Say Goodnight, Bill

Time Magazine ^ | 11/10/2002 | Margaret Carlson

[jhouston]

A lot has been made of George Bush's victory last week. But while controlling the White House and both houses of Congress is impressive, there was an additional triumph to savor: driving a stake through the Clinton era. Although he wasn't running, Bill Clinton was a major presence, raising funds, campaigning for candidates and generally trying to help his party regain its mojo. Tuesday's vote was a repudiation of his efforts. What's more, last week's rout may well quiet critics who continue to suggest that with help from his brother and the Supreme Court, Bush had stolen the 2000 election from Al Gore. This is Bush Country now.

Clinton compounded his problems at the infamous memorial service for Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone. There he was, his face blown up on the Jumbotron, cheering and swaying as if he were at Woodstock IV, showing no disapproval then or later over the booing of Republican Senator Trent Lott, who had come to pay his respects. If Jesse Ventura, the ex-wrestler, can credibly take offense and, with impunity, order flags flying at half-mast to be raised early, you know it was unsavory. Here's how Congressman Tom Davis, chairman of the Republican Congressional Committee, summed it up: "Nothing gets Republican voters more hyped up than seeing President Clinton on the tube ... it got our base ginned up."

Coattails? Not on Bill. During the primaries, association with Clinton proved toxic. Three of his former Cabinet members lost. His intervention to help shore up black support for his wife in the New York State primary by getting his former Cabinet Secretary, Andrew Cuomo, out of the race led to one of the most impressive losses of the election. Comptroller Carl McCall lost to Governor George Pataki by 16 percentage points. In North Carolina, former Clinton chief of staff Erskine Bowles wouldn't even let the former Chief Executive visit. Where Clinton did go, candidates like Maryland's Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and Massachusetts' Shannon O'Brien lost. In Florida, where Clinton went to help Bill McBride, who was still within striking distance of Governor Jeb Bush, the ex-President failed decisively to get out the vote. Turnout actually dropped 17% from 1994, the last Democratic gubernatorial win.

Clinton wasn't, of course, the primary reason the Democrats lost, but there's no reason to think he would accept responsibility if he were. At a postelection dinner in his Harlem office, Clinton, his voice hoarse after three red-eye flights, said only that you can't beat a party with a message with a party without one, ignoring the fact that he is the master of blurring the differences, of shaking down the same wealthy donors as the opposition in exchange for a similar nonthreatening agenda.

A parallel shift in the culture suggests that Clinton-era values are no longer America's. Though a baby boomer, Bush rejects the instant-gratification ethic embraced by Clinton, the nation's first baby boomer President. Bush went from party-hearty frat boy to hard liquor­drinking Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (until he shaped up in his 40s) without stopping to dabble in the counterculture or go anywhere in a VW bus. He often laments not being one of the Greatest Generation he so admires (although he was no more up front about not going to Vietnam than was Clinton). Whereas Clinton liked going on MTV with 18-year-olds, Bush urges them and their parents to return to an "era of responsibility."

Clinton revered CEOs; they now appear regularly in televised perp walks. Clinton loved Hollywood; celebrities like Barbra Streisand had his ear and an invitation to the Lincoln Bedroom. Bush doesn't have movie stars over; he's in bed with Laura by 9:30. Hillary Rodham Clinton is the one politician to survive the association with Bill, although at a high personal price. If she decides to run for President, she may want to change her name yet again and become a Rodham once and for all.

[jalisco555]

Hitlery's hair looks hideous LOL did she not get madeover before the funeral?

Don't you think she tore her hair out of grief over Wellstone's death?

[kitkat]

***Hillary Rodham Clinton is the one politician to survive
the association with Bill, although at a high personal price. If she decides to run
for President, she may want to change her name yet again and become a
Rodham once and for all.***

I guess a writer for Time has to toss in the liberal slant or get fired! Now we're getting the "poor, poor Hillary" bit. Is this the DNC's memo for the week?

Hillary didn't need to associate with Bill in order to be slime. She IS slime!

Oh, by the way, thanks for the interesting article.

[Tallguy]

It looks like Margaret Carlson has seen fit to remove her blinders AND her kneepads!

[jalisco555]

His intervention to help shore up black support for his wife in the New York State primary by getting his former Cabinet Secretary, Andrew Cuomo, out of the race led to one of the most impressive losses of the election. Comptroller Carl McCall lost to Governor George Pataki by 16 percentage points.

Not only did McCall lose by 16 points, even more significant is the fact that his vote total only came to 33% in a heavily Democratic state that had twice before elected him to statewide office. Clintons are electoral poison.

[It Matters]

By the time Earl Campbell reached the endzone all he had on was shoulder pads. Did they outlaw them or something?

[dano1]

There is a very similar article on the home page of the DU website, (i.e. "The Era of Bill Clinton is Over"). I was really surprised to read it, considering the source. The DU article is in some ways even more causticly anti-Clinton and sarcastic, urging him to retire from politics. It concludes like this "The Democratic Party needs a new direction and it’s going to have to find its new direction without the guidance of yesterday’s hero. It’s time for Bill Clinton to ease into elder statesman status, to write his memoirs and live the comfortable life of an ex-president. He can make speeches for staggering sums, travel the world and best of all hire a new crop of interns every year. Both articles mention Clinton's performance the Wellstone memorial, and his botching of the NY governors race, but the DU gives several other examples, including how Clinton ruined Al Gore's political future.

[kitkat]

***What? No mention of Bubba using McBride as pimp during the Florida
campaign of horrors?***

McBride AKA McPimp

[Movemout]

Tear away jerseys are no longer allowed. I don't remember exactly when that happened. Bill Clinton's tear away coattails are still allowed though.

[NautiNurse]

CLINTON: Well don't you worry Walt, we got this thing all sewed screwed up for ya.

p.s. I hurricane season over yet? :::::running and ducking:::::

[capydick]

Thank You. And, you're right. If they had won, even by the smallest of margins, we would be subjected to more of the same lies from the Dim's (thru the media) telling us how great the rapist is,how the RAT's will keep W in check, how the voters like balance, etc,etc.

[texasbluebell]

Margaret was really disgusted with how the clintons threw Andrew Cuomo over the cliff. She was on Capitol Gain proclaiming that the clintons will stab you in the back. Well, duh.

Margaret's a really slow learner, isn't she?

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

LOL!!! that or they were talking about how LOTT and Ventura went home crying cause they was booed and it was payback cause DEY BOOED HILLARY in NYC!

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

CNN sure put out the pic for the dems. It is so obvious who's side CNN is on. It is such a staged photo.

[expatpat]

Hillary Rodham Clinton is the one politician to survive the association with Bill, although at a high personal price. If she decides to run for President, she may want to change her name yet again and become a Rodham once and for all.

No need. When she ran for the Senate, she dropped the "Clinton" name and ran just as "Hillary!"

[capydick]

In alot of respects I think you're right. People see thru the veneer that is the mainstream media and have come to realize they have been lied to and manipulated on behalf of the DNC.

As far as TIME magazine is concerned, their business is faltering. The only way for them to turn things around is to start reporting in a fair way. I have my doubts that they can or will do it with the people they've got on their payroll right now. For what it's worth, I cancelled my subscription during Clintoon's impeachment. I thought I was getting a media guide for the DNC every week. I havent looked at one since.

[KC_Conspirator]

I would suggest that the Clinton-era values were NEVER America's values. Those who propped him up in the media thought so,and, kept telling us so night after night thru the propaganda machine of the nightly news.

You are exactly right. In fact, some liberal moron just came out with a book called, "The Emerging Democrat Majority" or something else like that; claiming about how liberal the electorate is getting. Oops! Seems like wishful thinking right now.

[ladyinred]

Sadly, Hillary gets a pass. She also was filling up that screen at the memorial circus, smiling, laughing,and yukking it up. She is the real power behind the attack Bush and all things decent in the Senate, using Tommy as the front man, yet SHE comes out unscathed? While it is refreshing to see that the media is seeing Clinton for what he is, they continue to protect their next great hope, the real ex-president, Hillary.

[IFly4Him]

Just like all of you, I would love to see Clinton fade into history. But the reality is, he is helping Hitlery position herself for 08. They should not be underestimated. She is a dangerous ideologue and he wants back in the spotlight. As soon as I relaized a divorce wasn't imminent after he left office, I knew what they were up to. I guess I'm slower than most.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

[Zack Nguyen]

I would suggest that the Clinton-era values were NEVER America's values.

Let's not be too hasty here. America is still divided. Remember the 2000 election! If 2004 is a blowout for Bush, we'll know America has shifted back to the right, and we'll be spared a Western-Eurpose-style culture for now. If it is another nail-biter, we'll know that the collective unconscious decision has not yet been made.