Posted on 11/16/2002 3:52:59 PM PST by stratman1969
Former President Bill Clinton brought his 2002 ''Rebuilding My Legacy'' Tour to San Rafael this past Thursday, as part of the Marin Speaker Series.
From the reactions of many in Marin County to his arrival, one would have thought the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia had come back to life for one final concert. The impeached ex-president’s appearance had been billed by the local press as the ''hot ticket.'' The series had been sold out for months, yet event officials said they had received many calls from people desperately seeking tickets.
Even so, some subscribers had no luck getting in. From the accounts of some, the event had been apparently overbooked. As a result, a closed-circuit television was placed outside the Marin Veterans Auditorium for those who did not get in to hear his speech.
Some of the attendees had paid $275 to attend a pre-speech reception. In addition, a select few were allowed the opportunity to be photographed with him for $75. Although I did not see him arrive, I witnessed the long queue waiting to get into the auditorium.
I did join two young people who held ''Bush/Cheney'' placards, as well as some homemade signs in protest of Clinton’s visit. One read ''No Smoking'' with a cigar crossed out, another read ''Bomb Iraq'' and third sign made reference to Clinton’s 1998 attack on a Sudan aspirin factory. The duo showed up after reading of the speech in the local newspaper. In observing and communicating with some of the crowd in attendance, my first-impressions about most of them were wrong. Some who passed us by gave us a thumbs-up or said they supported Bush.
''My husband stayed home.'' said one woman, who came by and expressed her support. ''He said he’d get physically sick if he heard him.'' Some walked by quickly and a few were confrontational. ''I hope you get drafted,'' said one older woman to the young man with me.
When the President strode up to the microphone, I stood close enough to the television in order to hear some of his speech. He spoke of how great it was to be back in Marin and to witness the beauty of the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Civic Center. He then went into a discussion about what it is like being an ex-president. On that subject, he described how some ex-presidents, John Quincy Adams and William Taft namely, had remained in some capacity in public service after their terms as president ended. After this, the man considered by some to be the First Black President joked about the possibility of being a judge at the US Open golf tournament.
''That way, I could tell Tiger Woods where to put his ball and then give him a one-stoke penalty.'' he said.
I stayed a few more minutes as Clinton got into the meat of his speech. As he outlined his four points on how peace and prosperity could come to a 21st Century world, I left. Why is he talking about making the world a better place? He had eight years to accomplish that and what do we have to show for his two terms in office? A much more dangerous world is what we got.
Nearly 3,000 people died on September 11, 2001, as a direct result of Clinton’s refusal to take the threats from Osama bin Laden and militant Islam seriously. That includes his refusal to accept bin Laden as a prisoner when an offer was made by the Sudan government not once, but three times. A treaty Clinton and former President Carter brokered with North Korea was shattered. That regime has now admitted to developing nuclear weapons. Iraq has become yet a bigger and hotter potato, after UN inspectors were kicked out four years ago. Clinton’s big dream of making Mideast Peace erupted in a powder keg in October 2000. No wonder he and the rest of his cronies is out trying to rehabilitate his legacy. When Conservatives argue these points, they are often accused of being still ever-obsessed with Clinton.
Quite the contrary. It’s not conservatives who are obsessed, it is people like the Marin Speaker Series, who offer him to their subscribers as a speaker. It is people like the hot-tub liberals of Marin County and too many in the major media, who hang onto every word or action of his, as if he is the second coming.
Frankly, I wish he would go away and leave everybody alone.
And, would these "event officials" just happen to work for the DNC?
Bubba, like all Democrats, FEAR the independent black man. So it's no wonder Clinton's fantasy incloves controlling and punishing Tiger.
I wonder if that's what JFK charged bubba for his teen photo op, or if it has been adjusted for inflation.
For some reason, I just can't seem to forget about that.
Me too, but as Howlin said once, "We are in hell." The Clinton's are never going away. Thanks Bill for the peace and prosperity 8 years of Hillary in the oval office brought to us.
Let's create "The Clinton Legacy Spin Machine"
It will be a small circular rubber mat with Clintons image on it with various labels along the perimeter of the mat such as:
Impeachment - Pardons -Perjury - Monica, etc.
The only moving part for this 'spin machine' will be a small clear-plastic circular wheel/propeller with a printed arrow that will point to one of these labels each time the device is "used" properly. (if you get the drift)
If Freepers everywhere across the country would help to distribute our little "Clinton Spin Machines" in the bottom of a urinals everywhere,it would be the ultimate Freep. Even we only distribute a few thousand in Washington DC and New York, it would probably make national radio talk show news
Whatta ya say, any volunteers?
Neither can I.
http://www.marinij.com/news/stories/index1003496.html
Why does his legacy need to be "rebuilt" so soon?
Oh, yeah......September 11th.
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