Billy Clinton Take A Bow

[greg775]

I was hoping to make this a thread asking Soxtalk users to review the convention speech of Bill Clinton. Wow is all I can say. I am ultra impressed that he kept me glued to the TV all but probably five minutes of his 50 minute speech. I thought it was effective, convincing and inspiring. He pointed out that Democrats and Republicans CAN work together for the betterment of the country. He did so in citing instances in which he and Republicans indeed worked together to solve problems. He presented a very strong case why America should elect Obama. And he cited strong examples of the differences between Obama and Romney. I thought his speech was way way way better than Michelle Obama's.

 

Bill Clinton ... what a speech. You sir, deserve an A. Michelle Obama? A B to B-. I'll be interested to hear the pundits' review of the speech. I briefly heard the old guy on NBC say it was fantastic; one guy on FOX said it was too long and he may have gotten some facts wrong; another guy on FOX saying Clinton gave a fantastic presentation; and one woman panelist said a lot of Democrats probably wished Clinton was the nominee.

Edited September 6, 2012 by greg775

[kev211]

So did he change your mind on how awful a president you claim Obama has been?

[greg775]

So did he change your mind on how awful a president you claim Obama has been?

 

No. I think Obama has been very blah. Clinton gave me hope that Obama may be able to work with some of the blockhead Republican leaders who hate him. He also gave me hope that maybe Obama can get the economy turned around. I'm not convinced of that, but after listening to Billy I have some hope. Obama will win the election, there's no question about that. I'm just hoping Billy Clinton is right and there is a plan to turn around the economy. Clinton wasn't all pollyanna like michelle was, so it makes me tend to believe him more. He said the deficit can and will cripple our country if we don't make strides to getting it fixed. He said enough to make me not quiver and bang my head against the wall when the tabulations are in and Obama wins in a landslide again.

 

I also think Romney is a wealthy clown and no way I'd vote for him.

The only question for me is will I vote at all. If I vote it'd be for Obama. I'm leaning toward not voting at all. But Billy C. made me move closer to voting for Obama rather than obstaining/protesting.

Edited September 6, 2012 by greg775

[kev211]

No. I think Obama has been very blah. Clinton gave me hope that Obama may be able to work with some of the blockhead Republican leaders who hate him. He also gave me hope that maybe Obama can get the economy turned around. I'm not convinced of that, but after listening to Billy I have some hope. Obama will win the election, there's no question about that. I'm just hoping Billy Clinton is right and there is a plan to turn around the economy. Clinton wasn't all pollyanna like michelle was, so it makes me tend to believe him more. He said the deficit can and will cripple our country if we don't make strides to getting it fixed. He said enough to make me not quiver and bang my head against the wall when the tabulations are in and Obama wins in a landslide again.

 

I also think Romney is a wealthy clown and no way I'd vote for him.

The only question for me is will I vote at all. If I vote it'd be for Obama. I'm leaning toward not voting at all. But Billy C. made me move closer to voting for Obama rather than obstaining/protesting.

Just remember what Clinton said. Neither him or any of the presidents before him could have fixed the country in 4 years.

[greg775]

Just remember what Clinton said. Neither him or any of the presidents before him could have fixed the country in 4 years.

 

Yes, that was a very effective part of his speech. I thought he kicked ass the first 20 minutes. He probably thought it was very important to go through all those specific issues later in the speech and that was important. But it also was the dull part. I listened intently trying to learn something but it definitely was the boring part. Even though there was that lull I don't take points from the speech because Clinton wanted to rebut some points made by Clown Romney and his Young Clown Veep candidate.

This article touches on Clinton's best lines if anybody wants a summary.

 

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/bill-cl...--election.html

 

Here's what some of the pundits said. They slobbered over the speech like Michelle's but I did like the speech so I'm not as mad as last night

 

CNN's Wolf Blitzer was effusive in his praise.

"This may have been the best speech I ever heard Bill Clinton deliver in over all these years, and I listened to so many of his speeches in his eight years as president and in the years that followed," Blitzer said.

His CNN colleague David Gergen echoed that sentiment.

"He has given speeches in America, there is simply no one better -- this is the most effective and influential speech he has given since leaving the presidency," Gergen said, adding: "He told the Obama story better than Obama ever did."

CNN's Alex Castellanos said he believes that Clinton sealed the election for Obama.

"This convention is done," he said. "This is the moment that probably re-elected Barack Obama."

Said CNN's John King: "Like every Clinton speech, it could use an editor. But like every Clinton speech, he hit it on the head with a hammer."

King added: "He knows the problems Obama faces with the electorate, and he went at it like a campaign manager."

STORY: Bill Clinton Goes All-In for Obama's Reelection in Rousing Speech

Speaking to CNN, former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry called the speech "spectacular. I think the president laid out all the facts in a very methodical, very personal way. All of it factual."

Meanwhile, MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell noted that the speech went on for an hour, which was a half-hour longer than scheduled, and said he believed that one of the Obama team's concerns is likely what effect the speech had on TV viewers at home.

"It was one of those Clinton tests of a television audience's attention span," O'Donnell said. "He used to do this sometimes with his with his State of the Union address that many of us thought went too long, but his longest State of the Union address -- when the pundit opinion was unanimous that it was too long and lost the audience -- got him his biggest poll jump ever."

He added that Clinton ad-libbed at several time during the speech.

"The team here completely lost control of the time probably within the first five minutes, but that's probably what made the speech work," O'Donnell said. "When he was reading along with the teleprompter and I saw what he did to it, that was the magic of the speech."

STORY: Michelle Obama Receives Rapturous Response During Speech

MSNBC's Chris Matthews, meanwhile, said Clinton did what he was supposed to do.

"He's a man of the center, and I think he brought the center home tonight," he said.

Fox News' Brit Hume was more critical of Clinton, saying his remarks about Medicare in particular were "loaded with all kinds of snake oil."

"But this is Bill Clinton," he said. "And it had all the strengths of a standard Clinton speech -- it was engaging, convincing ... but it veered off into policy details at length, was self-indulgent and about 30 percent too long -- par for the course for Clinton."

He added that some voters might have been swayed, but "I'm not sure this speech, at this length, was effective."

Also on Fox News, Steve Hayes said Clinton delivered a "backward-looking speech, a justification of [Obama's] inability to take us further. ... In a sense, Clinton was explaining Obama's failures, he said nothing about what he's going to do ... to put you in the right direction."

STORY: What the Pundits Are Saying About Michelle Obama, Julian Castro

Longtime Democratic strategist Joe Trippi, also appearing on Fox News, echoed that thought.

"I think Bill Clinton did Barack Obama the biggest favor he ever could have done," he said.

Meanwhile, several commentators also hit Twitter to give their opinions.

New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof tweeted: “That may have been Clinton's best speech. Explained without talking down, and drew distinctions without nastiness. Wow!”

CNN’s Piers Morgan liked the speech so much that he nominated Clinton for another job: “If he can't be President again, can he be British Prime Minister? This is a serious proposition.”

And former RNC chairman Michael Steele added: “Clinton hit a home run for Obama. No doubt. No one does Clinton better than Clinton.”

Edited September 6, 2012 by greg775

[Jake]

Clinton has effectively dealt with a Republican Congress as a Democratic President. Whether you like the policies or perceive them as too left or right, he actually got some things passed despite that split. Take notes, Barack...that's how you do your second term in office. They HAVE to work with you because there is no incentive to defame you anymore. Well, there's less incentive.

[cabiness42]

They HAVE to work with you because there is no incentive to defame you anymore. Well, there's less incentive.

 

Maybe we should amend the Constitution to make the Presidency a six-year term with no possibility of re-election? The the President's party doesn't have to worry about re-electing him and the opposition party doesn't have to worry about defeating him and maybe more gets done.

[GoSox05]

I was hoping to make this a thread asking Soxtalk users to review the convention speech of Bill Clinton. Wow is all I can say. I am ultra impressed that he kept me glued to the TV all but probably five minutes of his 50 minute speech. I thought it was effective, convincing and inspiring. He pointed out that Democrats and Republicans CAN work together for the betterment of the country. He did so in citing instances in which he and Republicans indeed worked together to solve problems. He presented a very strong case why America should elect Obama. And he cited strong examples of the differences between Obama and Romney. I thought his speech was way way way better than Michelle Obama's.

 

Bill Clinton ... what a speech. You sir, deserve an A. Michelle Obama? A B to B-. I'll be interested to hear the pundits' review of the speech. I briefly heard the old guy on NBC say it was fantastic; one guy on FOX said it was too long and he may have gotten some facts wrong; another guy on FOX saying Clinton gave a fantastic presentation; and one woman panelist said a lot of Democrats probably wished Clinton was the nominee.

 

You sound like Wolf Blitzer.

[Steve9347]

No. I think Obama has been very blah. Clinton gave me hope that Obama may be able to work with some of the blockhead Republican leaders who hate him.

Don't fall for it. Republicans won't work with Democrats, and Democrats won't work with Republicans.

 

Rinse, repeat, give up on the government working for the people instead of for their own interests.

[Jake]

Studying American politics has been a very interesting experience for me (ever so close to a degree in this field )

 

On one hand...there is so much to be sad about. On the other, there is a good deal that is inexplicable if you insist that politicians are only self-serving.

 

I think that the biggest misconception about government is that there is major corruption. Not anymore, though there are some instances in which shady business happens. This kind of thing is all on record though, like Congresspeople buying land that they know will become valuable after they legislate to develop that land -- this is probably the most prevalent type of dishonesty.

[bmags]

Democrats won't work with Republicans.

 

Rinse, repeat, give up on the government working for the people instead of for their own interests.

 

Every democrat from a red state falls over backwards to help out republican presidents. IT's what keeps their jobs. Luckily when there's a democratic president they can be whipped.

 

The only republican like this is Scott Brown

[Soxbadger]

Don't fall for it. Republicans won't work with Democrats, and Democrats won't work with Republicans.

 

Rinse, repeat, give up on the government working for the people instead of for their own interests.

 

That is just not true. Not everyone is a dick, some people understand that through cooperation you can get a mutually beneficial solution, that would have been impossible but for working together.

 

The problem is that divisiveness sells and its easier to blame someone else then to try and fix things.

 

It will get better, we shall persevere.

[southsider2k5]

Don't fall for it. Republicans won't work with Democrats, and Democrats won't work with Republicans.

 

Rinse, repeat, give up on the government working for the people instead of for their own interests.

 

Because apathy has worked so well for the voting public...

[Soxbadger]

Honestly the first place this needs to start is just with regular everyday people.

 

The Republican party has faults, the Democratic party has just as many.

 

Instead of pretending that your party, whoever it may be, is better, perhaps we need to start by agreeing that neither are good.

[greg775]

You sound like Wolf Blitzer.

I'm not as Wolfish today after reading that Bill lied. I'm sick of getting misled. Obama isn't exactly bending over backwards to work with the other side, it appears.

I feel mighty dumb the day after. Bill made me feel good about the country and the possibilities of the future for a night and fooled me for an hour. I got duped. My bad.

http://news.yahoo.com/fact-check-clinton-c...--election.html

 

Don't fall for it. Republicans won't work with Democrats, and Democrats won't work with Republicans.

 

Rinse, repeat, give up on the government working for the people instead of for their own interests.

So we are all doomed? Country needs fixing.

 

Honestly the first place this needs to start is just with regular everyday people.

 

The Republican party has faults, the Democratic party has just as many.

 

Instead of pretending that your party, whoever it may be, is better, perhaps we need to start by agreeing that neither are good.

I would agree with that. Both candidates are awful. Horrible choice for president. You have a do-little man with no leadership ability in Obama vs. a rich, clown-like figure in Romney who garners little respect.

Edited September 6, 2012 by greg775

[Soxbadger]

The candidates arent something we can change. They were voted on by the American people.

 

So you may think they are awful, but they beat out the rest of the competition. The problem is that politicians are warped and voters dont seem to care. Instead of voting for people who might make a real difference, they are forced into the box of voting Republican or Democrat.

 

Dont blame me, I voted for Kodos.

 

[Y2HH]

Honestly the first place this needs to start is just with regular everyday people.

 

The Republican party has faults, the Democratic party has just as many.

 

Instead of pretending that your party, whoever it may be, is better, perhaps we need to start by agreeing that neither are good.

 

[Jake]

I'm not as Wolfish today after reading that Bill lied. I'm sick of getting misled. Obama isn't exactly bending over backwards to work with the other side, it appears.

I feel mighty dumb the day after. Bill made me feel good about the country and the possibilities of the future for a night and fooled me for an hour. I got duped. My bad.

http://news.yahoo.com/fact-check-clinton-c...--election.html

 

That article is terrible. While Clinton's speech certainly was biased, those weren't lies.

 

He says the Republican Party is inflexible. Great, that seems to suggest the PLAN for Dems is to cooperate. And seriously, I'm sure Obama has refused to compromise on some issues but as someone who is liberal in most cases I've found the President to be far too compromising when it never gets him closer to bipartisan legislation anyway.

 

Then he says costs are going up at a slow pace, which is TRUE. So is the fact that this happened after the ACA. Maybe it isn't because of those two things, but you can't act as if spending is shooting up because of the ACA when it isn't. That's the point. Basically, the article has a difference of OPINION on the matter not the facts. The article points out that major cost cutting measures have not even come into effect...doesn't this make the law look better? The growth of costs is slowing and there's still more help to come?

 

And then he says to remember when he grew the economy. This is true. It happened, and it happened in the time that he says it did. Why would he say that it changed later? It wasn't relevant. "it's bad now but it will get better" is the message. When it gets better, we can correct him and say that it will soon get worse just like it did when he was President.

 

Contrast this to things like "this plant closed because of Obama*" *plant closed while GWB was president*

 

Oh, yeah...Bill got a BJ and lied about it DEFINITELY got owned by a nation of fact-checkers during that scandal

 

 

[CanOfCorn]

Maybe we should amend the Constitution to make the Presidency a six-year term with no possibility of re-election? The the President's party doesn't have to worry about re-electing him and the opposition party doesn't have to worry about defeating him and maybe more gets done.

 

I approve this message.

[bmags]

That article is terrible. While Clinton's speech certainly was biased, those weren't lies.

 

He says the Republican Party is inflexible. Great, that seems to suggest the PLAN for Dems is to cooperate. And seriously, I'm sure Obama has refused to compromise on some issues but as someone who is liberal in most cases I've found the President to be far too compromising when it never gets him closer to bipartisan legislation anyway.

 

Then he says costs are going up at a slow pace, which is TRUE. So is the fact that this happened after the ACA. Maybe it isn't because of those two things, but you can't act as if spending is shooting up because of the ACA when it isn't. That's the point. Basically, the article has a difference of OPINION on the matter not the facts. The article points out that major cost cutting measures have not even come into effect...doesn't this make the law look better? The growth of costs is slowing and there's still more help to come?

 

And then he says to remember when he grew the economy. This is true. It happened, and it happened in the time that he says it did. Why would he say that it changed later? It wasn't relevant. "it's bad now but it will get better" is the message. When it gets better, we can correct him and say that it will soon get worse just like it did when he was President.

 

Contrast this to things like "this plant closed because of Obama*" *plant closed while GWB was president*

 

Oh, yeah...Bill got a BJ and lied about it DEFINITELY got owned by a nation of fact-checkers during that scandal

 

Seriously that is a hilarious article

"CLINTON: "Their campaign pollster said, 'We're not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact checkers.' Now that is true. I couldn't have said it better myself — I just hope you remember that every time you see the ad."

 

THE FACTS: Clinton, who famously finger-wagged a denial on national television about his sexual relationship with intern Monica Lewinsky and was subsequently impeached in the House on a perjury charge, has had his own uncomfortable moments over telling the truth. "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky," Clinton told television viewers. Later, after he was forced to testify to a grand jury, Clinton said his statements were "legally accurate" but also allowed that he "misled people, including even my wife.""

 

How can you write that after "the facts"? That's a complete non sequiter!

[StrangeSox]

Every democrat from a red state falls over backwards to help out republican presidents. IT's what keeps their jobs. Luckily when there's a democratic president they can be whipped.

 

The only republican like this is Scott Brown

 

Just look at what every "centrist" pundit pines for when it comes to policy--it's 95% what Barack Obama and the Democratic platform is, yet they still bemoan a supposed lack of a "centrist" and "reasonable" party. Tom Freidman is the worst about this.

[StrangeSox]

Seriously that is a hilarious article

"CLINTON: "Their campaign pollster said, 'We're not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact checkers.' Now that is true. I couldn't have said it better myself — I just hope you remember that every time you see the ad."

 

THE FACTS: Clinton, who famously finger-wagged a denial on national television about his sexual relationship with intern Monica Lewinsky and was subsequently impeached in the House on a perjury charge, has had his own uncomfortable moments over telling the truth. "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky," Clinton told television viewers. Later, after he was forced to testify to a grand jury, Clinton said his statements were "legally accurate" but also allowed that he "misled people, including even my wife.""

 

How can you write that after "the facts"? That's a complete non sequiter!

 

This is why fact-checkers are so terrible. They believe that, in order to appear fair and objective, they need to criticize both sides in equal amounts. This leads to ridiculously stupid crap like this. Clinton accurately quoted the Romney campaign, but he also said this thing about Monica Lewinski 14 years ago! Both Sides!!!!

[mr_genius]

You sound like Wolf Blitzer.

 

^^^

 

 

[mr_genius]

The sad part is that Clinton and his buddy Greenspan basically led to all the bad stuff he was whining about in his speech.