Posted on 11/11/2002 6:05:43 AM PST by 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.
I was amazed at this piece by Carlson, too, but she just had to throw in the above nonsense.
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. The RATS are starting to jump off the Clintoon ship, but only because it is convenient, not because of any shift in their values.
You're too kind and gentle with him, TaRaRa.
You hit the nail on the head. Great post! Now the dems want to act like they are moving away from Clinton and closer to family values. But the reality is, if they took control of the Senate, he would still be their poster child.
Is this the beginning of a breakup between the dem leadership and BJ Clinton? I can only say one thing... "It's gonna be ugly." :-)
It is apparent in this photo that Clinton and Mondale are whooping it up about something. I can imagine the kind of conversation between them that was taking place:
CLINTON: So Walter, looks like you are back in the hunt, my boy! Congratulations on your good fortune!
MONDALE: Yep, it's funny how things work out, ain't it? Those Republicans ain't heard that last of Walter Mondale just yet!
CLINTON: Well don't you worry Walt, we got this thing all sewed up for ya. All you gotta do is smile for the cameras, kiss a few babies and give that Coleman character a big surprise at the debate we gonna set up for ya Monday morning.
MONDALE: Don't you worry old pal, Coleman ain't gonna know what hit him, I'm gonna sock it to him good and that senate seat is gonna be ours after all. Then I'm gonna go to Washington and tax their asses off!
MONDALE AND CLINTON: BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
This page will be closing shop soon...LOLSomeone needs to send them some kneepads and an icebag. >:)
-Eric
I think this election also signals the end of the mainstream media's credibility, the sheeple are no longer buying the lies. For a rag like TIME to survive now, it had better realize that the people will scrutinize what they say. We on the right have been considering the source for years. Notice the loss of class warfare as a tool for the dims, and people have finally realized that when you treat corporations as the enemy, you do harm to the employees!
He's not going anywhere. Unfortunately, like an insidious cancer, he will poison the body-politic for many more years to come.
I hope I live long enough to see him and Hillary pay the full price for the damage they have done to this Country with their moral relativism.
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