Posted on 09/25/2006 8:54:44 AM PDT by SirJohnBarleycorn
No president in the modern age has had to face an “insurgency” of relentless criticism from not one, but two former presidents—both dedicated to undermining his policies. Bill Clinton’s appearance on Fox News yesterday is a case in point, calculated to score points through attacks on the “right-wing conspiracy” and President Bush.
Jimmy Carter is still trying to build his legacy and sell books—but he’s not much more than a gadfly these days. William Jefferson Clinton is important for a number of reasons: He’s still the heart and soul of the Democratic Party; European liberals love him; and his wife is setting herself up for a presidential run.
(snip)
Clinton accused Wallace of mounting a right-wing hit job on him at the behest of Fox News, while throwing softballs to the Bush Administration. Clinton was visibly angry and combative. But was he putting on?
(snip)
You have to believe that Clinton offered himself up to Fox for the explicit purpose of going off on Chris Wallace. It was the perfect way to undermine Fox News, the so-called right-wing conspiracy, and President Bush’s policies while appearing to simply be defending his honor.
If this wasn’t a planned tantrum, then why wouldn’t Clinton have just answered the question and moved on? He was obviously expecting it, likely hoping for it, and totally prepared for it.
As to whether Clinton laid a glove on Fox News or President Bush, time will tell. Left-wingers will be applauding and saying that it’s about time someone fired back at Fox News. Right-wingers will point out that Wallace never pressed Clinton about reports that he was offered bin Laden on more than one occasion by Sudan and that Saudi Arabia (whose government bin Laden was committed to overthrow) had sought American help in removing bin Laden from Sudan.
On the question posed by Clinton of the Bush Administration, “Why didn’t you do something about the Cole?”—Wallace did not come back with a statement that the CIA killed Ali Qaed Sinan al-Harthi on Nov. 4, 2002, using a Hellfire missile fired from an unmanned drone. That’s the guy we think planned the U.S.S. Cole bombing.
Wallace really wasn’t all that tough on Clinton, who, after all, could have gone on ABC’s “This Week” and been interviewed by George Stephanopoulos who used to be a top Clinton aide. But Clinton was spoiling for a fight, and to get it, he had to go on Fox.
Mr. Clinton isn't THAT smart.
but Mrs. Clinton is....
bump for later
She isn't ten feet tall either.
Nah, Supposedly he went on a tirade on his staff after interview, off camera, for setting up the interview!
He IS that smart. And so are his handlers.
No Hablo Arabic: Clinton's Failure on CIA
Clinton's Phony War on Terrorism
>>You have to believe that Clinton offered himself up to Fox for the explicit purpose of going off on Chris Wallace. It was the perfect way to undermine Fox News, the so-called right-wing conspiracy, and President Bush’s policies while appearing to simply be defending his honor.<<
Not true. If it is true, then why (according to Chris Wallace) was Slick chewing out his staff after the interview, and visibly angry?
He lost it, plain and simple.
I say Clinton is doing what he does best and that is to distract the American people from what is really going on like the movement by our government and business to community to join us with Canada and Mexico. After all Clinton is probably business partners with people from every stipe.
thanks....THIS thread can now be deleted.
After a fashion. But not ultimately. Too smart, perhaps, that they outwit themselves. You'll see.
That mountain is coming down.
I agree. Clinton gave the interview only because Murdock donated to his charity, so Clinton returned the favor. Clinton had a lot of anger from the 9-11 movie and Wallace touched on a sour spot. The question wasn't actually that tough and Clinton should have handled it easily, but Clinton emotions got the best of him.
Yes, he is. That man is a lying, conniving and dishonest to the core scumbag who also happens to be a great politician. Going on Fox was going to give him the chance to spout off seeing as how the rest of the media basically refuses to ouch anything with him.
But, while he would be energizing his base it also fires up the people who hate him and what his presidency did to America.
More of Bill's need to be in the spotlight.
As to why he got so pissed off so quick, it's because he keeps hearing the truth about his failures uttered by people in the news, and he has a hair trigger.
Plus, he's an asshole.
Only winner was Wallace.
Nope. Don't buy it.
All this did was fire up the Republican base and that's classic Rovian election theory.
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