Comeback Kid Lectures Democrats

Washington Post ^ | 12-5-02 | Howard Kurtz

[Oldeconomybuyer]

We're surprised more ink isn't being spilled on the latest step into the spotlight by Bill Clinton.

If there were another report about Clinton consorting with some babe or failing to account for some White House furniture or arguing with Hillary or keeping Cristophe's customers waiting while he gets a haircut, you can be sure the punditocracy would be all over it.

But since he was giving a serious talk about the future of the Democratic Party, only the beat reporters and hard-core junkies have taken note.

It was striking watching the ex-prez on the tube. Whatever one thinks of the slick and self-destructive tendencies that led to his impeachment, here was a man who was relaxed and confident as he offered advice on how his party can dig itself out of a huge hole.

The contrast to the cautious talking points of some of the wannabes who lust for his old job couldn't have been greater.

Clinton did what he always does, spinning torrents of words into floods of sentences that drew in his audience and made them feel like part of his message. The master of threading the rhetorical needle did it again, scolding Democrats for forfeiting the national security issue – an implicit rebuke to the Hill leadership – while saying the party shouldn't react to the election debacle by becoming more liberal.

He also seemed to echo Gore's recent lament about the media, saying the Republicans "have an increasingly right-wing and bellicose conservative press" while "we have an increasingly docile establishment press." (Time to defend yourselves, establishment types.)

[snip]

[Broker]

The Prince of Harlem. . .

[Samizdat]

Memo to Washington Compost:

The guy is a deranged psychopathic sociopath. Of course he is going to be relaxed. He has no conscience. People with no conscience, after committing the string of crimes he has committed are naturally going to be relaxed. Get a grip.

[Guillermo]

LOL

[Huck]

Whatever one thinks of the slick and self-destructive tendencies that led to his impeachment

Huh? Getting impeached is slick?

[Huck]

Clinton did what he always does, spinning

Yep.

[Joe Bonforte]

If there were another report about Clinton consorting with some babe...

Based on the fawning language in the rest of the article, it seems more likely that the next report will be about Clinton consorting with the author. For example:

Clinton did what he always does, spinning torrents of words into floods of sentences that drew in his audience and made them feel like part of his message.

You don't need to be Fellini to see the Freudian symbolism in this passage.

[Piquaboy]

I hope he keeps running off at the mouth as he just digs the Rats a deeper hole to crawl out of. He has no idea how many people are out here that dispise him.

[shhrubbery!]

Clinton did what he always does, spinning torrents of words into floods of sentences that drew in his audience and made them feel like part of his message. The master of threading the rhetorical needle did it again

The drooling Washington press corps again overestimate the Slickster's rhetorical skills.

I have never seen a Clinton speech that was anything but verbose, self-contradictory, and ultimately, boorrrrring.

[jimt]

Seeing as the Cumstain Kid and his band of lying crooks had a major part in bringing down the 'rat party, why should his advice be taken seriously?

[joesnuffy]

Ain dat de troot

[wjcsux]

I hope the RATS keep listening to this sorry d*ckhead.

[Brett66]

The cum-back kid will lead them out of the wilderness!

[OldFriend]

Good grief, Howard, your knee pads are showing...BIG TIME CLYMER ALERT!

[cardinal4]

Whatever one thinks of the slick and self-destructive tendencies that led to his impeachment, here was a man who was relaxed and confident as he offered advice on how his party can dig itself out of a huge hole.

Howard Kurtz offers his absolution.....

[mikeb704]

Clinton feels qualified to give other Democrats advice on how to win elections. This is particularly absurd when you consider that, of the six Democrat governor candidates for whom he campaigned this year, five lost.

We all know precisely what the Clinton "legacy" is. If only he had the dignity to fade away into the obscurity he so richly deserves. But then, that would be asking too much of the sleaze, wouldn't it?

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I have a hard time understanding how Clinton can lecture anyone. He was the chief designer of the 2002 Democrat Party strategy...

[mikeb704]

I think in psychiatry this is known as delusions of grandeur.

[WorkingClassFilth]

You are right on target. This piece was clearly written from the mindset of an old girlfriend that never quite got over the break-up.

It makes me picture the author sitting in a DC Starbucks on rainy days looking out into the rain and reminiscing about the good times they shared in the Krinton days and getting as misty (steamy?) inside as it is outside on the boulevard.

"Why Bill, why? Why can't we try again? We had so many good times together - I promise I won't fail you, Baby! Look, I'll even do whatever you me to even though you're not on top anymore. Oh Baby, our thing was so-o-o good, let's try again one more time!"

[eureka!]

Cool. The comPost wants the loathsome grifter to remain the head of the Rat party. Really cool. You're right Howie, the 'Toon needs to lead the party onward. Really. He's the only one....