Bill Clinton -- Help or Hindrance for Democrats?
What I'm about to say won't, I suspect, be popular with some -- especially among my fellow conservative brethren. But I will say it regardless and let the chips fall where they may.
First, before I expound, let me make a few things perfectly clear: I absolutely, thoroughly -- vehemently -- detest x42. (Calling Bill Clinton "president" or "ex-president" would be, in my view, conferring minimal dignity and honor, neither which this galling louse, a trample-under-foot affront to the office itself, deserves nor merits, so I'll refrain.) I am, moreover, a bloated-with-pride, life-long, card-carrying member of Hillary!'s gloriously 'Vast, Right-Wing Conspiracy', implicated in all its nefarious "iniquities" (i.e., vigorously opposed the Hillary! "health" plan, Clinton tax increases, Pentagon cuts, gays in the military, gun-control, wag-the-dog wars, etc., even -- and here is the mother-of-all my proud transgressions -- loudly endorsed Clinton's impeachment and removal from office).
The point of all this? As far as anti-Clintonism goes, I don't take a back seat to anyone.
That said, I must take exception to the notion, expressed by certain leading conservatives, oddly questioning Clinton's proficiency and prowess in the art of politics. X42's speech in New York Wednesday before the Democratic Leadership Council has prompted the renewed debate and discussion.
Folks, let's face it: Regardless of what you think of Bill 'I-Did-Not-Have-Sex-With-That-Woman' Clinton personally, the lousy bum eats, sleeps, drinks, walks and talks politics -- and it shows. Clinton, the 'I'll-Do-Whatever-It-Takes-To-Win' two-termer, isn't a policy wonk as much as a high guru of press-the-flesh, pound-the-pavement, rough-and-tumble electioneering. There's a reason why Democrats see in Clinton the 'mother's milk of politics' itself. At vote-getting, if at nothing else, x42 is a winner.
Want proof?
Well, let's take the last elections, shall we?
In the run-up to November 5, Clinton visited a number of key states, stumping for fellow Democrats locked in close races, mobilizing voters to the polls in droves.
Case in point: Connecticut. Clinton stumped hard for Democrat Bill Curry, rallying the party faithful and propelling the gubernatorial hopeful to landslide victory November 5.
What? He didn't win, you say?
Well, let me double-check -- I don't believe you.
Sheesh ... oh well ... it seems as if Democrat Curry was indeed beaten -- no, crushed -- by GOP Governor John G. Rowland. Okay, okay, so I got one wrong, big deal! I stand by my basic thesis.
All right, what about Clinton's big win in Arkansas? X42 practically blitzed the state on behalf of Democrat challenger Jimmie Lou Fisher. On Election Day, the gambit paid off, big time -- she's now Arkansas Governor-elect.
All right -- what's the matter now? You say she lost, too? Baloney! That can't be -- no way would I get two wrong in a row.
I'll prove it to you......I'll look it up..
*Checking*
Uh-Oh...drats! You're right...she did lose, badly -- GOP Governor Mike Huckabee trounced her, apparently.
All right, smart-alex -- what about Democrat Senate challenger Mark Pryor? Don't tell me he lost -- I know for a fact he bested GOP incumbent Senator Tim Hutchinson, with Clinton's help.
Oops, another boo-boo. Clinton, it turns out, didn't campaign for Pryor at all -- Pryor, in fact, didn't want X42 anywhere near him. Okay, so I messed up again. I still think my basic thesis stands, however.
A real case where 'Clinton magic' did seem to work: Massachussets. Democrat Shannon O'Brien's crushing victory over her GOP rival in the state's highly contested governor's race is testament to the Clinton coattail effect.
Okay -- what's your problem now? She lost, too?! In Massachussets?! With Clinton helping her?
That's not possible! This I've got to see to believe!
*Checking...*
Well, smarty-pants, stick another feather in your cap -- you've done it again. You're right, it appears she did lose. Republican Mitt Romney hosed her, big time. Incredible, absolutely mindboggling -- in a state where you can fit every Republican in a phone booth, with room to spare! Even with Clinton campaigning for her -- she still lost!
Okay, what about Maryland, another state where X42 campaigned like there was no tomorrow? Oops...Democrat Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend went down in flames... Never mind.
Wait a minute...Clinton's hard-driving push in Florida helped put Democrat challenger Bill McBride over the top, did it not? Oops, Gov. Jeb Bush made mince-meat of McBride. Never mind.
Ha! Have you forgotten New York? Clinton helped secure victory for Democrat challenger Carl McCall in his race for governor after forcing Andrew Cuomo to withdraw...oops! McCall lost, too...never mind.
Okay, so Clinton wasn't so hot on the campaign trail.
But what about the string of victories by former Clinton Cabinet officers...hmmmm?
Want names? Okay, here ya go: Ira Shapiro, Fred DuVal, Pete Dagher, Robert Reich, Janet Reno -- all were former Clinton Cabinet officers, and all won. Oops, wait, they all lost -- in the primaries, to boot. Sorry again.
All right, how about Steve Andreasen, Gloria Tristani and Erskine Bowles -- all high ranking Clinton people who won....uh-oh...oops...wait...yikes!...they got crushed, too! Well, at least they made it out of the primaries.
Okay, okay, so my thesis isn't so hot, after all.
I do know one thing, though: With Clinton back in the spotlight, Republicans will keep on chortling and Democrats will keep on losing elections.
Suits me just fine! =^)
Anyway, that's..
My two cents..
"JohnHuang2"
