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Well, I have to admit they got me more engaged.

I switched to see what was going on with the Demo-convention last night just as the Big Dog, Bill Clinton, took the podium.

He did a rouser of a speech and did a great job of re-introducing Hillary Clinton to us.

Yeh, us.

I am beginning to feel a part of.

I don't imagine I will sit and binge on it but I sure won't miss Obama's speech tonight.

Bill committed the graceful act of not mentioning the Donald's name at all.

It was all positive assertion of Hillary Clinton's life and works over the years.

I didn't know a lot of her story so it was good for me to sit and listen.

Bill is a spellbinder but he leaves room for the listener to react in the head and in the heart.

A master class on political oratory.

Labels: Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton

Bill Clinton isn't taking any shit these days.

Bill Clinton Fires Back

Confronted with a contingent from "Black Lives Matter", he read their beads for them.

More delightfully, he used their protest signs as a script to shame them for their one sided points of view.

The happy warrior reborn.

Labels: Bill Clinton

HILLARY

I got an email today, I think on the old mailing list or maybe on the new one that I just signed up for.

It is from Bill and Chelsea Clinton.

As we welcome Hillary home, we couldn't be more proud of what she's accomplished or more humbled by her commitment to making our country and our world stronger, safer, and better.

Over the past four years, she's traveled to 112 countries, more than any other Secretary of State in our nation's history – and while this sometimes meant we saw her less often than we'd like, we're so grateful for the millions of lives she's touched and the change she's inspired across the globe.

So as she steps down as Secretary of State, we hope you'll join us in thanking Hillary for all she's done.

But if anyone doubts that the old Clinton machine has its gears in motion, you better think twice.

And now, Chelsea is on the scene.

Now it is a nice thing. No doubt. But the "thing" is just a bit heavy handed in the old Clinton heavy handed style which is one of the reasons I looked away from Hillary in the first place. That was in the 2008 primary.

They better watch their step. There are going to be some banana peels ahead. People just love Hillary but the same ones sometimes don't admire Bill. I am mixed myself. But I have my hand on my wallet. As far as Chelsea is concerned I personally have no thoughts at all. Remember Amy Carter. That is my thought.

Hillary is first class, always. But when Bill gets into it, we have to remember about "slick willy" and that kind of cheesy, over the top shit he was and still is famous for.

Just look at that photo. Ol' Bill looks like he already has his hand in the cookie jar.

Labels: Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton

FLY ON THE GREENupdated

Clinton and Obama played golf together today at Joint Base Andrews.

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and longtime Clinton backer and strategist Terry McAuliffe, who's running for governor in Virginia in 2013, golfed along.

Obama/Clinton is not a simple relationship but it is certain Bill bowed his back to help out in the election.

In return for the favor, I hope Barack gave Bill a few of his cherished mulligans. When he was in "power" he just took them.

I would love to hear the talk.

The photo is from another day. I bet they wore more clothes today. It was 55 in D.C.

What is interesting about this is that Obama does not play social golf. He does not mingle with other politicians socially. He does not schmooze. Even with Democrats.

This is one more reason that I admire him.

He is a loner. He is, in all probability, an introvert. Someone who does not like or do small talk. He is engaged with people when he has a purpose and when he is in charge or the object of attention.

He is marvelous when engaging with crowds, strangers, people with whom he feels an affinity without need for engaging.

I don't know that anyone has mentioned this or sees it. I do. I am the same way.

He does have friends. All introverts do. But they are more often than not people who are normal. People who are without affect and have no interest in him because of his position.

The normal golf partners are always Marv Nicholson, the travel director now body man although they don't call him that. And a few others on staff who Obama likes and trusts as just guys. The young Korean American Eugene Kang who I wrote about recently.

I actually don't give a shit who he plays golf with but I am fascinated by the social dynamic and the personality.

I bet he has a whole lot more fun playing with Kang and the others.

Labels: Barack Obama, Bill Clinton

BUDDIES

To be a fly on the wall.

Labels: Bill Clinton, rock

NICE

Bill Clinton Explains Why He's Now For Marriage Equality

It is the same answer, time and again.

People change their minds because they meet gay people who are out and about and leading exemplary lives. They meet gay people who are in relationships. They meet gay people who have adopted children, in relationships or not.

It is up to us, in other words. When we come out it changes the perspective and opinion of straight people.

It relates to the heart as much as the mind.

Humanism.

Labels: Bill Clinton, gay life, gay politics

MY THOUGHT EXACTLY

I just about can't stand Maureen Dowd of the NYTimes.

Here is Bill Clinton on her:

Quote of the Day
— By Kevin Drum | Mon September 21, 2009 10:29 PM PST
From Bill Clinton, on New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd:

"She must live in mortal fear that there's somebody in the world living a healthy and productive life".

More good Clinton stuff at the link from Taylor Branch's upcoming book.

Labels: Bill Clinton

BIG DEAL

They could have been strung out over a long period of time with all kinds of damage to the work being done to neutralize the North Korean shit.

Labels: Administration Obama, Bill Clinton

RASCALS

Kelvin sends this:

Clinton, Bush booked for joint Toronto appearance

The power of money.

This kind of thing would never have happened in the "old days".

Both these guys are the product of a commoditized politics.

I hope that we are going to get away from this in the future. Hoping it is a Baby Boomer thing.

Further diminishment of Bill Clinton in my mind.

Labels: Bill Clinton, bush

EVERYTHING

It is interesting that the Clintons, particularly Bill, are doing everything they can to support Obama and his choice of Hillary as Secretary of State.

Bill Clinton to Name Donors as Part of Obama Deal

This sure looks like everything to me.

When I saw the Obama screening questions I wondered how they would ever get through it unless they just simply surrendered to the process.

It is not really about winning or losing. They are clearly working together as I believe they have pretty much since the convention or a few weeks after.

The appeal of Obama is that people want to work for him. It is that simple. His attractiveness even transcends the ego of the Clintons who, not so deep down, do want to serve and serve well. They are patriotic Americans.

All the squawking that went on at the time the questionnaire came out is now silenced. If the Clintons can do it, anyone can.

Another Obama "yes I can"moment.

I, for one, am pleased to see this happening on the big scale. It is happening for sure in the smaller scale appointments of the last three weeks and weeks to come.

Sweeping change, indeed.

Labels: Administration Obama, Bill Clinton, hillary

NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON

Bill gets on board at the last minute. Just in time for the info-mercial.

Obama tried to lock up undecideds Wednesday with a prime-time informercial that seamlessly cut to some live comments he was making in Florida. The air time cost $4 million.

For a capper, Obama got a big boost late in the evening from Bill Clinton. Pushing aside hard feelings over Obama's winning primary campaign against his wife, the former president got on stage with Obama for the first time and called him the future of the country.

There is no doubt this will help a little in Florida and some of the other Clinton states.

Labels: Barack Obama, Bill Clinton

OK. I TAKE IT BACK

Bill Clinton hit the road for Obama today and did a great job.

He is on the rise again with me. Sing out Bill!

Labels: Bill Clinton

OVER BILLED

You watch now.

Bill Clinton was supposed to do some electioneering after his big Clinton Initiative.

Where he kissed McCain's ass.

And then did some positive McCain spin afterward.

I bet that you will not see him on the campaign road.

Hillary is in Michigan today. Doing god's work for the party.

And doing it with dignity and grace. No drama.

I bet they don't even invite Bill to the election night party.

Labels: Bill Clinton

POUTING BILL

Not pretty.

Bill Clinton says Barack Obama must 'kiss my ass' for his support

I just finished reading the Vanity Fair article on Clinton's increasing dysfunctional behavior over the last period of time, even apart from the election primary.

He is said to be angry and hard to get along with. His traumatic operations are cited as possible sources for this.

It would be enough to point out that he is an adult child of alcoholics and has certain behavior patterns that can run off the rails.

Whatever the case, it is a sad business.

I like that Obama is keeping his distance.

No one wants a pissing contest with Bill.

Remember, he didn't have a lot to do in the Gore campaign either.

It is surely a case of 'my way or the highway' with him.

I am less and less a friend of Bill as time goes on.

Labels: Bill Clinton

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR

I don't much like Maureen Dowd but she sure nails Bill Clinton on this one.

Can He Take a Frisk?

An imaginary conversation turns up the fact that Bill really cannot afford to be the Veep Spouse nor can he really take the transparency test without some major embarrassment.

Labels: Bill Clinton

ANOTHER OBIT

It looks like the Associated Press is catching the wave:

The Era of Big Clintons is Soon Over

When the AP starts on it, you know that the meme has taken hold.

Now the question is 'when will the Clintons get it'?

Labels: Bill Clinton, hillary

RUMOR AND INNUENDO

John Aravosis, a blogger with more of a conspiracist tinge than most, has two rumors.

One is that Obama already told Hillary that she would not be Veep and that is why she is acting out so strangely this last week.

The second is more of a surmise.

That is the apparent fact that Bill and Hillary would not survive the vetting process required for the second position.

They would have to show all their recent stuff.

Even though Hill likes to say that she is the most vetted candidate, that is true only up through 2000.

Perhaps since she first ran for the Senate whenever that was.

They would not want to be run through the necessary mill for the VPOTUS.

Bill's shenanigans are probably legal but they are not the kind of thing the Obamas want to have to explain.

I like the rumor though. That he already told them 'no'.

As someone else pointed out, if he can't stand up to Hillary and Bill how could he stand up to the worst of the worst dictators and evil doers?

Or conversely, if he can stand up to them he can handle anyone.

Labels: Bill Clinton, hillary, obama

A BIG DEAL

I think that this is an important 'defection' from the Clintonians.

AP NewsBreak: Former Democratic leader switches to Obama

Andrew said the Obama campaign never asked him to switch his support, but he decided to do so after watching Obama's handling of two issues in recent days. He said Obama took the principled stand in opposing a summer gas tax holiday that both Clinton and McCain supported, even though it would have been easier politically to back it. And he said he was impressed with Obama's handling of the controversy surrounding his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Wright's outspoken criticisms of the United States have threatened Obama's candidacy. Obama initially refused to denounce his former pastor, but he did so this week after Wright suggested that Obama secretly agrees with him.

"He has shown such mettle under fire," Andrew said in the interview. "The Jeremiah Wright controversy just reconfirmed for me, just as the gas tax controversy confirmed for me, that he is the right candidate for our party."

This is another break of the strong hold the Clintons have held on 'their' people.

He is aninfluential superdelegate, former DNC chair.

He is an Indianian on the 'eve' of the important primary there. But I think the superdelegate thing is the most important.

I will hang on to any shred of good Obama news this week.

Labels: Bill Clinton, hillary, obama

FALLING OUT OF LOVE

This is the kind of thing that alienates me from the Clintons and, particularly, had me take my 'I Miss Bill' sticker off my Cherokee.

BILL VS. BARACK

I read that they are going to increase the Bill's exposure from now on.

It will backfire.

It is disappointing to see that all the Clintons can think about are the Clintons.

Obama does not, clearly, bow down and kiss Bill's ass. He criticizes the Clinton Administration from time to time.

Bill does not like this.

I would expect that he would not. But his ego will not let him suck it up as he should.

I do not really believe that she can run with him on her back. I certainly do not want her to be his sock puppet if she is President.

Bill. Just shut the fuck up.

Labels: Bill Clinton, Democrats, hillary, obama

UNBILLED FRIENDS

The personal is political and the political is sure personal.

This article parses the losses that the Clintons have undergone as key Democratic party leaders decide whether the Clintons are still good for the party.

Clintons Sort Friends: Past and Present

Loyalty is all to the Clintons. Loyalty is all to their supporters in the past. God knows he took us to the edge of endurance with his pecadillos and his lying about them.

I had to leave her/him/them, finally, in this campaign. I couldn't handle the entitlement; the nastiness. The us-first attitude.

I get what must be in the hearts and minds of people who have been loyal through all these years.

But they have not uncoupled. They cannot.

She has campaigned on his administration and we know that electing her will mean re-electing him as well. There is not one doubt in my mind about that.

She/He/They had their time and place and it is over.

Go gracefully into the sunset Billary.

Labels: Bill Clinton, hillary