Peggy Noonan: Just Friends (Bush Sr's newfound affection for Bill Clinton is just creepy)

The Wall Street Journal ^ | Thursday, August 18, 2005 | Peggy Noonan

[presidio9]

Newt and Hillary pose on the Capitol steps showing a teasing delight in each other's company as they back, together, a new health-care scheme. John McCain and Hillary pose laughing with reporters and showing bipartisan closeness as they leave together on a fact-finding trip to Alaska. I saw the latter picture yesterday on the news, remembered the former, and thought of a conversation with a group of conservatives from throughout the country a few weeks ago.

The subject turned to the growing friendship between the Bush seniors and Bill Clinton. They had famously bonded big-time during their tsunami fund-raising efforts, and Barbara Bush is reported now to call Mr. Clinton "son." Mr. Clinton has been up to Kennebunkport this summer to play golf with his fellow former president, go boating, and have a private dinner.

In our conversation someone called the growing chumminess "creepy" and asked what I thought of it. I said I found it creepy too. What, I was asked, did I think was behind it? Why are Mr. Bush senior and Mr. Clinton so publicly embracing each other, yukking it up for the cameras and complimenting each other?

Because it serves their individual needs and interests, I said. They both get real benefit out of it while appearing to be ignoring their own interests. That's a great twofer.

What does Democrat Bill Clinton get out of cultivating the Republican Bushes? He gets public approval from a man most of the country sees as personally upstanding. When Mr. Bush puts his arm around Mr. Clinton, he confers his rectitude. Democrats won't mind it, and independent voters will like it. In receiving the embrace of the patriarch of such a famously Republican family, Mr. Clinton looks like someone who is, by definition, nonradical, mainstream, not too unacceptably odd and

[CBart95]

Damning with faint praise may seem a mite too much for your Peg?
Thought "grifterish" was the "raisin -in-the -cake"!

[Mamzelle]

re: Maybe when she said Son she said the other three words under her breath.)))

LOL...that would have been like Bar...

[Guenevere]

#21...Sorry,I don't understand your point?

I know what a grifter is, but not your use of it?

...and I've never heard of 'raisin in the cake'....????

[iconoclast]

In our conversation someone called the growing chumminess "creepy"

For "creepiness" nothing will ever touch the Matlin/Carville combo.

Folks, the typical FReeper froths at the mouth like Pavlov's dog at the mention of the dreaded word Democrat.

But there are only two political camps in 21st century America .... politicians and suckers.

[KC_Conspirator]

I agree with you. I actually think that one thing an ex-president can do is act like a statesman, and I think the elder Bush and Klinton are just doing that. Contrast that with that scumbag Jimmy Carter, saying vicious things about Bush, meeting with Micheal Moore, hating America, and visiting every anti-American dictator around the world like Castro, North Korea, and that lunatic in Venezuela.

[Mia T]

WHY DID BILL CLINTON IGNORE TERRORISM?
Was it simply the constraints of his liberal mindset, or was it something even more threatening to our national security?

Peggy has it exactly right.
Did Bush 41 forget what he said in '92?

Shame. He should know better.

Washington mutual protection racket
writ large.
In real time.
In our homes.
It IS sickening.

Doesn't Bush 41
know he's lending legitimacy
to that dangerous grotesquerie
hovering like a vulture
above
the rotting carcass,
(the body politic)?

We must clean house.
Get rid of the careerists.
All of them.

Post 9/11,
we no longer have the luxury
to coddle self-interest,
whether clinton pathological
or Bush benign.

 

 

THE CLINTONS--AMERICA'S BIGGEST BLUNDER
Hear Bush 41 Warn Us--October 19, 1992*

 

 

 

 

hear
*Thanx to Cloud William for text and audio

 

 

LEHRER: President Bush, your closing statement, sir.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Three weeks from now--two weeks from tomorrow, America goes to the polls and you're going to have to decide who you want to lead this country ...

On foreign affairs, some think it's irrelevant. I believe it's not. We're living in an interconnected world...And if a crisis comes up, ask who has the judgment and the experience and, yes, the character to make the right decision?

And, lastly, the other night on character Governor Clinton said it's not the character of the president but the character of the presidency. I couldn't disagree more. Horace Greeley said the only thing that endures is character. And I think it was Justice Black who talked about great nations, like great men, must keep their word.

And so the question is, who will safeguard this nation, who will safeguard our people and our children? I need your support, I ask for your support. And may God bless the United States of America.

(Applause)

 

deconstructing clinton… "just because I could"


(viewing movie requires Flash Player 7, available HERE)

FOOL ME ONCE, SHAME ON YOU! FOOL ME TWICE, SHAME ON ME!

 

[KenmcG414]

George Bush's legacy, "Read my lips, no new taxes" and Souter to the Supreme Court.

[auggy]

You would be friends too, if Clinton had the FBI file on you. Especially, if you had something to hide.

[rcocean]

DU troll alert.

[cajungirl]

LOL. Peggy has always creeped me out with that voice and that hair flipping. It is just plain weird to talk and flip hair like she does.

[WoofDog123]

by every account I have read, bill clinton is VERY charismatic in person, so this is not too surprising.

If hillary wins in 2008, we are on track for 24-28 years of presidents from the same 2 immediate families.

[sine_nomine]

I am sure that the Bush/Clinton friendship was the key that got Sandy What's-in-my-Sox from paying the penalty for severe criminal violations.

"Georgie, boy."
"Yes, mom."
"Do me a favor and lay off Bill's friend, Sandy?"
"Sure mom."

[olde north church]

Who Me? Perhaps you should read the history of my posts before you start moving your fingers.

[gridlock]

In War: Resolution
In Defeat: Defiance
In Victory: Magnanimity
In Peace: Good Will

I always loved this epigram from Winston Churchill. The Clintons are much more our friend that the evil of Imperialistic Islam which opposes us all and wants us dead.

[gridlock]

And Barbara Bush's comment on calling him "son" smacked of sarcasm, to me.

Did she, pray tell, ever say "Bless his heart..."?

It is amazing to me that so many people have never seen a Southern-to-English Dictionary.

[NeoCaveman]

That makes one wonder. That leaves some Republicans, and I have to assume more than a few Democrats, scratching their heads when they see Newt smiling with Hillary, and John McCain giggling with Hillary. It leaves you wondering: Why are these people laughing?

Ask not whom the political class laughs at, they laugh at us.

[CyberAnt]

I wish people would get a grip. The senior President Bush is from the old school .. of diplo-speak, being friendly with your adversaries.

That said .. please also remember that even though Bill Clinton was impeached - he's still a former president. I firmly believe this is about THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY - and not anything personal. In fact, we need to leave anything personal out of it. It's a restoration of the status of THE OFFICE.

Bill Clinton has sullied THE OFFICE - therefore, the Sr. Bush is trying to remove the smear from THE OFFICE - not the person of Clinton. Actually, I think this is a good thing. Clinton needs to learn some manners - and Clinton needs to learn what his obligations are regarding THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY.

I know, I know .. it's hard to separate the two (personal and office) - but we would be less frustrated with Bill and George HW's relationship if we would try to understand the real goal - restoration of respect for the office and not Clinton's personal reputation.

[NeoCaveman]

If hillary wins in 2008, we are on track for 24-28 years of presidents from the same 2 immediate families.

At least the oligarchy is a benevolent one. All hail the oligarchy....

[Just mythoughts]

And who knows what "intel" one might gain from its all about me clinton.

Just hope they keep the lovely Bush daughters far far away from the old pervert.

[CyberAnt]

You want "intel" from Clinton ..??

Why? He only talked to the CIA chief twice in 7 years.