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Get the Clintons Off the Stage
St. Petersburg Times ^ | 5/15/03 | Susan Estrich

Posted on 05/15/2003 8:15:09 AM PDT by shortstop

The Clintons are back.

Sidney Blumenthal-much hated former Clinton aide, ethically challenged former journalist-$850,000 advance in hand, has a new book out on May 20, attacking everyone who ever attacked him or the Clintons, rehearsing once again the old right wing conspiracy, every attack on them, answered. The right wing conspiracy revived, answered, again.

Hillary's book is next.

Could somebody please tell these people to shut up? The Clintons suck up every bit of the available air. Nothing is left for anyone else. They are big, too big. That's the problem.

The 2004 candidates need a chance to get some attention, to rise to Clinton's level, which they never will do as long as the likes of Sidney Blumenthal are playing into the hands of conservatives in insisting on debating the scandals of the 1990's. The Republicans shouldn't have impeached him for it, but he shouldn't have given them the ammunition. And we shouldn't still be discussing it.

Why are we? Or more accurately, why are they?

Not because it serves the interests of the Democrats of the future.

It doesn't help Howard Dean, or John Kerry, or Dick Gephardt. It gets Sidney on TV shows. If the issue is ethics, no one has less than Sidney Blumenthal. He used to call me during the Dukakis campaign, which I was running and he was supposed to be covering, to offer covert advice, which if I accepted might result in better coverage. Much later, when I criticized him, he tried to get me into trouble with my editors. All the while, I was defending his boss. That's Sidney. He's Hillary's best friend. No wonder the Republicans are delighted to see him return to the spotlight.

It raises money for their causes.

The Bill and Bob (Dole) show has proven to be a collossal bore. The ratings have fallen. Is anyone getting the message? I fear not.

Let's not mince words.

Hillary Clinton is never going to be president of the United States. There is no more divisive figure in the Democratic Party, much less the country, than the former first lady. And I like her. But many women don't. Even Democratic women. Even working women. Not to mention nonworking, independent, non political women. She can be a great senator. She's smart, hard-working and effective. She is much respected among her peers.

But the more people who talk about her as a future president, the less attention the current candidates, who might win, receive.

Revisiting the scandals of the past does no service to the Democrats of the future.

Bill Clinton is a brilliant man. But the more attention he gets, the more the Democrats of the future suffer. He would be the first to say this, if it weren't about him.

Enough with the Clintons. Please. Not for the sake of the Republicans. But for the Democrats.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2004; clintoon; estrich; susanestrich
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This was in this mornings St. Petersburg Times but not in the online version. Pardon any typo, misspelling or missing paragraph indicator, but this one was too good not to put on FR. Every sentence is red meat. Have at it.
1 posted on 05/15/2003 8:15:10 AM PDT by shortstop
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To: shortstop
Every sentence is red meat.

Nah, every sentence is damage control.

2 posted on 05/15/2003 8:17:25 AM PDT by dirtboy (Tagline currently experiencing technical difficulties, please stand by)
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To: shortstop
I'm starting to get the impression that a lot of Democrats now realize their party is nothing more than one big personality disorder.
3 posted on 05/15/2003 8:17:35 AM PDT by Alberta's Child
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To: Liz; Libloather; McGavin999
Here's some good news!
4 posted on 05/15/2003 8:19:19 AM PDT by Howlin (The Trojan Horse was a "gift," wasn't it?)
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To: Miss Marple
You'll like this one!
5 posted on 05/15/2003 8:19:34 AM PDT by Howlin (The Trojan Horse was a "gift," wasn't it?)
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To: Alberta's Child
Just look at our situation with the state legislator Democrats here in Texas, er Oklahoma.
6 posted on 05/15/2003 8:19:58 AM PDT by jospehm20
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To: shortstop
Don't give yet! there is one more book by the fat guy himself, Bill Clinton. I understand the title is:
"How I won the War at Waco"
7 posted on 05/15/2003 8:20:42 AM PDT by Nagual
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To: shortstop
Where's my pole with the big hook on the end when I need it. Let em talk maybe get a trio with Al Sharpton. Rap on brother rap on.
8 posted on 05/15/2003 8:20:52 AM PDT by Conspiracy Guy (Will Rogers never met me.)
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To: shortstop
Susan gets it
9 posted on 05/15/2003 8:21:10 AM PDT by woofie (I want a cabal too)
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To: Howlin
Susan talking sense! Sullivan has a review of the book she mentions.
10 posted on 05/15/2003 8:22:01 AM PDT by MEG33
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To: Howlin
Much as I dislike Ms. Estrich's politics, I have found her to be candid about her errors (Dukkis in a tank) and not hateful about the President's successes, even though she disagrees.

She is spot on about this, but I think the democrats are hypnotized by the Clintons and cannot escape their hold.

11 posted on 05/15/2003 8:22:43 AM PDT by Miss Marple
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To: shortstop
Hillary's book is next.

Instead of using cattle futures, as a conduit for her payoffs, she now uses books.

12 posted on 05/15/2003 8:23:03 AM PDT by Ceebass
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To: Alberta's Child
"I'm starting to get the impression that a lot of Democrats now realize their party is nothing more than one big personality disorder."

Hmmmm. The term Mentally Disordered Sex Offender comes to mine. I wonder who I could be thinking about.

13 posted on 05/15/2003 8:23:44 AM PDT by Enterprise
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To: shortstop
Enough with the Clintons. Please. Not for the sake of the Republicans. But for the Democrats.

Naw, do it for the Republicans too. We're also sick and tired of him and her.

14 posted on 05/15/2003 8:24:45 AM PDT by 1Old Pro (The Dems are self-destructing before our eyes, How Great is That !)
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To: shortstop
Another Estrichan moment....

What she's saying, really, is "don't pay attention to Hillary, even when she declares she's running 'for the good of the party'. She wouldn't win, so don't waste your ammo on keeping her out of that office. Just watch the present candidates fight it out. Hillary is no threat."

15 posted on 05/15/2003 8:25:27 AM PDT by theDentist (So. This is Virginia.... where are all the virgins?)
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To: shortstop
HEH..HEH...Susan sees that we...really don't want X42 to go away.....he's like raw, red meat laying on the picnic table on a hot summer afternoon....with the yellow jackets swarming and ignoring all the other "food."
16 posted on 05/15/2003 8:26:19 AM PDT by goodnesswins (For Lease.....)
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To: shortstop
Bill Clinton is a brilliant man.

This is the sentence that always kills me, and every librul repeats it ad infinitum. A brilliant man would know what the word "is" means. A brilliant man would think, "Maybe it's not such a good idea for me, a married man and President of the United States, to play hide the salami with a mentally-challenged 19-year old intern usually responsible for delivering high-level pizza." A brilliant man would think, "I'd better not let the cameras catch me smiling and laughing here at Sen. Wellstone's funeral."

I ask you, what is so brilliant about this man?

17 posted on 05/15/2003 8:26:50 AM PDT by TheBigB ("Daddy, what's -b*tch-?" "It's a grown-up word, honey. It means junior Senator from New York")
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To: Howlin
Shaking my head. Rush Limbaugh is often right, but never so right as when he declares how much FUN democrats are when they are out of power. Every new day brings more proof of this theory. I, for one, am having a great time watching it all.
18 posted on 05/15/2003 8:27:09 AM PDT by Trust but Verify
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To: mware
Ping!
19 posted on 05/15/2003 8:27:52 AM PDT by Dog (California wants to ban OREO cookies they can have mine ....... "From my cold dead hand's")
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To: TheBigB
Beat me to it. The one about Hillary being "smart and effective" galls me as well.
20 posted on 05/15/2003 8:28:29 AM PDT by gov_bean_ counter
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