Clinton Missed Chance at Greatness?

EIB ^ | Rush Limbaugh

[VinnyTex]

When the first sentence of a column begins, "Lucky though he was, Bill Clinton never had his shot at greatness," what exactly do you interpret that to mean? Chris Matthews wrote it, and proceeded with the following two sentences. "He could lower the jobless rate, balance the budget, console us after the Oklahoma City bombing. But he never got the opportunity George W. Bush was given this Tuesday: the historic chance to lead."

		Are you interpreting this the way I am? He seems to be lamenting the fact that Bill Clinton never had a national tragedy in which to display his magnificent leadership characteristics. As though George W. Bush is thanking God and his lucky stars that thousands of Americans are dead so that he can get a couple of favorable columns from Johnny Apple of the New York Times and Howard Fineman of Newsweek? This is just so typical of how some in the media look at news and what they think the purpose of a news event is. It's all about them! It's all about an opportunity for them to shine and look good. I guess I shouldn't even be surprised by this, but I am nevertheless disappointed. The fact that presidential greatness is measured by a president's handling of great challenges is true. But that's not the same as saying in the context of recent events that Bill Clinton was unlucky because, in essence, this carnage didn't happen on his watch and thereby give him his chance at greatness. I mean, what are we supposed to do here, be sorry that the terrorists didn't hit when Clinton was president so he'd have his chance at greatness? This is just Bush's dumb luck? Why, Clinton might finally have had a chance to win the Nobel Peace Prize had the terrorists done this nine months ago? The simple fact of the matter, Chris, is that they did do this before. They hit us in Africa. They hit us in Saudi Arabia. They hit the USS Cole. And Bill Clinton didn't do anything about it. Bill Clinton, in fact, bombed innocent people on the day that Monica Lewinsky was testifying before her grand jury. This is outrageous. This is simply unbelievable.

		Sunday night, on 60 Minutes, Lesley Stahl reported that in 1998 Bill Clinton issued a directive allowing the use of force to apprehend Osama bin Laden, and that one such effort had been tried but failed. She said that Clinton decided that there was a self-defense exception to the legal prohibition against assassination. Dan Rather, to his credit, asked Stahl why this is coming out now. She said she didn't know why, but assumed that her sources didn't want the public to think that Clinton was asleep at the wheel back then while bin Laden was going bonkers. So you've got damage control going on by Bill Clinton right now. Very interesting. The Associated Press reported last week that Clinton passed up an opportunity at the end of his administration to take another military whack at bin Laden. The Washington Timesand others have reported that in 1995 Clinton restricted the CIA's human intelligence capabilities by prohibiting the CIA's use of any spies who had dirty hands. We're not going to do business with former terrorists, in essence, is what Clinton said, which would make it impossible to infiltrate these groups. And there's more, which I point out in the audio link below. It's unfortunate that national security was never a priority in the Clinton administration. They cut the defense budget below acceptable levels, and as recently as two weeks ago, the Senate was preparing to hold back the defense appropriations bill for partisan political purposes. Think about that.

[ppaul]

This needs to be circulated.

BUMP

[Mr.E]

Saved that picture right away...It says it all,,,heheh

[billorites]

Look at the way Bill Clinton is eyeing Barbara.

He's checking her out.

[Old Professer]

Bill Clinton is (or at least, should be) a bad memory.

He will have a chance to be great after the intifada.

And, so I guess, will be the case for all the calorically-challenged, brain-damaged cadre of what used to be called fellow-travelers.

[billorites]

Clinton Missed Chance at Greatness?

More like, Missed Chance at Grandma.

[good1]

I think that as this thing develops, and as the realization of what has happened sinks into the hearts and minds of the people of this nation, they will more and more comprehend the immense damage Clinton has done to our country.

Yes, the economy was good during the past 8 years, but Clinton wrote checks on this country that the economy can't cash.

[Gumlegs]

Clinton had a eight years full of chances for greatness. He pissed them all away. Let him wallow in his own filth.

[toupsie]

Clinton was always looking for the "defining moment" of his administration. Church Burnings, Race Relations, Welform Reform, Oklahoma City and along with Al Gore, the Internet. He tried them all.

Chris Matthews is right about one thing. Clinton wants this bad. Here is the chance, he created it. Now his wife is sucking into his glory. That has to hurt.

[Barry Goldwater]

It is well said that "circumstance does not make the man - it reveals him". Enough has been revealed about Clinton to make me sick fior decades.

[SunStar]

Look at the way Bill Clinton is eyeing Barbara.

I think the inference is that Clinton is eyeing President Bush, almost as if to say "Dammit! That George W. Bush is getting more spotlight than I did!"

[Alberta's Child]

No, he's saying to himself, "So THAT is what a normal family looks like!"

[The Other Harry]

Are you interpreting this the way I am? He seems to be lamenting the fact that Bill Clinton never had a national tragedy in which to display his magnificent leadership characteristics. As though George W. Bush is thanking God...

Right on, Rush!

Matthews should be thanking his lucky stars that Bill Clinton never did get that chance. Clinton would have been getting BJ's from interns while he was talking on the phone about what the polling data showed.

[Hillary 666]

Bill sure is checking out Barbara. Eyes forward, Bubba! He needs to neutered. He's worse than any problem dog.

[Jean S]

This is one of the best commentaries from Rush that I have ever read. Outstanding post - BUMP!

[parsifal]

Bill Clinton did his very best though. If he only could have defeated Saddam Hussein in the 3 days before Ramadan in 1999!

[woofie]

Clinton has always needed and will always need damage control

[VinnyTex]

I think he's lookin at Laura....

[germanshepherd]

'I think the inference is that Clinton is eyeing President Bush, almost as if to say "Dammit! That George W. Bush is getting more spotlight than I did!"'

The thing that stood out to me was W with his head bowed prayerfully, not knowing or caring where the cameras were, contrasted to Clinton craning to face the cameras.

Also, I doubt of W is checking the polls as to what he should do. He's just going to do what he knows is right.

[P-Marlowe]

But he never got the opportunity George W. Bush was given this Tuesday: the historic chance to lead.

Thank God.

Matthews is a sick buffoon. In times of crisis, like this, the wheat is separated from the chaff. It is no different in "Journalism." Some idiots really step in it when given the opportunity. What is really a shame is that these Journalists WERE given a chance to lead, but instead they all, like stupid sheep, were led astray by X42. Let's see if there is any Journalistic wheat out there. So far it has been pretty embarrassing.