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.

[LiberteeBell]

When the left-wing Virginian Pravda Pile-o-S*** Pilot sorta "gets it", it makes me think there may be hope for the sheeple....

[Slyfox]

Did somebody mention, The Clinton Legacy?:

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
Grand Larceny
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

[holman]

It has been said that Clinton is amoral not immoral. That there are certain traits missing from his personality make-up: a sociopath. He does not get embarassed and he truly cannot separate right from wrong. It's why he can lie under oath since he does not think he's lying.

In this sense, he's a scary guy.

[pray4liberty]

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.

Good golly, I hope not. Monitoring elections? By Bill? And his friend Jesse Jackson? No thank you. The only thing he's embraced are chicks half his age.

[Alissa]

Great editorial - too bad they didn't see him for what he was in 92! It was clear to me he was a shameless phony! Keyword here is PHONY! One didn't have to scratch very low to see what kind of character this man had in 92. I'm still angry and amazed that he was even elected the first time, much less the 2nd time. This paper probably endorsed him for both elections! Their little blurb of an excuse is nothing more than covering their butts. EVERYONE knew Clinton had NO CHARACTER in 92 - it was an issue that the media and Democrats dismissed!

[gov_bean_ counter]

his strengths -- such as balancing the budget

As I recall, Clinton was forcasting deficits as far as the eye could see until the Pubbies took over. The balanced budget was not only not Clinton's thing, it was fought tooth and nail like welfare reform. On crime there never were 100,000 cops and much of the "reduction of crime" was a result of a change in the way crime statistics were "processed". So actually when you strip away all the fluff, it is obvious that the "Clinton Legacy" is currently getting all the attention it has earned or deserves.

[cardinal4]

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

The truth of the matter is Bill,NO ONE CARES WHAT YOU THINK OR FEEL!!GO FAR AWAY AND TAKE THAT PIG WIFE OF YOURS WITH YOU!!

Im sorry,lost control there,wont happen again,keep reminding myself W's the prez..........(Felt good,though!)

[Asclepius]

If Clinton looked beyond himself for a change, he might be able to do the same.

This sentence is simply unintelligible. No matter how many times I read it, I still can't make sense of it.

[LiberteeBell]

Are you certain you got 'em all? LOL!

[cardinal4]

You forgot breathing honest peoples air.

[LiberteeBell]

Monitoring elections? By Bill?

You do have a point but perhaps if he'd monitor elections in some third world country, he and his DNC operatives wouldn't be available to monitor control elections here.

[Nightstalker]

I agree Clinton should say nothing and all those who seemed dedicated blaming the events on 9/11 on him should also say nothing. He has been out of office for nearly a year now and it is time for his enemies to get a life. However, as long as his enemies are obsessed with their hatreds and have a rather wanton disreguard for the truth we can hardly blame Clinton for defending himself against the frequent, false and vicious attacks about him, his family, and his administrtation.

[gridlock]

Clinton Should Focus on Others, Not Himself

Yeah, and the Sun should rise in the West to ring in the new year. Clinton is incapable of focusing on others, except in order to use them to advance himself. Suggesting that he do so is to suggest that he completely abandon his core being.

Not a bad idea, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

[sanjacjake]

George Will said it best: Clinton may not have been the worst President..but he sas the worst person to be the President.

[mewzilla]

#@#!@$###@@@!!

Is anyone else infuriated by the fact that some Clinton stooge could refer to the slaughter of thousands of people and the billions of dollars in damage done as "...the bin Laden thing..."??

I truly hope that there is a special place in Hell for people like this...

[LiberteeBell]

This paper probably endorsed him for both elections!

No doubt. They rarely miss an opportunity to endorse a dim, no matter how corrupt or unqualified.

[Paul Atreides]

``We have to remind people of what we did on the economy,...."

How about what Clinton did on the Oval Office carpet? Or in the White House sink? Or, how about the collective stain he has left on this country, and humanity in general?

[SerpentDove]

Did anybody catch the latest Public Service commercial starring (I'm not kidding)---Bob Dole and Bill Clinton doing some ad about helping disadvantaged kids, or what-have-ya?

It's so hokey and melodramatic, the videography makes it look like an ad for a feminine hygeine product, or for life insurance for old people. (Close ups of the washed-up old coots with "pensive" and "thoughtful" expressions).

If the ad would have been about why we should outlaw Viagra, it would have been VERY effective. LOL

[Asclepius]

However, as long as his enemies are obsessed with their hatreds and have a rather wanton disreguard for the truth we can hardly blame Clinton for defending himself against the frequent, false and vicious attacks about him, his family, and his administrtation.

Here's a blast from the past, eh what? It's that old but not forgotten "it's not Clinton's fault for behaving stupidly or embarrassingly, it's his enemies fault for forcing him to behave stupidly and embarrassingly."

The classics never go out of style.

[gridlock]

Thank you Nightstalker. The scales have fallen from my eyes and I now see that Bill Clinton was not a bad man, he was just misunderstood. Well, now that I see how unfairly he has been victimized, I will surely mend my ways and let him go in peace, and wish him well in any future endeavor.