Funny that Reuters carefully neglects Reno's major crime scene at Waco as a negative factor.
That Texas outrage is the kind of Clintonite horror that sticks to a politico like slime on a suckerfish.
Posted on 09/18/2002 10:14:36 AM PDT by Liz
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bill Clinton's political offspring are taking a beating at the ballot box this year, with Janet Reno in Florida and Robert Reich in Massachusetts the latest high-profile losers in bids for elected office.
Reno, the former attorney general, conceded defeat to political newcomer Bill McBride in the race for Florida's Democratic gubernatorial nomination on Tuesday, just hours before Reich, the former labor secretary, finished behind state Treasurer Shannon O'Brien in the Democratic primary for governor in Massachusetts.
The two joined former Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo, who pulled out of the New York governor's race before anyone even voted, as Clinton administration Cabinet secretaries whose one-time power failed to translate into electoral victories.
More successful was former Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, favored in his race for governor of New Mexico although his lead is narrowing, and former senior White House adviser Rahm Emanuel, a sure bet to win a House of Representatives seat in an overwhelmingly Democratic district on Chicago's north side.
They were among more than a dozen members of the former president's administration to seek elective office this year, a political class analysts said was unprecedented in its size.
The jury is still out on the political fates of a few other Clinton alumni. Former White House chief of staff Erskine Bowles won the Democratic Senate nomination in North Carolina, but is an underdog in his November race against Elizabeth Dole, a former Cabinet secretary under two Republican presidents.
Former Clinton adviser Bill Curry won the Democratic nomination for governor in Connecticut, but trails Republican Gov. John Rowland in the polls.
CLINTON NOT A FACTOR
The one similarity in most of the races is that Clinton, who remains a popular Democratic campaign fund-raiser, was not really a factor, analysts said.
"At the end of the day, these candidates rise and fall on their records, what they've done, and on their strengths and weaknesses as candidates," said Paul Petterson, a political scientist at Central Connecticut State. "I don't see voters being turned one way or another by the Clinton connection."
Some candidates in more conservative states, like Bowles in North Carolina, have taken pains to distance themselves from Clinton's controversial political legacy. Others said they found their time in the administration a net plus, even if it was not always enough for a victory.
"The reaction by voters was always positive that I had that experience and was part of the Clinton administration," said Ira Shapiro, a former trade negotiator who lost a House bid last week in a high-powered Democratic primary field in the Maryland suburbs of Washington.
"The Clinton economic team, which I was part of, was remembered very positively," Shapiro said. "Our polls showed voters were much more inclined to view high government service as a plus."
Some candidates found their actions in Washington had a direct bearing on their campaigns. The liberal Reich was publicly critical of Clinton's activities during the scandal over his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
Clinton, in turn, raised money for one of Reich's opponents, Steve Grossman, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee who withdrew from the race.
Reno, a former federal prosecutor, had an extensive record as attorney general that haunted her at times, including her role in sending young shipwreck victim Elian Gonzalez back to Cuba, a decision that made her a villain in Miami's politically active Cuban-American community.
Blame Clinton, sure, but I don't think it was his lack of foreign policy so much as his inability to deal with it. The 6-7 bombing incidences even a 1995 WTC bombing during his admin were certainly a harbinger of things to come, that he did little or nothing about.
Funny that Reuters carefully neglects Reno's major crime scene at Waco as a negative factor.
That Texas outrage is the kind of Clintonite horror that sticks to a politico like slime on a suckerfish.
Yep, Clinton's ability to deal with foreign policy ranks right there with Carter on the competency scale. That's partly why I referred to it as "foreign lack of policy" ;- )
However, I have to wonder: if Hillary were running for her Senate position now, with America knowing what it knows, would she stand a chance in he!! of being elected? Somehow, I don't think so...but Hillary doesn't have to WORRY about running in '02, having slithered into office in '00 on the strength of the votes of the very group of people that the Clintons have damaged nearly as badly as America : Jewish voters. 'Course, the Jewish voters didn't know just how much their enemy Hillary IS, not then.
The Clintons have the luck of the devil.
LOL...yeah.
Clinton FOISTED them on us...but "it takes a VILLIAGE" - of voters - to get RID of THEIR "offspring".
I meant that voters didn't know in '00 that Clinton's total lack of security and the fact that he's an IDIOT in foreign policy give us 9/11.
(**sigh**) You may be right that Hillary is still in fine shape. How the heck did she manage to convince the families of the survirors that she gives a rats behind about them? After 9/11 they coudn't STAND her. SHEESH! See?? Luck of the devil!
Can anyone highlight the Clinton officials/staffers that they would be proud to have in office (even working in the post office?)
This is an example of the measures her media cohorts will twist popular perception of the evil shrew.
Yes, I remember the Clinton propaganda machine did dub the boos. (**EEEVEEEL LAUGH**) Fortunately, Fox News ran the "boo" clip over and over ALL day, heheheheheheheh.
This was true of Usenet, some published reviews, and Amazon's customer reviews.
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