Esquire: Clinton is world's "most influential man" (Barf Alert!)

Reuters ^ | 11/15/05 | Reuters

[wagglebee]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Bill Clinton is "The Most Influential Man in the World," according to Esquire magazine.

The magazine has designated him as "the most powerful agent of change in the world" despite his lack of electoral standing and the fact he was laid low by a heart attack ahead of last year's presidential election.

The magazine highlights Clinton's accomplishments in its December issue, which goes on newsstands on Thursday, profiling the world's "Best and Brightest" men and women.

Since leaving office, Clinton has been so active that his post-presidency amounts to "a third term" for the Democrat who held the White House from 1992 to 2000, the magazine said. He has tackled global issues from AIDS, poverty and global warming to the recovery from last December's Indian Ocean tsunami.

Esquire editor David Granger argued that Clinton was poised to become "something like a president of the world or at least a president of the world's non-governmental organizations."

But it will mean giving up a leadership role in the Democratic party or pushing the political career of his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, seen as a 2008 White House contender.

In the article, Clinton said that he remained loyal to his party, adding: "I'm not the leader of the opposition anymore."

[nutmeg]

This world has gone completely topsy turvy.

Unreal. This thread needs to be changed to one of those "Projectile" or at least "Mega" Barf Alerts!

[LegendHasIt]

No real need to comment on this thread; Clinton was far from the most influential man even when he was sitting in the White House. I didn't even realize Esquire was still being published.

My real concern / question is why all of a sudden am I getting invalid security certificate popups from third party websites on FR tonight???

This is the second thread I have opened in the last 10 minutes and gotten one. I've never seen such a thing before on FR, and only seen it occasionally on HTTPS (secure) webpages.

What is going on?

Sony rootkits? DNC hacking FR? FBI investigating subversive activity? I'm kidding, but curious.

[CaliGirlGodHelpMe]

"That guy is on the fast track to looking like he is in his early 80s. Maybe too many Big Macs."

I think "too many dime bags" is the phrase you were looking for.

[AmeriBrit]

"why all of a sudden am I getting invalid security certificate popups from third party websites on FR tonight??? "

I've been getting them too for about the last 10 - 15 minutes.

[HHFi]

I have in front of me an offer from Esquire of a media rate for a subscription: just $5.99 a year, or 50 cents an issue. $36 off the regular price. After reading this claptrap and their tongue-bath of our local embarrassment, Ronnie Earle, I think it might still be a bit overpriced.

Just ripped it up and tossed it into the wastebasket.

[ridesthemiles]

I sincerely suggest that as many Freepers as possible re-read "Atlas Shrugged".

It's happening right in front of us all...

[HitmanLV]

I'm keeping it rated PG! ;-)

[Jorge]

This is a joke right?
Clinton was and is a BIG ZERO. A man of no convictions, and virtually no real or lasting accomplishments.

[eeriegeno]

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton is "The Most Influential Man in the World," according to Esquire magazine.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton is also a man accused of rape! He also is, except for a slight age difference, a child molester. He also was one of the best liars (words of democrats, not mine) on record? Unfortunately, Esquire views Bill Clinton in a world in which I obviously didn't live!!!!!!!

[Dahoser]

Don't forget the Slickmeister's frontside too!

Doesn't Nina have that side covered?

[Nip]

My copy of Esquire never made it into the house. Saw who was on the cover and it went straight into the trash. Trash not recycling.

I have been around the military since the late 1960’s and it was only during Clinton’s last 5 or so years that I heard of and personally knew of retiring officers and SNCOs requesting someone else sign their retirement certificates. Those who go one signed by Clinton were greeted with snickers and suppressed laughter when the retirement letters/certificates were read. It got so bad that a MAJCOM directive was issued saying that mirth and laughter had no place at a retirement ceremony. The number of formal retirement ceremonies went and stayed way down.

Since 2001 the opposite has been true. Every retirement letter/certificate has been signed by GWB and no snickering or laughter has followed their reading. Plus, the number of formal retirement ceremonies has gone up!

[perfect stranger]

...the fact he was laid low by a heart attack ahead of last year's presidential election.

The test revealed "multivessel coronary artery disease, normal heart function and no heart attack," said Dr. Anthony Pucillo, who performed the procedure.

[LegendHasIt]

I re-read it at least once a year. Atlas Shrugged is definitely in my top 10 books of all time. Maybe top 5. Just finished it about two months ago for at least the 20th time. Heck, I just realized that it is my most re-read book... So it must be my number one...

I used to think it should be required reading to graduate High School, and College... But the teachers & Profs would probably convince their students that Dagny, Hank , Francisco and Ragnar etc. were the evil villians and that Mr. Thompson and Balph Eubanks and Wesley Mouch were the good guys.

[goodnesswins]

It depends upon what the meaning of INFLUENTIAL is...Esquire must have a different dictionary than most people...

"The magazine highlights Clinton's accomplishments in its December issue, which goes on newsstands on Thursday, profiling the world's "Best and Brightest" men and women.

[goodnesswins]

Anyone here getting a "Security Alert" when they click on this article??? For the first time ever, on FR, I'm getting one for Media Research.....????

[LegendHasIt]

Yes, I and several other people have gotten them on more than one thread tonight, although I haven't seen the Medea Research one yet myself.

[KamperKen]

I have looked-up Harding on numerous occasions in the past. Below is the wikipedia excerpt:

"Upon winning the election, Harding appointed many of his old allies in prominent political positions. Known as the "Ohio Gang" (a misleading term used by Charles Mee, Jr., for his book of the same name), some of the appointees used their new powers to rob the government. Corruption was rampant throughout Harding's administration, though it is uncertain how much Harding himself knew about his friends' illicit activities. The most infamous scandal of the time was the Teapot Dome affair, which shook the nation for years after Harding's death. The scandal involved United States Secretary of the Interior, Albert B. Fall, who was eventually convicted of covertly leasing public oil fields to business associates in exchange for personal loans. In 1931 Fall became the first member of a Cabinet to be sent to prison. Thomas Miller, head of the Office of Alien Property, was convicted of accepting bribes. Jess Smith, personal aide to the Attorney General, destroyed papers and then committed suicide. Charles Forbes, Director of the Veterans Bureau, skimmed profits, earned fat kickbacks, and ran alcohol and drugs. He was convicted of fraud and bribery and drew a two-year sentence. Charles Cramer, an aide to Charles Forbes, also committed suicide. No evidence to date suggests that Harding personally profited from these crimes, but he was apparently unable to stop them. "My God, this is a hell of a job!", Harding said. "I have no trouble with my enemies, but my damn friends, they're the ones that keep me walking the floor nights."

Harding himself was never implicated in the scandals, just like Ulyssess S. Grant wasn't implicated in the scandals of his cronies. I recommend that your read Jude Wanniski's "The Way the World Works". Harding was the Ronald Reagan of the 1920's. His tax cuts launched the prosperity of that decade. Harding not only had the admiration of Wanniski, but also of virtually every other supply-side economist, like Arthur Laffer.

[Texas Songwriter]

Yes he has influenced millions of junior high and highschoolers to commit felatio at school and then say, "Well, the president did it, so it must be ok." When I tink of Bill Clinton it flashes in my mind that everyone seeing him or hearing him, is thinking about being felated with Monica hiding in the knee well of his desk. I do not remember one substantive thing he contributed to this country as the president.

[dogcaller]

FDR: "We have nothing to fear but fear itself."

JFK: "Ich bin ein Berliner."

RWR: "Mr. Gorbachev...tear down this wall."

WJC: "I did not have sex with that woman...Monica Lewinsky."

[Frank_2001]

Too many Big Macs, too many ho's....