It may not be fair, but let's face it - other than people who think just the way we do, no one's hearing this guy's message. What they're hearing is draft-dodging, pot-smoking, woman-chasing. Untrustworthy. Irresponsible. "Slick Willy." It's Gennifer Flowers tapes today, what will it be tomorrow? Jesus, people, it's Gary Hart all over again!
Granted, George Bush doesn't have Ronald Reagan's movie-star charm, but he's very respected for serving his country as a young pilot in World War II (yes, we may respect Clinton for protesting the Vietnam War, but let's be honest - a whole lot of voters see it very differently.) And most of the country thinks Bush did a good job building a coalition to force Iraq out of Kuwait. What foreign policy cred does Clinton have? That he studied at Oxford when he wasn't inhaling?
Sure, Bill Clinton can fire up a crowd, and sure he seems to really empathize with average Americans, and sure he's a very smart guy who does great in debates, and sure the electorate may be tilting Democratic, and sure people may be more concerned about pocketbook issues right now than foreign policy - but how anyone could think Clinton has any shot in the general election is beyond me.
Honestly, I'm not even sure Paul Tsongas can win, but at least he has a reasonable chance. But "Slick Willy" Clinton is unelectable, period.
Don't get me wrong - I think he's a smart, decent guy and would be about a zillion times better than Bush.
But I'm also realistic. As we all should be, as members of the reality community.