"Bill Clinton is the most influential man alive today"

[wyldwolf]

There was no saxophone. But former President Clinton still rocked the house at the Nokia Theatre -- drawing several standing ovations -- Thursday night.

The 42nd president spoke for more than an hour to a crowd of around 4,000, some wearing "Arkansas" T-shirts, others carrying mugs of beer and carafes of wine, about globalization, economics, healthcare and war.

When Clinton saw the crowd that turned out to listen to him on a weeknight, he laughed.

"It's quite obvious that we have 90 percent of the Democrats in North Texas here," he said.

"Any still out there are probably in danger. I feel like I should let you go."

Clinton was introduced to the crowd and shepherded through a prepared question-and-answer session by Danny Eaton, senior vice president of AEG Live, which owns and manages the theater.

"Bill Clinton is the most influential man alive today," Eaton told the crowd.

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/nation/16660913.htm

[Milo_Bloom]

1. Eeep

Obviously there isn't much interest in Bill Clinton these days. The Nokia Theatre in Grand Prarie holds 6300 people. 2300 empty seats for the "most influential man alive today"

I think people are losing interest in "The Clintons" and the eqivocations that brought us to where we are today.

[lancdem]

3. Losing interest in the Clintons?

Yeah, that's why Hillary is leading all the national Dem polls for the nomination. :eyes:

[Milo_Bloom]

5. LOL

She is barely ahead a year off based on name recognition alone. Thank God she has 0 chance of actually winning it. Seeing 2300 empty seats for a Clinton speech tells me all I need to know about the influence of this family and I, for one, am glad we don't have to deal with finger in the wind politics from the dems for much longer.

[wyldwolf]

6. LOL

She is barely ahead a year off

by 20% or more in most polls...

based on name recognition alone...

Whose name? Clinton. How's that for influential?

[Nedsdag]

39. I guess you like two family oligarchies

running this country.

I guess I don't have any choice but to line up and be submissive.

[Tellurian]

7. For a crowd of 4,000 people to come out on a Thurs night is quite a feat!

"Bill Clinton is the most influential man alive today," Eaton told the crowd.

Later he called Clinton a "national treasure" as the crowd applauded and an audience member called out "rock 'n' roll."

The topic of his wife, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, and her potential presidential bid came up briefly twice, but he quashed talk of the issue.

When he asked who should be responsible to fix the world's problems, a member of the audience shouted "Hillary" and many applauded.
"If I say anything about that, someone will file a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission and she'll have to pay my trip down here," Clinton chuckled.

Among Clinton's opinions:

Globalization and how today's society is unequal and unstable.

War and how expensive it is. "I'm not saying we should never fight," Clinton said. "But we've got to go into the world with more partners and fewer enemies. Then when you fight your enemies, you have more partners."

Healthcare and how not enough people in the United States have access to affordable health insurance. "We need healthcare reform," he said. "We need to save money and cover everyone."

Clean energy and energy efficiency.

"If I were a young person going into business today, I would get into clean energy and I would make a fortune," he said. "I'd leave all the doubters in the dust."

Clinton is a popular public speaker, at times earning as much as $350,000 an appearance.

Officials didn't say how much he earned for his two-hour appearance in North Texas. In 2005 Clinton made 43 speeches in more than a dozen countries, according to Senate disclosure forms his wife filed last year.

At the end of his prepared speech, he called on the audience, and all who live across the country, to do what they can to make the world a better place.

"I think the 21st century will be the most exciting, interesting time in history," he said.

"We need healthcare reform. We need to save money and cover everyone."

...President Clinton is the essence of gravitas-

[Milo_Bloom]

12. Yet Al Gore has sold out 10000 person arenas (edit to fix capacity)

...On Weeknights

Clinton = Yesterday's news, yesterday's 'finger in the wind' politics.

only selling 2/3 of a TINY place like Nokia... is all the info we need.

[Tellurian]

14. Laughable and whose we? Do not presume to speak for me! nm

[Milo_Bloom]

15. No, I speak for the masses

While Al Gore is selling out 10,000 seat Arenas in "red state Idaho" (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/01/23/huffpos-melinda-henneber_n_39362.html)

Clinton cannot sell out a tiny 6300 person theater in the far more densely populated Dallas Fort Worth area of Texas. (http://www.nokialivedfw.com/venueoverview.asp) "With its’ 6,350-indoor seating capacity"

The Clintons are yesterday's news now. Its time to look at the future.

[Tellurian]

25. Didn't you read the OP article...Clinton wasn't talking about Global Warming!

Thats where you messed up!

Good on Al, though- Even Texas is aware of the Bush threat to the World!

[wyldwolf]

19. In Texas?

[Milo_Bloom]

21. No, In Idaho, even more impressive.

[bushclipper]

24. so, how much redder is Idaho than Texas. And what arenas?

Links?

[Milo_Bloom]

32. Here are links

While Al Gore is selling out 10,000 seat Arenas in "red state Idaho" (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/01/23/huffpos-melinda-henneber_n_39362.html )

Here are 2004 election results from Idaho
http://www.idsos.state.id.us/ELECT/RESULTS/2004/general/cnty_pres.htm

Bush 68% to Kerry's 30%

in Texas?
(http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?f=0&year=2004&fips=48)

Bush 61% to Kerry's 38%

So, Idaho is REDDER than Texas and Al Gore could sell 10,000 seats in under 5 hours... and that was to see something they could rent on DVD.

Clinton cannot sell out a tiny 6300 person theater in the far more densely populated Dallas Fort Worth area of Texas. (http://www.nokialivedfw.com/venueoverview.asp ) "With its’ 6,350-indoor seating capacity"

He didn't even come close, only 4000 seats sold.

Tickets were even selling for far under face value on ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Bill-Clinton-Tickets-on-2-8-07-in-Grand-Prairie-TX_W0QQitemZ140083586861QQihZ004QQcategoryZ16122QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

If you don't think this shows the general feelings of people towards Clintonian politics... well, good luck with the Clinton campaign and don't be too disappointed when she loses.

[wyldwolf]

34. links to arenas Gore sold out in Idaho?

[Milo_Bloom]

38. See Post above for reference.

[lancdem]

8. Barely ahead?

What polls are you looking at? And if it's all about "name recognition," why isn't Edwards close to the lead? He has the same name recognition among Dems as she does.

It's patently ridiculous to extrapolate some sort of "trend" from one unfilled venue (I'm taking you at your word that it does hold more than 6,000) in a heavily red state.

But, hey, if that's enough to convince you HRC isn't going to win the nomination, believe what you want. You must be thinking the anti-Hillary sentiment on DU means she's disliked among Dems as a whole. Big mistake.

[Milo_Bloom]

17. Yes, Barely ahead

She isn't close to 50% and DEAN had far far greater leads, where he was OVER 50% in Iowa and New Hampshire and we all know how that turned out.

[wyldwolf]

18. 20% + is much more than "barely ahead."

[Milo_Bloom]

20. 20% is nothing, when you aren't cracking 50

You have only to look at history to see the truth of that statement.

[bushclipper]

27. I have only to look at simple math to rebut that statement.

Hillary wins even if she leads by 1%.

[wyldwolf]

29. You have some historical examples, then?

[Milo_Bloom]

37. Yes, already gave you one

But let's look at who was unbeatable in Iowa this time in the 2004 election.

Dick Gephardt with Lieberman close behind. Hmm, that held up well.

You will find a trend if you look at history... unless there is a SITTING PRESIDENT OR VICE PRESIDENT, the early leader, almost NEVER WINS.

So, I am glad Clinton has a lead at this point, b/c history tells us, she has no chance.

[lancdem]

9. delete

[Bandit]

13. Funny how virtually every single country in the world would disagree with you

Bush* who is despised and/or disrespected throughout the world by virtually every single country, friend or foe can't travel anywhere without an entire battle group standing by to protect him, while Clinton on the other hand is adored and respected throughout and people flock to see and hear him. No other politician of note has that amount of respoect throughout the world. Even countries we consider unfriendly respect Clinton for his intelligence and general bearing...Your response is "so American"

[tblue]

33. I've heard Clinton described as 'the most popular man in the world'

[SaveElmer]

16. For those that continue to deny Hillary has any strength in the party...

[AJH032]

45. exactly

n/t

[RaleighNCDUer]

28. Too little information.

How much advance time was there for his appearance? What was the weather like? How much were the tickets? How well advertised was his appearance? How red is the area? Did the organizers want to limit availabiltiy of the tickets to 4000, to make the venue more manageable?

There are a lot of factors that could influence a low turnout.

[Milo_Bloom]

43. I can answer most of those questions

Tickets went on sale in January and ticket prices ranged from 175-->39.50. The Venue is in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and the event was heavily promoted and advertised.

We aren't talking about TURNOUT, so weather isn't that important. They never sold out the venue, or even came close. You could buy 39.50 tickets up until the night before and tickets that originally cost 350 for a pair were selling for 150 and lower on ebay, because there was no demand to see the event.

Al Gore, on the other hand, sold out a 10,000+ person arena in under 5 hours from the time it went onsale.

[blm]

2. Yes, he is the most influential Democrat, and what he says carries weight with alot of

lawmakers and the American public. His advice to Democratic lawmakers is almost always taken. I, personally, think the motives behind his advisements should be given greater scrutiny.

[madfloridian]

4. I know at least 3 who agree.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1041

And with great influence comes great responsibility.

:hi:

[PresidentObama]

10. Maybe not the MOST influential, but VERY influential.

And he's earned it.

[Tellurian]

11. Can you expand with examples? nm

[wyldwolf]

22. ....well, there's obviously John Kerry

[PresidentObama]

36. Can you not respond to me?

If it's going to be stuff like this? Seriously.

[Cocoa]

40. Jimi Hendrix

but you probably think he's not alive.

[Mass]

42. Bush and Cheney, unfortunately. Their influence may not be good, but,

as President and VP, they are the most influential people in the world.

But Clinton is one of the most influential, this is true, and I can understand how a supporter would call him the most influential person in the world.

[mtnsnake]

23. No matter where he goes, the man is a rock star the world over

It's just incredible how he's still so revered all across the country and the world. Few people have that kind of magic like he does. Muhammad Ali is another.

[AtomicKitten]

26. I'm just damn glad he's on our side of the aisle.

The dichotomy between how BC was treated versus Junior during the Pope's funeral was really striking. As I recall BC was mobbed adoringly and Junior was booed.

Also, when BC climbed up in Chris Wallace's grill on the Fox Noise Channel, it gave a signal to Dems of what to do to win; he was right and we did.

There is no question Bill Clinton is a force of nature.

[mtnsnake]

31. I love how he told off that dipshit, whatever the fuck his name is. a while back

on one of the talk shows, I think a Fox channel one. If only the rest of our people would show spine like the Clintons do. Some do, but not enough.

[tblue]

35. Most of them must have no idea what a turn-on that is. People flock to guts.

[Cocoa]

30. hyperbolic and meaningless at the same time

[madfloridian]

41. Did Clinton first use the "strong and wrong" words in 2002? What if...about Iraq.

I thought they were earlier. Sometimes I think what if he had used his powerful influence over the party to say that Iraq was no danger...instead of saying we had to look so strong.

http://www.thenation.com/docprint.mhtml?i=20030217&s=greider

The ex-President speaks out frequently on grand policy, though his speech to the DLC conference in December 2002 was heavy with whining about slights he has endured from the right's "destruction machine" and the "docile establishment press." Clinton's agenda for the party sounds, not surprisingly, like warmed-over Clintonism--a familiar mix of facile evasions of blame and tactical suppression of principled positions that would draw a stark contrast with the Republicans. Democrats, for instance, must be pro-war, even tougher than Bush on national security. "The last point I want to make is we've got to be strong," he declared. "When we look weak in a time where people feel insecure, we lose. When people feel uncertain, they'd rather have somebody who's strong and wrong than somebody who's weak and right." Actually, this was also the first point he made in his hourlong speech, and he repeated it many times throughout. Supporting the war is insufficient, Clinton warned. "I approve of what's being done in Iraq now and the way it's being done, but it's not enough," he said."

What if we had just been right about Iraq? What if all those lives had not been lost so we could look strong. :shrug:

Relying on Clinton advisors about the war...too much of it?

[OneBlueSky]

44. in the long run, what Al Gore is doing will make him far more influential than Clinton . . . n/t

.