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News & ArtsWednesday, December 3, 2008
2008 Oh, Bill
Posted by Eli Sanders on Wed, Dec 3, 2008 at 9:42 AM
Former President Bill Clinton says he is open to the possibility of a role in the Obama administration but said he otherwise plans to be deferential to both the president and Clinton's wife, the soon-to-be secretary of state.
4
Well, the media cherry-picking begins, certainly. That's CNN's opening paragraph crafted carefully to create a stir, introducing their full interview hardly anybody will read, that contains nothing to raise any eyebrows at all:
Q: How involved do you think you will get in the decisions that your wife will have to make as far as foreign policy?
BILL CLINTON: Very little. I think my involvement will be what our involvement with each other’s work has always been, which is all the years that I was governor and president, I talked to her about everything. I found her advice invaluable, and I'm sure we'll talk about all this. I mean, I really care about all these profound challenges that our country and the world are facing. But the decisions will have to be ultimately the President-elect Obama's decisions to make about what we are going to do, what our policies are going to be, and she will be part of the team formulating those policies and carrying them out. I'll just try to be a helpful sounding board to her, but I don't think I'll do any more than that. Unless he asks me to do something specific, which I'm neither looking for nor closed to.
Q: How involved do you think you will get in the decisions that your wife will have to make as far as foreign policy?
BILL CLINTON: Very little. I think my involvement will be what our involvement with each other’s work has always been, which is all the years that I was governor and president, I talked to her about everything. I found her advice invaluable, and I'm sure we'll talk about all this. I mean, I really care about all these profound challenges that our country and the world are facing. But the decisions will have to be ultimately the President-elect Obama's decisions to make about what we are going to do, what our policies are going to be, and she will be part of the team formulating those policies and carrying them out. I'll just try to be a helpful sounding board to her, but I don't think I'll do any more than that. Unless he asks me to do something specific, which I'm neither looking for nor closed to.
5
If people would stop asking him this shit, he wouldn't have a chance to open his mouth about it. The only significance he has to this administration is as a former Dem president and the husband of the Secretary of State. If it's because he's a former Dem president, why not ask Carter what he hopes to do in the coming administration. But no, it's much more fun to ask Clinton. I personally hope he just decides to STFU for a while but that's never going to happen.
7
I'm hoping he'll shave his head, paint his nails black, get a new tatoo and attack a SUV w/an umbrella...
8
Hee hee! It's going to be fun to watch people on the internets advise Obama how to handle Bill Clinton, as though he's not up to it.
9
I thought Carter was a mediocre president who had a tendency to micro-manage and was voted out of office after one term. But he has been one of the best past-presidents in history. While most other past-presidents disappear into relative obscurity, Carter is a fucking saint.
I thought Bill Clinton was a better than average president, and he remained fairly popular throughout his term, despite the Lewinski scandal. But as past-president, he seems to be going out of his way to be a dick and destroy his reputation. He would do better to just shut the fuck up and disappear like most of the rest of the past-presidents.
I thought Bill Clinton was a better than average president, and he remained fairly popular throughout his term, despite the Lewinski scandal. But as past-president, he seems to be going out of his way to be a dick and destroy his reputation. He would do better to just shut the fuck up and disappear like most of the rest of the past-presidents.
10
Thank God we are getting all this CHANGE with Obama! Huh gang? This CHANGE is just too damn much for me to take!! Too much CHANGE!! I wish it wasn't so CHANGEY!! Oh wait, this is just Clinton's third term?
Wonder what Obama will do to top the DOMA? Huh gang? Any guesses??
Wonder what Obama will do to top the DOMA? Huh gang? Any guesses??
11
@4: Thanks, you talked me down. Nothing like blowing things out of proportion. Speaking of which, I'm waiting for the day Bill and Sarah Palin appear together on Phil Maher.
13
I'm not in the least upset when Bill opens his mout--so long as it's to say (and do) things that will make Obama's administration a productive and successful one.
That said, since Obama is firing all of Bush's ambassadors, I say make him Ambassador to France and have him out of our hair.
That said, since Obama is firing all of Bush's ambassadors, I say make him Ambassador to France and have him out of our hair.
14
Well, what did you expect Cato? When you're looking for experienced people to fill positions in a new administration, it's natural - and quite responsible really - to look first at people who may have held similar positions in a previous administration, particularly the last one held by your own party.
Obama is being very selective in terms of building a cabinet that is experienced, insightful, bi-partisan (to a much greater extent than shrub, Daddy shrub, or Ray-Gun ever were), knowledgeable in their respective fields, and/or who will add credibility to the new executive branch. And it's not surprising that a number of former Clinton appointees would be among that group.
Obama is being very selective in terms of building a cabinet that is experienced, insightful, bi-partisan (to a much greater extent than shrub, Daddy shrub, or Ray-Gun ever were), knowledgeable in their respective fields, and/or who will add credibility to the new executive branch. And it's not surprising that a number of former Clinton appointees would be among that group.
15
Wow, what is it about fighting poverty and aids and such that pisses you guys off?
Clinton is wise on foreign policy. He didn't start any horrible wars on his watch....he played constructive roles on Ireland and the middle east....he is as involved as any former president MARRIED TO THE SEC OF STATE would be .... and all y'all should just chill out.
President Obama bought into a role for Billdawg by naming Hillary. He knows the press won't let him alone. He knows people like you will moan and whine. But he did it anyway because he's smart and he shares basic values with Hillary ....and Billdawg.
Obama likely will pick him at some point to go make some quiet overture to Pakistan or India or freaking Abu Dabi whatever to help out the nation and the world and that's a good thing.
[autofill Billdawg responses uncontained unleashed roaming monica eruptions etc./ autofill PCresponses GOP troll pcsusan lie about michelle etc. etc.]
Clinton is wise on foreign policy. He didn't start any horrible wars on his watch....he played constructive roles on Ireland and the middle east....he is as involved as any former president MARRIED TO THE SEC OF STATE would be .... and all y'all should just chill out.
President Obama bought into a role for Billdawg by naming Hillary. He knows the press won't let him alone. He knows people like you will moan and whine. But he did it anyway because he's smart and he shares basic values with Hillary ....and Billdawg.
Obama likely will pick him at some point to go make some quiet overture to Pakistan or India or freaking Abu Dabi whatever to help out the nation and the world and that's a good thing.
[autofill Billdawg responses uncontained unleashed roaming monica eruptions etc./ autofill PCresponses GOP troll pcsusan lie about michelle etc. etc.]
16
Nobody thinks you're a troll, PC. Everybody is just tired of having to make the effort to scroll past your posts.
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