September 25, 2008

Is Bill Clinton deliberately undermining Obama?

There's this.

And Rush, on the radio, is saying that Clinton is "dropping neutron bombs all over the place" on Obama.

ADDED: Getty Images picture on the front page of the WaPo -- with the caption: "Sen. John McCain, shown this morning at the Clinton Global Initiative, will take part in an extraordinary White House summit with his rival, Sen. Barack Obama, and legislative leaders":

63 comments:

Unknown said...

Well of course he is.
Next question? :-)

Roger J. said...

Count me in with mcg and doyle

Fred4Pres said...

Yes of course Bill Clinton is undermining Obama.

But there may be a reason (beyond Obama dissing Hillar and Bill). Bill Clinton thinks McCain is right and that it is Obama who is playing politics.

Amexpat said...

Yes, and he is doing with great skill and finesse.

Matt said...

Wait, shouldn't McCain be in DC saving the country?
And, no, Clinton is not undermining Obama. His Larry King interview last night would tell you that. Plus he will be campaigning for him in the final two weeks in FL, MI and OH.

Unknown said...

Well, you know if Doyle and I agree then the singularity must be near.

Lisa said...

Clinton has worked with McCain for at least 16 years. He knows that McCain was putting country first.

Just because he was honest about McCain doesn't mean he was deliberately undermining Obama.

Obama can do that all by himself, thank you.

Fred4Pres said...

Former President Bill Clinton defended Sen. John McCain's request to delay the first presidential debate, saying McCain did it in "good faith" and pushed organizers to reserve time for economy talk during the debate if the Friday plans move forward.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/09/bill-clinton-do.html

George M. Spencer said...

A spoof of Clinton's appearance on The View.

Decodes the whole thing.

Robert said...

He already blew up Hillary's campaign, why not Obama's too? Does he really want another Democratic President any time soon? It would remove the warm, soft glow from his ego.

Anonymous said...

Obama and Biden has undermined the campaign sufficiently, if the MSM would only mention it. If the MSM were the professionals they pretend to be, they would pursue the gaffes and inconsistencies of the Democrats. God knows, Bush couldn't cure cancer without the MSM complaining that unemployment went up in the medical industry.

Sprezzatura said...

WJC has been giving some fodder for Rush to over-accentuate.

But, WJC has also been making strongly supportive (but less newsworthy) statements.

It's already known that WJC will be campaigning for BHO after the Clinton Global Thing. What if WJC drops the Rush fodder as he campaigns for BHO at the end of the contest?

Rush and others have now granted credibility to WJC. And, Rush and others have been building up WJC to an audience including some folks missed by BHO's normal efforts. So, now WJC's positive BHO comments could hit even harder. WJC has said that his current comments are designed to reach out to the unconverted.

Of course, it is possible that WJC will only look out for himself, and he could cut back on the strongly positive BHO comments--that currently don't get news coverage anyway. Or, he could continue to feed both sides. Time will tell--we'll know soon enough.

webs said...

'fesser, you blew the lede on this one ...

At Hot Air, they have this sure and certain contender for bon mot of the year:

Think he’s enjoying feeding The One this turdburger in bite-sized morsels as thanks for all the racial demagoguery thrown at him during the primary?

rgds,

Matt said...

Breaking News:
Barack Obama is committed to hosting a public, televised event Friday night in Mississippi even if John McCain does not show up, an official close to the Obama campaign tells the Huffington Post.

BJM said...

Isn't nursing a grudge a rather well known Clinton character trait?

Obama made it personal by belittling Clinton on race. A huge tactical error considering the media megaphone Clinton commands at will.

Anonymous said...

Bill Clinton is undermining the Obama campaign, as is his wife.

The Clintons now appear to be thoughtful centrist Democrats, a careful and deliberate juxtaposition to Obama's far leftist roots.

The Clintons have positioned Hillary as a moderate Dem candidate in the next election.

If Obama wins, Hillary can run on the "see, i told you so" platform if Obama bombs during the first term. If mcCain wins, Hillary can also run on the "see, I told you so" platform, but aimed at her party in hopes of breaking it from the nutroot leftists who have taken command this election cycle.

Brilliant!

I think, too, that both Clintons respect McCain, and believe Obama is not qualified.

Anonymous said...

Is hyper-partinsanship the only position allowed in this election cycle?

chickelit said...

Yes. The Clintons are the obvious path not taken by the Dems. A house divided and all that.

chickelit said...

erniecu73 said:
Is hyper-partinsanship the only position allowed in this election cycle?

It's the California style. If you want to see the future of American politics, look to California.

Anonymous said...

chickenlittle said...
It's the California style. If you want to see the future of American politics, look to California.

11:57 AM


It really pains me to look at that state, for a very large number of reasons. I'm already sick and tired of this lack of civility and rationality in political discourse.

goesh said...

old bill would never do that

Unknown said...

I live in a state (New Mexico) that has a vacuum like attraction to the very worst kind of Californian. Those that want to "improve" things their way.

Californicated

As for WJC, his general nature is to undermine anyone not working for him or anyone who does not have something he wants. So he's not targeting Obama, Obama's just a very currently prominent member of a large group. But he's vey good at doing it with a smile.

chickelit said...

I believe WJC is thinking longer term lately. He knows Obama will be a disaster, the Gray Davis of color but on the national stage.

Bill Clinton is very astute. Give him that at least.

integrity said...

Yes, the raper of Juanita Broderick is trying to mess with Obama's campaign.

Bill Clinton raped Juanita Broderick and if Obama loses we will be talking about this rapist for 4 years. This is gonna be fun.

This is just the beginning. It will never end if Obama loses. Ever.

A woman with a rapist husband has some set of balls running for the presidency. The world needs to see this point of view.

Juanita Broderick, remember the name.

Daryl said...

Sen. Obama has been extremely discourteous to Fmr. Pres. Clinton.

Not only did he play the race card against him repeatedly, but he goes out of his way to make backhanded compliments.

He will say things like:

"Bill Clinton knows a little bit about trying to yank the economy out of the doldrums"

And

"He knows a little something about politics."

It's ridiculous that the Democrats' most prominent figure in the past 2 decades (past four decades?) is being treated like this by the Dem nominee. Bill Clinton doesn't have to take it.

Daryl said...

Axelrod is sending out astroturfers to push the Juanita Broadrick meme? This is not going to go over well at all with Bill.

Roger J. said...

Not being a democrat, I don't personally care if the progressive wing takes Bill to task; but I think its a HUGE mistake to do it the manner alluded to by Integrity. The democrats can ill afford to splinter before the election, but hey...please carry on.

chickelit said...

ADDED: Getty Images picture on the front page of the WaPo -- with the caption: "Sen. John McCain, shown this morning at the Clinton Global Initiative, will take part in an extraordinary White House summit with his rival, Sen. Barack Obama, and legislative leaders

Neither Sen McCain nor Obama appear in that photo.

"Fundamental Agreement"?
Mission Accomplished. Peace in our time.
Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

OldManRick said...

The answer is that he is very much deliberately undermining the democrats -- but it may be that he is just telling the truth.

"Going very much against the media meme that the current financial crisis is all George W. Bush and the Republicans’ fault, Bill Clinton on Thursday told ABC’s Chris Cuomo that Democrats for years have been “resisting any efforts by Republicans in the Congress or by me when I was President to put some standards and tighten up a little on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac"

From http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2008/09/25/fox-news-blames-democrats-financial-crisis-bill-clinton-agrees

ricpic said...

Right after the Jewish Holidays are over Clinton's heading on down to Florida to round up the cracker vote for Obama. His own words. Why not make it a twofer and round up the matzoh ball vote while you're at it, Bubba?

Donn said...

Going very much against the media meme that the current financial crisis is all George W. Bush and the Republicans’ fault, Bill Clinton on Thursday told ABC’s Chris Cuomo that Democrats for years have been “resisting any efforts by Republicans in the Congress or by me when I was President to put some standards and tighten up a little on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac”

Unknown said...

The gift that keeps on giving.

Cedarford said...

Robert said...
He already blew up Hillary's campaign, why not Obama's too? Does he really want another Democratic President any time soon? It would remove the warm, soft glow from his ego.


No, Team Axlerod played the race card well against Bill CLinton prior to the South Carolina primary, and he will extract blood for that personal smear for a long time to come...
===================

As for Clinton, he is being truthful that Senators like McCain and his wife are wise to remember they are elected officials with duties -1st - and candidates second.

Obama, never really a Senator before he used his post to begin reaching for Higher Glory as The One....is left saying that people like McCain shouldn't get involved in making decisions their Present Constituents expect them to...that a foreign policy debate in Mississipppi is more important.

Unlike Obama, who was hoping to have a virtual "present vote" by being a non-voter or participant in the greatest economic crisis America has faced since the Depression, Hillary (and Bill) and McCain know this is a moment where Senators are expected to lead and put their names on an historic vote they will have to defend.

Not be like Obama, above it all...Only waiting for a Deal he was free of dirtying his hands on. So he could then go ahead with a transcending politics, soaring speech explaining why everyone that came up with the ugly compromise were tainted and only he was pure and right throughout...

Now he finds the President and leaders of his Party are dragging his most reluctant ass back to DC to commit him to one or the other courses of action. Though he and Team Axlerod are still trying, along with complicit MSM, to characterize people putting careers on the line in DC dealing with the economic crisis as cowards compared to The One who is "ready" to discuss lofty foreign policy vapidities in Mississippi.

That somehow, the Friday debate is still more important than his participation & vote on a great economic crisis that affects every American...

Because right now, Obamites think, talking "Surge", African aid, and his 2002 "Speech of Magnificent Judgement" (that Putin could have delivered in a different langauage to a different audience) matter more to US citizens...or at least Soros and the nutroot Community..

Worst case for Obama is he doesn't do anything in DC except make bland reassurances and no deal is done by Friday afternoon..then he bails and flies off to Mississippi to a debate where Obama and his media enablers hope will have an "embarassing" empty chair for McCain.

While all the other elected Senators are locked in an effort to get legislation likely more important for American citizens fate that the Iraq war vote done.
Where Mccain is then found out to be arguing late into Friday night with Democrats and Republicans alike on settling differences.

And if a compromise vote is reached, late Friday or Saturday while Obama schmoozes a Mississippi audience with his silver-tongued hoilies? Will Obama then flit back to DC and vote? Or stay with his campaign & denounce McCain as a "Foreign Policy Debate Coward" for not "facing up to The One in debate" - but being in the dust of the arena, getting dirty in combat with his own and with Democrats....? Does Obama then pop onto the field of play amidst the beaten, tired, mud-drenched players like a 3rd string QB showing up at the end of the game in immaculate uniform when his Team Axelrod coaches say it is safe for the Annointed One to play? Does the fresh, whistle-clean young QB then lecture the team that he saw them playing the whole game wrong, but they can rest assured, because he was debating on the sidelines and knows best?

Yeah, the people will swallow Obama's and proxies argument that Obama is being more "Presidential" by avoiding the crisis and instead 'multitasking' on a stage!! Because a little thing like the fate of our financial system is not as important as "debating the facts about Chechnya??"

By all means, Obama, flee the real battle and make believe that McCain is a coward for not showing up at a fake media "battle" on issues that are in hardly any American's mind at this point outside partisan fanatics, on "overseas matters".

Kensington said...

You know, I, too, think it's important to remember Juanita Broaddrick, and to spell her name properly when doing so.

Juanita Broaddrick.

Whatever else, I can't help but think of her whenever I see the Clenis's mug on television.

It's fun to watch him undermine Obama, but that doesn't make me forget what he is.

Shanna said...

Obama made it personal by belittling Clinton on race.

Clinton got a taste of all the racial BS republicans have to hear all the time. He also got to hear a whole bunch of democrats, including Obama himself, talk s**t about small town and guns and the people who live in that.

I would not be at all surprised if Clinton took it personally.

Add to all that the fact that Clinton might generally like McCain and Clinton's ongoing efforts to be the elder statesman type of ex-President and not ruin his image like Carter did (well, worse than it already was from his presidency). I'm quite glad clinton has decided to be a grown up. Lord knows his party needs them.

LouisAntoine said...

ZOMG Rush Limbaugh thinks Bill Clinton is undermining Obama!@!!

Does Rush also think John McCain is the cat's meow? I would be Shockered!!!

chickelit said...

Dennis said: It's fun to watch him undermine Obama, but that doesn't make me forget what he is.

It's funny to watch him undermine Obama, because it makes people forget what he is.

integrity said...

Roger J. said...
Not being a democrat, I don't personally care if the progressive wing takes Bill to task; but I think its a HUGE mistake to do it the manner alluded to by Integrity. The democrats can ill afford to splinter before the election, but hey...please carry on.



He and Hillary have already done the splintering and he continued it last night on Larry King.

The party imploded during the primaries and it required a much more decent human than Bill Clinton is capable of being to fix the damage.

I have said repeatedly that repubs should rejoice because the next 8 years are virtually yours. If Obama loses we will stop Hillary no matter what. We can't allow a rapist to be in the White House again.

Bill and Hill chose this road and it will have to play itself out.

What he did on Larry King last night was a disgrace. A pig rapist, and that is just for starters.

Looks like we are going to have to destroy this village in order to save it.

Anonymous said...

This fanatical reaction to anyone, even other Democrats (not to mention the only succesfully re-elected Democrat since Truman) who may seem to undermine The Messiah by even just showing some civility; is bound to take a toll at the polls. Don't you see that?

chickelit said...

integrity said: Looks like we are going to have to destroy this village in order to save it.

"It Takes A Pillage"

BJM said...

Read Lisa Shiffren's post at the corner re Hillary pulling out of the anti-Ahmadinejad rally and follow the link to Palin's speech.

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZDRhMWUxYzE3NTE2M2M5ZmI2MjU4NDkzMGI1NjM4ZDg=

Yes indeedy the Clinton's are doing what they do best, preserving their political viability.

The contrast between Bill Clinton's homey likability and the effete Obama are not helpful either. The more Bill speaks the more the Dem base long for him, not Mr. Cool.

former law student said...

Clinton's ongoing efforts to be the elder statesman type of ex-President and not ruin his image like Carter did (well, worse than it already was from his presidency).

Excuse me? Did you read the Vanity Fair article, and the New York Times coverage? Clinton's ongoing efforts have been devoted to being a party animal, and to using his influence to help Canadian tycoons get mining concessions from Kazhakstan.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/us/politics/31donor.html

BJM said...

Sorry about the broken url.

Here's Geller's original piece at American Thinker.

The speech Palin would have given is here

chickelit said...

What happened to Palin there was utterly shameful.

veni vidi vici said...

"Well, you know if Doyle and I agree then the singularity must be near."

Please, can we agree to leave any discussions of the twinkie-donut game off this thread?

(said with tongue firmly in buttock, i mean cheek).

Shanna said...

Did you read the Vanity Fair article, and the New York Times coverage?

No I didn't read any of that. What I'm talking about are his public statements and behavior, like teaming up with President Bush (the first) after the tsunami and these comments. I'm sure he's still skirt chasing in private and all that. That's who he is. But that doesn't mean that he's not trying to be seen as a dignified guy. I think his legacy is important to him.

Roger J. said...

fascinating to me that our progressives are attacking bill clinton just as some of the wingnuts have done for lo these many years--suggests to me, that bill clinton may just be a major force in this election and peel off votes to the republicans. God this such sweet irony! I have zero respect for bill clintons character, but damn the guy is the greatest politician since St. Ronald.

William said...

I agree with the earlier commenter who pointed out that Clinton with his relaxed presence and intelligent analysis of thorny issues makes Obama look like an amateur. But Clinton's refusal to start cataloging the flaws of McCain and Palin does not hurt Obama. Clinton gave an intelligent appreciation of Palin's talents as a politician. This was a smart strategy. The truly despicable criticism that Palin has received has enlisted the sympathy of many. Clinton's treatment of her is a textbook example of how to marginalize with faint praise. Obama should take notes.

Roberto said...

Speaking of undermining a campaign...and consdiering who broke the John Edwards story...this should be fun:

The National Enquirer is continuing its foray into politicians' personal lives this election season. The Enquirer has identified what it calls "Sarah Palin's Other Man" — Todd Palin's former business partner, Brad Hanson.

According to the Enquirer, the identity of Palin's extramarital lover was confirmed by "no less than three members of the man's family including one by sworn affidavit."

One Hanson family insider, Jim Burdett, passed a "rigorous polygraph test," and went on the record telling the Enquirer, "I've known about Brad having had an affair for a long time, but it wasn't until just recently that I learned his affair was with Sarah Palin."

Another insider, who preferred to remain anonymous but provided the Enquirer with a sworn affidavit attesting to the affair, said, "Todd was away on business a lot and Sarah felt lonely. Brad was a good listener, and Sarah talked to him at length. Eventually, she real­ized she was falling in love with him."

Roberto said...

Clinton was on The Daily Show last night and he was completely supportive of Obama.

Based on my experience with Rush, I'd have to see a literal transcript of the entire show before I'd render an opinion one way or another.

Roberto said...

Anybody who's seen the Q & A between Katie Couric an Paln, relating to her international experience being based in the proximity to Russia and still thinks she is qualified has to have their head examined.

It was embarrassing to watch.

Unknown said...

And what does that have to do with Bill Clinton?

Unknown said...

ricpic --

"Right after the Jewish Holidays are over Clinton's heading on down to Florida to round up the cracker vote for Obama. His own words."

Hate to break it to you, but in the South that's not really a slur. Much like in the black community, it would be if a northerner used it, but not when another southerner does. I hear it all the time.

Anonymous said...

You delusional people really need to look at this and see the truth for yourself. The problem is that American conservatism has become a hyper-partisan cesspool that loves to stir it up, and the most corrosive wing of the party, the one led by the likes of Karl Rove, Steve Schmitt, Rick Davis and other nasty ass political operatives who have singlehandedly eff-ed up this country so much, has taken control of Mccain, so that a fundamentally decent guy has been turned into a erratic political stuntman, bouncing from hail mary to hail mary and making a joke out of his entire political career. Just watch:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=185198&title=Bill-Clinton-Pt.-2

This is first person, two days ago.

exhelodrvr1 said...

mtbomber,
"American conservatism has become a hyper-partisan cesspool that loves to stir it up"

Yeah - it's the conservatives that are hyper-partisan.

chickelit said...

@Mikhail:

Your comments and those of MTBomber seem at odds with your other comrade's (integrity, dennis) comments.

What happened between 3 and 7 PM?

Rocker 419 said...

His words are not undermining Obama but his behavior is. I'll bet neither he nor hillary can wait until Nov. 4th when they watch the Democrats lose another one. Then, the Clintons will be there to pick up the pieces...

Unknown said...

That's your evidence, MTBomber? Honestly I think it's pretty weak tea. I watched the whole video. It sounded fine, but he was preaching to the choir. He did nothing to tear down McCain, and was positive but in my view soft on Obama.

I hate to tell you this, but he can say the "right" things 90% of the time, but the other 10% can end up being what colors people's impressions.

Peter V. Bella said...

9 million dollars. that is what is it going to take for Bill and Hillary to back the Messiah one hundred percent.

They want 9 million dollars. That is Hillary's campaign debt. They want Obama to pay most, if not all of it off; reparations anyone?

Only the Clintons could lose an election and expect someone else to pay the bill?

Estrich reported on this weeks ago(as a Clintonista, she thought Obama should pay the bill) and so did the Chicago Sun Times.

Peter Blogdanovich said...

McCain's recent move to "Take charge", by canceling the debate has Bill (Big brain Rhodes Scholar) Clinton written all over it. The only thing worse than Bill Clinton as an enemy is a pissed off Bill Clinton as an enemy.

mrkwong said...

October 19, 2009
Washington DC

Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens announced today that he would be retiring from the Court at the end of the current session.

Yesterday, President John McCain had confirmed rumors swirling around the Capitol for months that, should Stevens or fellow Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg retire, former President Bill Clinton would be nominated to fill the seat.

One commentator, who preferred not to be named, noted "This is so McCain, he knew this Senate would never let him move the Court so he went for the theatrical move. Conservatives are bursting blood vessels all over Washington right now, but there's no doubt Clinton will be confirmed."

former law student said...

former President Bill Clinton would be nominated to fill the seat.

Does this mean Bill will apply to get his law license back?

mrkwong said...

So far as I'm aware there's no requirement that a Supreme Court justice has to have ever practiced law, or ever served in any judicial capacity. It's entirely up to the President and the Senate who they're willing to nominate and confirm.