Clinton Should Focus on Others, Not Himself

Virginian Pilot ^ | 12-31-01 | Editorial Staff

[LiberteeBell]

Pity poor Bill Clinton. While the rest of the country is worried about the war on terrorism, he's agonizing over -- surprise! -- his own legacy.

Seems that Clinton gathered a bunch of former aides and Cabinet secretaries to his New York office last week out of concern that his accomplishments as president have slipped from memory. They agreed to organize a corps of supporters to talk up his achievements and keep his profile from disappearing.

``We have to remind people of what we did on the economy, what we did with the crime bill, what we did with terrorism,'' one Clinton adviser told the New York Times. ``They're trying to pin the bin Laden thing on us.''

It's not unreasonable to muster one pang of sympathy -- just one -- for the ex-president. Even in the best of Clinton days (before the Lewinsky escapade), his strengths -- such as balancing the budget to help point the economy upward -- went unrecognized by his frothing opponents.

But Clinton's time as president is over. His latest scheme showcases perhaps Clinton's fatal flaw -- his boundless, blinding love of himself.

Better he should take a cue from the last Southern Democratic president, Jimmy Carter. In the two decades since he left office, Carter established a foundation in Atlanta promoting peace and democracy worldwide. If he isn't building houses for Habitat for Humanity, he's monitoring elections in Guyana or Indonesia.

Clinton could do the same, devoting himself to one of the issues he embraced during his presidency -- perhaps racial reconciliation or national service. Aside from improving the world, Carter's post-presidential service has transformed his image from failed president to wise elder statesman. If Clinton looked beyond himself for a change, he might be able to do the same.

[Nightstalker]

I'm not defending Bill Clinton. People who get $100000+ to give a speech don't need me. The original article was someone crying that Clinton was in the news too much. What I pointed out was that it was time to move past Clinton. A few month ago you only saw Clinton on a C-SPAN rerun at 3 A.M. However since 9/11 a lot of people decided to attack Clinton anew. This in turn brought Clinton back into the spotlight. I simply believe that it is time to move beyond Bill, Monica, Hillary, and Chelsea. Clinton can go on doing his thing and his enemies can find someone else too demonize. Way too much time has been wasted on Clinton since 9/11. He and those who freak out everytime they here his name need to occupy themselves with other matters.

[screed]

To the contrary, the Clintonization of the United States of America needs to be exposed at every opportunity. The media and the Clinton appologists covered up their misdeeds constantly. The Clintons have lowered the bar so far these days that all you need to do is step over it, and the possibility of going below it is seriously in question. The moral relativists in the media and elsewhere on the left want to excuse the Clintons by insinuating that "everyone does it." For them to even suggest that he was a decent president much less deny that he was one of the most filthy, underhanded, deceitful and disgusting examples of a human being and president, does serious damage to the moral fiber of this country. They are desensitizing the public to the kind of fraud, lies and abuse perpetrated on our country by the Clintons and thereby expanding the limits of what the Clintonesque can get away with in the future. By doing this kind of thing, the left increases their advantage with nothing more than an overwhelming amount of experience in immoral, illegal and shady politics. After the Clinton administration, this country needs a shower. Actually, it needs a NBC decontamination scrubdown, but all things in time.

It's time to start raising the bar again. In addition to giving the American people a positive example of leadership, we need to point out that what the Clintons did to this country and the world is NOT moral, is NOT legal and is NOT acceptable for leadership of the greatest nation on the face of the earth. (cultural relativists out there who are offended by this - TOUGH $^%$#!!!!!) In my opinion, anyone who tries to sweep it under the rug is complicit in lowering the standards of decent behavior in this country, political and otherwise.

[GOPJ]

Great list:

Lying Under Oath as President - 2 times - Lying Under Oath as Governor - 5 times - Lying Under Oath as Attorney General - Lying Under Oath in a Deposition - Lying Under Oath to a Grand Jury - Lying Under Oath as a Lawyer - Abuse of Power - Obstruction of Justice - Deriliction of Duty - Bribe Solicitation - Taking Bribes - Bribery of Cabinent Members - Bribery of State Officials - Treason - Corruption - Coersion - Graft - False Swearing - Malfeasance of Office - Perjury - Subornation of Perjury - Criminal Trespass - Witness Intimidation - Witness Tampering - Jury Tampering - Ethics Violations - Intentional Interference in the Administration of Justice - Misrepresentation - Civil Contempt of Court - Criminal Contempt of Court - Contempt of Congress - Contempt of the American People - High Crimes - Misdemeanors - Deception - Conspiracy -False Testimony - Factually False Testimony - Misconduct - Serious Misconduct - Professional Misconduct - Notorious Misconduct - Obstruction of the Judicial Process - Recklessness -Extortion - Blackmail - Substance Abuse - Evidence Suppression - Illegal Foriegn Campaign Funding - Aiding and Abetting Espionage - Aiding and Abetting Terrorists - Aiding and Abetting Foriegn Dictators - Improper Exports of Sensitve Technology - Attempted Intimidation of Prosecutors -Destruction of Business Records with Intent to Defraud - Failure to Investigate Drug Trafficking - Real Estate Fraud - Criminalizing Frauds on Financial Institutions - Use of State Police for Personal Purposes - Illegal Loan Extraction - False Reports by Medical Examiners and Others Investigating Suspicious Deaths - Improper Futures Trading - Illegal Use of the Executive Branch - Character Defamation - Voter Fraud - Racketeering - Destruction of Evidence - Political Espionage - Money Laundering - Criminal Negligence - RICO Conspiracy - Misuse of Government Files - Desecration of Federal Ethics Laws - Judicial Intimidation - Conflict of Interests - Illegal Campaign Activity - Misuse of Corporate Assets - Ordering Politically Motivated Audits - Ordering Politically Motivated Investigations - Timing of War Influenced by Political Considerations - Misapplying Funds - Conspiracy to Defraud the Federal Government -Criminal Violation of the Privacy Act - Conspiracy to Conceal - Evisceration of the Right to Habeas Corpus - Misuse of Taxpayer Funds - Interfering with a Court Order - Theft of Government Property - Abuse of Taxpayer Financed Travel - Anti-American Espionage - Jeopardizing National Security - Aiding and Abetting Drug Traffic - Aiding and Abetting Organized Crime - Murder by Accessory by Witness Tampering - Murder by Accessory by Forgery- - Solicitation to commit murder by accessory - Foreign Influence Peddling - Regular Influence Peddling - Corrupting Public Discourse -Providing False and Misleading Testimony - Interferring with a Custody Case - Kidnapping by Accessory - Child Endangerment - Sexual Harassment - Indecent Exposure - Sexual Abuse of Employees - Lewd and Lascivious Conduct - Exchange of Promotions or Benefits for Sexual Favors - Sexual Assault - Statutory Rape -Contributing to the Delinquincy of a Minor - Unfit to hold a law license - Conduct Unbecoming a President - Squandering the Public Trust -

[Slyfox]

No problem, amigo.

[Mudboy Slim]

"They're trying to pin the bin Laden thing on us."

Truth hurts, don't it?!

"It's not unreasonable to muster one pang of sympathy -- just one -- for the ex-president. Even in the best of Clinton days (before the Lewinsky escapade), his strengths -- such as balancing the budget to help point the economy upward -- went unrecognized by his frothing opponents."

What BOGUS NONSENSE!! Clinton fought heartily against a Balanced Budget, but the GOP Congress--and the economy--whupped his Big Guv'ment Butt!!

"But Clinton's time as president is over. His latest scheme showcases perhaps Clinton's fatal flaw -- his boundless, blinding love of himself."

Even the blind squirrel Virginian-Pilot finds an acorn of Truth every once in awhile.

FReegards...MUD

[Nightstalker]

You are not going to hurt the Clintons by continuing to publicize them. Clinton long ago learned to not only thrive but use adverse publicity to his advantage. In 1992 he left all of rivals in the Democratic primary behind when the Genifer Flowers allegations came out. In 1998 his approval ratings soared with the Monica allegations. On the day he was impeached his approval rating went to 70 plus. When someone discover the scandalous cost of his Manhatten offices he scored a major pr victory by moving to Harlem. For Clinton the only bad publicity is no publicity. American pretty much know about Clinton's wrong doings and have formed their conclusions. In a few years historians from both the right and the left will record the Clinton era until that time it is best to let him slip into obscurity.

[BeAChooser]

Frankly I think the country has far better things to do than dwell on the sins of Clinton.

Sins ... perhaps. CRIMES? No way. Those we should investigate and prosecute.

His eight years are over.

THANK GOD but what worries me is the next time the democRATS get the Whitehouse and all those OATH BREAKING, COMPLICIT democRATS that remain in Congress. THAT is why we need to investigate and prosecute ... so that democRAT AND Republican leaders know that the laws apply to them TOO.

All of this was debated ad nauseum during the impeachment debate and he was found guilty of getting blow jobs beyond a reasonable doubt.

SPIN SPIN SPIN. He was guilty of committing CRIMES. And MANY of his most heinous CRIMES were never investigated or discussed. And certainly the mainstream press didn't tell the public about them. Do you know that the mainstream press never even mentioned that Sid Blumenthal was caught LYING UNDER OATH in an impeachment about LYING UNDER OATH? THAT'S how biased the press was and THAT'S how UNINFORMED the people were KEPT.

My point is that it is time to move on to other things.

Sure. How about the exhumation and autopsy of Ron Brown's body?

I would prefer that both Clinton and his critics change the subject.

I'm sure you and all the other "move-oner's" would like that. Well dream on.

[DreamWeaver]

Clinton Should Focus on Others Not Himself ????

He wouldn't know how. He has lived a life of doing nothing but that, and will continue to do so. Ya can't teach an old "dog" new tricks (and I mean that in the stictest sense, "DOG" that is.

[JulieRNR21]

It appears that the liberal press (Boston Globe) is finally holding x42 accountable for the terrorist attacks on 9-11-01. (And it is snowing in Hell....LOL)

While Clinton Slept

[screed]

You are not going to hurt the Clintons by continuing to publicize them.

This first sentence alone leads me to believe that you either didn't read my post or we are speaking two very different languages. I'm not interested in 'hurting' the Clintons. I'm interested in public opinion, and now that America has a new found respect for decency, I think we should strike while the iron is hot. As long as there are statements like this

"All of this was debated ad nauseum during the impeachment debate and he was found guilty of getting blow jobs beyond a reasonable doubt,"

floating around out there then obviously the public still needs to hear it. Because this statement is factually vacant "beyond a reasonable doubt." Clinton perjured himself while trying to prevent a woman from exercising her civil rights. He lied and obstructed justice to get himself off the hook. He made other people lie in order to deprive this woman of her rights. But vacuous statements like the one in bold above gloss over that and continue to excuse his actions. I understand your point, I just disagree with it.

[sneakypete]

Out of meds again, are you?

You're the one who gets his panties all in a bunch over somebody haveing ses,not me.

Why do you care so much what I talk about?

Because fools like you gave Bubba bin Bombing the cover he needed to scream "It's all about SEX!",and this allowed him to deflect questions about REAL crimes he comitted. Crimes like treason.

[SlightOfTongue]

false and vicious attacks about him, his family, and his administrtation.

You are with out a doubt the most clueless poster, bar none, liberal or conservative, that I have ever heard in my 6 years now here at FR.

Take this crap to some site that gives a flying f*ck!

[pray4liberty]

For Clinton the only bad publicity is no publicity.

Amen. I'll drink to that. Happy New Year!

[pray4liberty]

In a few years historians from both the right and the left will record the Clinton era until that time it is best to let him slip into obscurity.

I'd prefer to see him slip into jail, if you want the truth, along with his wife and cronies. He has a lot to answer for, and if he is allowed to get away with everything, some future politician will be able to point the finger and get away with a whole lot worse. Gary Condit is trying the same scams now, lie and spin.

Almost makes one wish he had a pitchfork, or at the very least, an ample supply of tar and feathers.

[Paul Atreides]

You're the one who gets his panties all in a bunch over somebody haveing ses,not me.

As long as the institute has you strapped to the bed, have them bring you a dictionary.

You really are a pathetic idiot. I made an off-handed remark about Clinton and you go schizophrenic.

[MistrX]

Clinton Should Focus on Others, Not Himself. He can't.

[sneakypete]

You really are a pathetic idiot.

That's a compliment when it comes from a puddle of puke like you.

I made an off-handed remark about Clinton and you go schizophrenic.

There was nothing "off hand" about your comment,unless you are thinking about what you wipe off your hand when you think of Bubba and Monica. You obsessed with the blowjob and ignored the real crimes.

[Paul Atreides]

I have just two words for you: SEEK HELP