Bill should know

[mrbose]

by Associated Press
Tuesday, September 23, 2008

NEW YORK — Former President Bill Clinton said Monday he understands why Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is popular in the American heartland: because people relate to her.

“I come from Arkansas, I get why she’s hot out there, why she’s doing well,” said Clinton, who supports the Democratic ticket headed by Barack Obama.

Speaking to reporters before his Clinton Global Initiative meeting, the former president described Palin’s appeal by adding, “People look at her, and they say, ‘All those kids. Something that happens in everybody’s family. I’m glad she loves her daughter and she’s not ashamed of her. Glad that girl’s going around with her boyfriend. Glad they’re going to get married.”‘

Clinton said voters would think, “I like that little Down syndrome kid. One of them lives down the street. They’re wonderful children. They’re wonderful people. And I like the idea that this guy does those long-distance races. Stayed in the race for 500 miles with a broken arm. My kind of guy.”

Palin, the governor of Alaska, became an overnight star when Republican presidential candidate John McCain tapped her for his running mate. Her family, including her Down syndrome baby, Trig, her pregnant 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, and her husband, Todd, four-time winner of the 2,000-mile Iron Dog snowmobile race, have garnered intense media interest.

“I get this,” Clinton said. “My view is … why say, ever, anything bad about a person? Why don’t we like them and celebrate them and be happy for her elevation to the ticket? And just say that she was a good choice for him and we disagree with them?”

The global initiative, a project of Clinton’s foundation, will hold its four-day annual meeting in Manhattan starting Tuesday.

After that, Clinton said he will be busy campaigning for Obama.

[saunterelle]

Just look at what happened when (8 years ago) we elected the guy we wanted to have a beer with. Hopefully Americans have learned their lesson and will make a wiser choice this time around.

[The Big Dog]

Identity politics, something Mr. Clinton was very good at back in the day, ride into another thread and send it careening off the tracks.

For what it's worth, while I have always detested Mr. Clinton's politics I am very much in support of the charitable work he is doing through his foundation. I both respect and admire him for it.

I also watched his interview with Greta Van Susteren last night and while several of his answers were bob and weave non-answers I think in his later years he seems to have seen the light on just how painful and destructive the brand of politics he practiced can really be. While he won't come right out and say it, the statement quoted above seems to strongly suggest it.

So good on him.

[jgaffney]

I still think that the Clintons will work to derail Obama's election. Hillary still wants to be president and Bill wants to be back in the White House. If Obama is elected, Hillary can't run against him in 2012, and by 2016, she'll be an old lady. If Obama is defeated, Hillary can run in 2012 on a platform of "I told you so!"

The Clintons have been playing a tag team. Hillary stumps for Obama occasionally, but Bill is on his own, saying things that cast doubts on an Obama presidency. This is not happening by accident. The Clintons don't do anything by accident. And they don't embarass easily.

[subdjoe]

Gaff, if Barry-boy is elected, expect Hillary to run against him in '12, especially if the DNC controls both houses of Congress. Businesses will fold, the economy will tank under their 'progressive' one world agenda, and there will be enough dissatisfaction with Barry that there will be an opening for another 'progressive' to run against him.

I will say that Billy-Jeff seems to get it. He is a shrewd judge of human nature, just like Willie Brown. He has the ability to almost instantly read a crowd and give it exactly what it wants. If either party, or any party, could get away from fringe politics and craft a platform that addressed the 80% of the center rather than the 10% on each fringe of the political spectrum (and manage to deliver on it) we would be in good shap. Because in reality that vast 80% in the center, no matter if they identify as Dem. or Rep., pretty much want the same things and mostly indentify as Dem or Rep because that is what their parents were. There are a few stylistic differences as to how to bring it about, but the same love of God and Country. I know that here in CA, the Bay Area especially, it may seem very different, but from the people from all across the country with whom I exvhange ideas, I get the feeling that there really isn't that much difference.