Danny Ferguson is a co-defendant along with Bill Clinton in Paula Corbin Jones's sexual harassment suit. His ex-wife was reported as a corroborating witness for Ms. Jones.

Kathy Furguson
Ex-wife of Trooper Danny Furguson

died: circa 5/94 - Died of a supposed gunshot suicide in her living room. There was a suicide note found by the body. However, friends were surprise at having noticed nothing wrong previously. And even more curious, found nearby were several packed suitcases, as if she expected she was going somewhere. She was the former wife (since changed her name) of Trooper Danny Ferguson, who is the Arkansas State Trooper alleged to have escorted Paula Corbin Jones to the hotel room for her alleged episode of sexual harrassment by then-Governor Clinton. Ferguson's wife was reported as a possible corroborating witness for Ms. Jones.


Gandy Baugh
Attorney representing Mr. Lassater in a case concerning alleged financial misconduct.

died: circa 5/94 - Died in an alleged suicide by jumping out of a window of a multi-story building. - Mr. Lassater was a close associate of Gov. Clinton, and was later indicted on drug related charges, among other things, AND was pardoned by Clinton.

Dr. Ronald Rogers
Dentist from Arkanasas

Killed in plane crash as he was on his way to an interview with a "London Sunday Telegraph" reporter to reveal some Clinton dirt.

Stanley Huggins
Partner in Memphis law firm

investigating Madison Guaranty. His 300 page report has never been released.


Florence Martin
Accountant subcontracting to CIA

related to the Barry Seal case. Dead of three gunshot wounds to the head.

Jim Wilhite
Wilhite was an associate of Mack McClarty's former firm. Wilhite died in a skiing accident on December 21, 1992.

DEAD WOMEN

Suzanne Coleman
: Had affair with Clinton when he was attorney general. Died of "suicide" with gunshot wound to the back of her head. No autopsy performed. Was pregnant at time of her death. Some say it was Clintons.

Paula Grober
Clinton's speech interpreter for the deaf

died: 12/9/92 - Died in a one-car accident with no known witnesses. Her body was thrown 33 feet from the car. A very attractive women, Paula traveled extensively with Clinton from 1978 until her death.


DEAD INVESTIGATORS

Paul Wilcher
Washington attorney investigating government corruption

died: 6/22/93 - Found dead on a toilet in his Washington apartment. No cause of death was ever determined. - At the time of his death, he was investigating connections between the "October surprise" during the 1980 federal election campaign and drug and gun-running out of Mena, Arkansas, as well as the BATF assault on the Waco, Texas Branch Davidians. Was planning on producing a television documentary on his findings. He had delivered a 99-page affidavit to Janet Reno three weeks before his death.


Jon Parnell Walker
RTC investigator

Mysteriously fell to his death from an apartment balcony. The same apartment which was alleged to have been a secret getaway which oster may have visited.

DEAD COMMERCE DEPARTMENT DEATHS

Ron Brown
Former Chairman, DNC; Commerce Secretary

died: 5/3/96 - Ron Brown died along with 39 other people when the T-43 (a converted 737 used by the Air Force) carrying the group on a trip to Bosnia crashed while approaching the Dubrovnik airport. On the verge of being indicted and having stated publicly his willingness to make a deal with prosecutors, Ron Brown's death brought to an end the investigations into the Commerce Department. (NOTE: Also belongs under dead fundraisers)


Barbera Wise
Commerce Department Staffer

died: 11/29/96 - As the scandals continued to swirl around the Commerce Department, and most of all about John Huang, one of Huang's associates, Barbera Wise, was found dead in her locked office at the Department of Commerce, partially nude and covered with bruises. No cause of death has ever been announced. Oddly enough, following the discovery of her body, Bill Clinton made an unscheduled return to the White House from Camp David, claiming he needed a book of poetry in order to complete his inauguration speech.

Charles Meissner
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for International Economic Policy.

died: UNK - Following Ron Brown's death, John Huang was placed on a Commerce Department contract that allowed him to retain his security clearence by Charles Meissner. Shortly thereafter, Charles Meissner died in the crash of a small plane.

THE HENRY IVES DEATHS
Kevin Ives & Don Henry
Initial cause of death was reported to be the result of falling asleep on a railroad track in Arkansas on August 23, 1987. This ruling was reported by the State medical examiner Fahmy Malak. Later it was determined that Kevin died from a crushed skull prior to being placed on the tracks. Don had been stabbed in the back. Rumors indicate that they might have stumbled upon a Mena drug operation.


Keith Koney
Keith had information on the Ives/Henry deaths. Died in a motorcycle accident in July 1988 with unconfirmed reports of a high speed car chase.


Keith McKaskle
McKaskle has information on the Ives/Henry deaths. He was stabbed to death in November 1988.


Gregory Collins
Greg had information on the Ives/Henry deaths. He died from a gunshot wound to the face in January 1989.

Jeff Rhodes
He had information on the deaths of Ives, Henry & McKaskle. His burned body was found in a trash dump in April 1989. He died of a gunshot wound to the head and there was some body mutilation, leading to the probably speculation that he was tortured prior to being killed.

James Milam
Milam had information on the Ives & Henry deaths. He was decapitated. The state Medical examiner, Fahmy Malak, initially ruled death due to natural causes.


Richard Winters
Winters was a suspect in the deaths of Ives & Henry. He was killed in a "robbery" in July 1989 which was subsequently proven to be a setup.

Jordan Kettleson
Kettleson had information on the Ives & Henry deaths. He was found shot to death in the front seat of his pickup in June 1990.

MISC DEATHS
Stanley Heard
Chairman, National Chiropractic Health Care Advisory Committee
Steve Dickson
- Counsel to Mr. Heard died: 9/10/93 - Both died in a plane crash outside Dulles airport, after their aircraft, rented after Heard's personal craft developed troubles, crashed while attempting an emergency landing after reporting a fire on board. - Heard, in addition to serving on Clinton's advisory council, also personally treated Clinton's mother, stepfather, and brother.


Jim Wilhite
Vice Chairman, Arkla, Inc.

died: 12/21/92 - Died in a one-person skiing accident. - Wilhite had extensive ties with Clinton and Mack McLarty, with whom he visited by telephone just hours before his death.

[LongsforReagan]

"At first I saw a series of dark faces, like death masks, flying toward me and being crushed,"


Those were Hillary's "buns" in a dark pantsuit.

[RegulatorCountry]

"I've got a joke to tell here....."

"Most people thought it was too long" has got to be a first, too.

[afraidfortherepublic]

The only reason I'd want to access this book is for kindling.

Or flushing.

[clarissaexplainsitall]

I think he got a glimpse of the hell fires awaiting him but he's too much of a sociopath to notice.

[Vicomte13]

Clinton acted seriously withdrawn and pensive for a good while after this surgery.

I recall him recounting this same thing way back, right after he got out of hospital.

It affected him. Near Death Experiences and spiritual encounters at the cusp of death have a habit of doing that.

I've been watching Clinton's acts and words carefully since then, to see how the experience affected him. If you really have one, it changes your life.

Honestly, I think he is telling the truth.
This seems to be a real experience, and it seems to have disturbed him a bit, at least at the time, and maybe since.

He's a great punching bag, no doubt, but on the NDE thing, I'd give some pause. This one sounds authentic. He doesn't seem to have changed his story, at all, or embellished it, from the initial thing that he said shortly after surgery. THAT is very characteristic of the real McCoy.

His wife, of course, had no such transformative experience and doesn't have this to dwell on. And she doesn't listen to him anyway now.

I note how cautious Clinton has become. This guy is out there, if you actually listen to him, being one of the most responsible Democrats when it comes to talking about what's going on in the world.

And he got a lot graver after his NDE.

I wouldn't write him off as telling stories, if I were you.
Because on this one, there are a lot of telltale signs that he's telling the truth.

Perhaps other Freepers who have had such experiences could toss in a word here. His whole life's a story. But this little piece of it really probably isn't. And he's behaved differently since it. Watch him with this in mind.