is Bill Clinton the modern Democratic benchmark?

[ulysses]

Is his presidency the mark at which we're aiming?

[John Q. Citizen]

1. I hope not. I voted for him and was disappointed repeatedly by how far to the right

he was willing to go, even when the didn't have to.

He hired people like Dick Morris to work for him, and that speaks volumns.

[Maccagirl]

6. There was a great quote about B.C.

"He always settles for a slice instead of the whole loaf." I wish I could remember who said that. Don't Ask. Don't Tell is a perfect example of that mindset. There were many times when he showed brains and heart-but not guts and spine. It was almost like he didn't really believe he was on the right side of the issue.

...and anyone who has (bleeping) Dick Morris in their orbit has character-judgment issues galore.

[John Q. Citizen]

8. Yes, the problem with don't ask don't tell was it was about as stupid politically as it gets.

It pissed off everybody on all sides of the issue. And accomplished nothing.

Clinton lacked the "vision thing." Everything ultimately came down to his desire for power and prestige. He was successful at that, but his motivation wasn't what was good for the country and the people, but what was good for him.

Don't ask don't tell is a perfect example of that. He moved to fullfill a campaign promise not because of the moral/ethical imperitive, but because of the political nessesity vis a vis his own credibility.

When it proved to be harder than he thought he just took the easy way out.

Morris is another example of his self interests trumpimg any greater vision.

[Dr.Phool]

7. And remember, Morris brought Mark Penn into the White House.

Hillary's closest adviser.

Union busting, corporate shilling, piece of shit!

[rwheeler31]

2. No,

but its a hellofalot better than what we got now.

[ulysses]

3. a sentient cabbage is better than what we have now. n/t

[ProudDad]

14. A non-sentient cabbage

would be better than what we've got now. :nuke:

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. According to the Cons he is

But I don't listen to them, especially when they try to give advice on what we need to do to win elections. :)

[illinoisprogressive]

5. I want something better and much more progressive than DLC policies.

those who keep looking backwards are the ones who cannot stand to move forward and fear the future. They would rather live their lives in romanticized dreams of the past. And with the same dysfunctional two families lording it over us while our country continues to slide into the abyss because of them.

[John Q. Citizen]

11. True, but Obama is cut from the same cloth. I don't see any great vision there. Just

that his last name isn't Clinton.

If Obama had any more guts, vision, or desire for justice than the Clintons do he would tell the truth about Iraq; That it's a criminal enterprize, a grab for oil, and nothing more.

Instead he and Hillary sound as interchangible as it gets.

Heath Care the same.

He's pedeling the same product as Hillary is. Empty platitudes, vague romantic ideals, but nothing in the way of honest ideas, actual plans, a commitment to any principles at all. Except the principle of self promotion.

[Phredicles]

9. If I didn't hope we could do better than that I'd just give the hell up.

[western mass]

10. "Greatest Republican president"

That's what we called him at the time.

His posthumous sainthood arose only after we'd had a glimpse of the true face of evil.

[ShortnFiery]

12. Simply, NO. n/t

[ProudDad]

13. I sure as sh*t HOPE NOT!!!

If he's the best we can do, we're fucked!


On Edit: How interesting, I just posted about something Clinton would have NEVER signed on with:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3328123

[knight_of_the_star]

15. He shouldn't be

Honestly the mark we should be aiming for is FDR, he aimed high and took the shots and hit more often than not.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

16. FDR and LBJ (minus the war) should be our benchmarks imo nt

[JI7]

17. NO

[jmp]

18. Well, he is the model of choice for

Both Hillary and Obama. On the plus side, it's really the only successful model the Dems have from the past 40 years.

[Solo_in_MD]

19. Yes. but that does not mean it was a good one

[Sparkly]

20. In the sense that we're aiming for a victory and two terms.

He stands as our last Democratic president to take office; in a sense, that could be seen as a kind of benchmark.

[paulk]

21. yes -

for the Democratic Party as a whole, but probably not for the Party's left wing. And most especially not for the "left", most of which are only nominally "Democrats".

[SaveElmer]

22. Bingo...nt

[Totally Committed]

23. I hope we are aiming higher than that, but it doesn't seem we are.

To most "Democrats", he's "magic".

TC

[eweaver155]

24. Hell NO