I have grown incredibly frustrated with the Orwellian nature of our country. The latest Hillary Clinton smackdown showing her Orwellian roots of saying something, being told she said it, then saying she didn't say it is much needed in my opinion. Bill Clinton was good at this as well which led him to perjury charges.
Of course no one or administration has been as destructively Orwellian as George W. Bush and we can all agree that he is the worst president and had done more damage than any other modern president, and maybe all presidents.
However, W being the worst president does not make Bill Clinton a good president. If Bill wasn't president, Hillary would not be where she is and if people realized that Bill was not only not a good president but not a good candidate, Hillary wouldn't have a shot at the nomination.
My view is that Hillary is nothing more than Orwellian spin. Below the fold more of the arguments and for the Hillary supporters and Bill apologists again, please argue the points and policies and keep you are a GOP lover or personal comments to a minimum. Thank you for your support.
First off Bill was a lousy candidate. His draft excuses, his reputation as a womanizer, his I didn't inhale, Hillary's I don't stand by my man baking cookies.... They were horrible.
Bottom line Ross Perot wasted a ton of money and gave Bill Clinton the Presidency because part of the conservative base was sick of Bush I. During his first year in office his approval was in the 30-40% range. (Perot had less effect the second election but Dole was horrible).
The 1994 elections gave the congress to the GOP. The House had a 54 seat swing and the GOP controlled it for the first time since 1954.
Let's look at positive policies under Clinton.
93 Family Medical Leave Act- Hard to argue this is not a good thing
93 Brady Bill - again gun control is a good progressive peace loving thing
93 AmeriCorps -- fine
93 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act - restructured taxes, raising on highest % and adjusting/cutting for middle to low.
96 Minimum Wage increase
Before the negative -- NAFTA -- This is too complicated for me to give a thumbs up or down.
Now the negative - let's stipulate to him not being in personal control but lets not care for the sake of this argument.
94 Crime Bill - Ok, it banned assault weapons but it expanded federal death penalties to 60 new offenses and eliminated inmate education programs.
96 Communications Decency Act attempting to limit free speech on internet
96 Telecom Reform Act -- three words Fox and Clear Channel (see last nights Bill Moyers program)
96 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act -- Welfare reform -- how is poverty looking now
96 Line Item Veto -- killed by of all people Rudy, City of NY and the SCOTUS
96 Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act -- More death penalties and limits to Federal Courts granting Habeas Corpus
96 Defense of Marriage Act -- far worse than homophobe gospel singers <snark>
97 Taxpayer relief act --- Cutting capital gains taxes, raised estate exemption to 1 million and cut rates on regular taxes as well.
98 Iraq Liberation Act Made Regime Change the US Policy
Additionally, created the policy of Extraordinary rendition
Lastly, the NATO engagement in Kosovo. I am a pacifist and do not like the US bombing the hell out of people but I withhold judgment on this because I am not objective.
So there it is. Have at it. While Bill was better than the alternatives of Bush and Dole. This is not a list of achievements I would be proud to call my own.