Wednesday, January 16, 2008

A Look at the Clintons*

I liked Bill Clinton as my President. While there are things that he did that hurt this country's image, for the most part he did a good job. I have had numerous arguments with people about what a balanced budget is. When I conclude that they are too stupid to comprehend, I stop arguing with them. The budget was balanced under Bill Clinton and that is important.

The economoy was good under Clinton, even with the balanced budget, and, while I don't believe that the President has complete control over whether the economy stays strong or not, I believe that he (so far) can do many things to hurt it. Clinton didn't.


Clinton instituted "don't ask/don't tell" and while it is now time for that policy to be removed so that homosexuals can finally serve this country proudly and openly, it was a HUGE step in the right direction. The direction of acceptance and tolerance.


Clinton repealed a law that Daddy Bush had put in place that limited the amount that Congress could raise the pay of active duty military members to 1.9%. He then gave one of the biggest raises in my memory. I don't remember exactly how much it was, but I remember being quite impressed with it in Jan 2000. There was another in Jul 2000 that was focused on the "middle management" portion of the military. The E4s, E5s and E6s who had received a military education and were jumping ship to make more money in the civilian world. I was one of them.


I want Bill Clinton to be elected President again in 2008. I want what we had with him as President. I don't really care if he receives a BJ every single day by a different woman, as long as he has enough sense to pick those who aren't skanks and who do their laundry regularly.


I do, however, understand the Constitution and its amendments and it is un-Constitutional for Bill to run. So what, says I. Look at all the unConstitutional things that have happened in the last 7 years! At least re-electing Bill might do some good for this country. Sadly it will not happen.


I want to believe that electing Hillary will bring back the Clinton Era. I want to believe that she will do the things that this country needs to bring back hope and prosperity. I want to believe that she not as right-leaning as she has seemed lately. But I am not sure I believe any of it. She is a brilliant, strong woman and I respect that. I respect her and the things she has accomplished in her life, but I am not sure she has IT. I can not even figure out exactly what IT is that her husband had that she does not. Charisma? Charm? Does that matter next to strong and brilliant? Sadly, it does. But then, how charismatic was Margaret Thatcher? (I honestly don't know the answer to that question).

I know no President is going to be able to fix the mess we are in without help from Congress. Will Hillary get that help? Or will her entire time in Office be fighting a smear campaign?

I know she can do the job as President! I think she would do a fine job. Will she be allowed to do the job by Congress, by the press, by the public?

I wish I knew

*This post started off as a commentary on the primaries and caucauses, but turned into a love fest for Bill Clinton. Oh, well. I just went with it. I am still planning to vote for Edwards in the Florida Primary that is now 12 days away, but if Edwards does not get the nomination, I want Hillary to have it.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was a Bill fan throughout the 90s... I liked the way things were then... it's funny, according to some, nothing Bill did right was his doing... nope, the way was paved for the budget surplus by Bush 41, and Bill simply happened to occupy the White House when we saw the benefits... Bush 43 was in the White House on 9/11 and ignored warnings about "Bin Laden determined to strike within the US," but 9/11 was Clinton's failing... it's always the fault of the Democrat that came before or after you, eh? nice Rovian strategy, that one!

I agree 100% on Don't Ask/Don't Tell... I supported it at the time, because it was the best he was going to be able to do... not ideal, but a compromise... but I agree it's now time to do away with it... stop recruiting kids to fight our wars and let gay adults into the military...

great post!

LeftLeaningLady said...

It is amazing how many people think that Dubya is not responsible for anything and Bill is "the deble". The thing that gets to me is these are the people who call themselves Christians and yet spread hate for everyone not JUST LIKE THEM.

I hope your writing is going well, Pete, cause Blogland misses you!

LeftLeaningLady said...

Plus I was Active Duty when Bill balanced the budget, that was a nightmare at the time, but the best thing that had happened to the US in a looooong time.