Posted on 06/15/2004 11:16:12 AM PDT by ambrose
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- David E. Sanger, New York Times
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Washington -- For a moment in the White House on Monday morning, it seemed like a political mirage: President Bush and Bill Clinton, joking as they walked together into the East Room, then spending the next 20 minutes effusively praising each other.
But the even stranger sight was the audience, the men and women who make up Sen. John Kerry's brain trust, almost all of them veterans of the Clinton era who have not set foot in 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. for three years, four months and 24 days, vigorously applauding the sitting president they are desperately trying to ride out of town.
Peace finally broke out Monday morning -- well, a temporary truce that ended after lunch -- between two administrations that make no secret of how viscerally they dislike each other. The lull permitted the unveiling of the official White House portraits of Clinton and his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., which will now, by tradition, occupy the places where portraits of Bush's father and mother had been.
The Clintons were painted by Simmie Knox, a self-taught artist born in Aliceville, Ala., to a family of sharecroppers. He also has painted portraits of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and entertainer Bill Cosby. He is the first African American who has painted an official portrait of a president or first lady.
Graciousness oozed from all sides. Bush praised his predecessor -- upon whom he bestowed the honorific nickname "42" to mark an eight-year interregnum between Bushes -- as a man "with far-ranging knowledge of public policy, a great compassion for people in need and the forward-looking spirit that Americans like in a president."
Bush even offered up an advance plug for Clinton's memoir, due to appear in bookstores next week.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
'Offered up an advance plug?'
This dumbass doesn't know a subtle shot at Clintoon when he sees one. If anything, it was a nice way of Bush parodying Clinton's shameless self-promotion and excusing himself from talking about Bubba any more than he had to.
Bush is simply still adhering to the tradition of presidents avoiding criticism of one another, whether or not Slick adheres to it.
Well Slick's portrait looks close, but no cigar.
We're a bunch of suckers.
Yes, well consider where the cigar went. :)
Not much different from the "good guys" and "bad guys" in pro-wrestling.
Answer to each is NO.
The way the leftist maroons talk about Bush and clinton as if there were some sort of parity between them is the way they used to talk as if there were parity between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R., or parity between the IDF and Muslim suicide bombers who blow up busses and Bar Mitzvahs.
Bush is a gentleman and has always behaved as such toward clinton. Needless to say the reverse is not true.
But today's reporters simply don't understand such concepts as honor, decency, and truthfulness.
Remarks by the President at Ceremony for the Unveiling of the Clinton Portraits
Here's an excerpt ... (Editorial comments in blue.]
As you might know, my father and I have decided to call each other by numbers. (Laughter.) He's 41, I'm 43. It's a great honor to -- it's a great pleasure to honor number 42. We're glad you're here, 42. (Applause.) The years have done a lot to clarify the strengths of this man. [Note that he doesn't mention what those strengths might be, leaving that to the imagination of others ... and the truth about that man is becoming more clear each day.] As a candidate for any office, whether it be the state attorney general or the President, Bill Clinton showed incredible energy and great personal appeal. [Those statements are true but are not necessarily as flattering as they sound. Energy to do what? Chase interns? Appeal to whom? Yasser Arafat?] As chief executive, he showed a deep and far-ranging knowledge of public policy [Again, note that he doesn't use any 'judgement' words ... he says that the knowledge is deep and far-ranging but avoids saying that it was correct or beneficial to America.] , a great compassion for people in need [He felt their pain. *rolling eyes here*], and the forward-looking spirit the Americans like in a President [a reference to that 'bridge to the 21st century' that algore fell off of?]. Bill Clinton could always see a better day ahead -- and Americans knew he was working hard to bring that day closer. [That day when he could retire on our dime after taking us for a ride for 8 years.].
195 posted on 06/14/2004 9:55:00 PM PDT by kayak (In Memoriam ~ Ronald Wilson Reagan ~ 1911-2004)
It shouldn't be news that W. comported himself with class, or that the Clintons were delighted -- as if they had never seen class.
Look...
we all realize it is just a game. probably strategery to help Clintoon suck all the oxygen out of Kerry's campaign as he plugs his book over the Summer.
Still, it unsettles my stomach to see this. I hope the cleaning crew works overtime if Clintoon used the bathroom while at the White House...
This whole scene went down like Syrup of Ipecac with me.
"...great compassion for people in need". Think Monica.
The reason Clinton was laughing so hard was that he understood that the speech was filled with "double meanings". Bush's speech writer was great at putting together an ambiguous speech that beat around the bush without naming any specific thing. If you listen to it with this in mind you will also laugh your a.. off too!
amen.
I like to think of it as Congress is nothing more than a corporation with the board seats being held by members of Congress.
they do their constituents good and they stay in control of the corporation.
congress is big business. nothing more.
.
The CLINTONS literally go on strike and make "Sleepy Faces" at REAGAN's Funeral Service Friday with the President of the United States speaking.
The BUSHES Praise the CLINTONS at the White House 2 Days later.
It's GOODNESS vs. EVIL, Folks.
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.
BUSHES =
The GOODNESS of REAGAN
CLINTONS =
The EVILNESS of CARVILLE
.
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