The Situation Room: Bill Clinton Slams Republicans for MoveOn Distraction
By Nicole Belle Wednesday Sep 26, 2007 8:37am
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A visibly angry Bill Clinton had some choice words for the politics of distraction that the Republican party has employed to keep from having to confront their blind support for failed policies.
Of course, CNN's John King is obliged to bring up the Clenis for "balance."
CLINTON: ...This was classic bait and switch.
COOPER: Focus on that as opposed to focus on what's really happening ....
CLINTON: Oh yeah. That's right. "I don't have to deal with Iraq. I don't have to tell anybody what I'm going to do. Everything we do in Iraq is obviously right because they said this about Petraeus," as if it was the only issue in the whole wide world. Come on, these Republicans were all upset about Petraeus-this was one newspaper ad-these are the people that ran a television ad in Georgia with Max Cleland, who lost half his body in Vietnam, in the same ad with Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. That's what Republicans do. And the person that rode into the Senate on that ad was there voting to condemn the Democrats over the Petraeus ad. I mean, these are the people that funded the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. The President appointed one of the principal funders of the Swift Boat ads to be an ambassador, but they're really about the Petraeus one. It's okay to question John Kerry's patriotism on the blatantly dishonest claims by people that didn't know what they are talking about. So it was just bait and switch. It was "Oh, thank goodness, I can take this little word here and ignore what we've done in Iraq and what we're gonna do and the outrageous way that we're gained political power by smearing John Kerry."
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Right on Bill!
The right doesn't like it when the tables are turned, the babies...
Kind of late! Could have said this before Congress and the cowardly Dems went along with the useless condemnation thus leading the fight-back against the fained outrage. Lame.
Venting that anger? Isn't that rather dismissive.
Outburst? what outburst? he was controlled and told the truth
What a democrat can't be visably angry?
Why can't the rest of the Democrats (starting with his wife, Hillary) talk like Clinton?
The only way you deal with a bully is to call him out and whip his ass.
And his wife's vote was what?
Biggest mistake Gore and Kerry made was to buy in to the fear of having the Clinton campaign for them. Let the big dog out of his cage this election. Makes me sick when they refer to Reagan as the "Great Communicator". Bubba beats him hands down.
hey at least bill clinton is not afraid to say it like it is.............. If you guys are too afraid to say anything then some one has to
Notice they didn't comment at all on whether what he said was true. That just wouldn't do. Instead they discuss his "feisty" nature. Puh-leez. The public is growing tired of this bullshit.
14All @ 7:
I noticed that. Once again talk about the messenger and not the message....
So THAT'S who has the spine!
I caught this this morning. God I miss this man as president.
Yeah, all you clowns that argue in other threads that there is no difference between the parties, that Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and GWB are all one in the same ... you guys are full of shit. This guy was a million percent better than that piece of shit in there now.
God, I miss having a thoughtful, articulate person in the White House.
I sure miss Bill.
I'm glad someone got up and said something cogent!
hadenuf @ 5:
Hillary actually voted against the condemnation of the ad.
LOOK! A REAL PRESIDENT!
Daniel Ellsberg--who I greatly admire--has just realized that "a coup has occurred".
http://www.antiwar.com/orig/ellsberg.php?articleid=11674
When will anyone in congress notice?
hadenuf @ 5:
Which vote are you talking about, Richie Rich-I-live-next-to-John-Edwards? Are you talking about the Patreus ad vote? If so, her vote was nay.
He excels in his job as the hatchet man for his party too. Is there nothing he doesn't do well?
Bush Sr and Clinton
What a team
Look Mommy! A Clinton who speaks for the rest of us, er USA. Now where is/was his wife?
Meanwhile in the Spanish news, Bush was threatening allies in his rush to war.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/26/AR200709...
Bill Clinton, 1998:
"Earlier today, I ordered America’s armed forces to strike military and security targets in Iraq. They are joined by British forces. Their mission is to attack Iraq’s nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs and its military capacity to threaten its neighbors."
Bill Clinton is a pathological liar, as are all Democrats.
PurplePatriot @ 17:
You are more than welcome to visit my 1400 sq.' house in the woods. Can you do any repairs?
Yeah, I know what Hillary's vote was; I was being sarcastic. Because now everyone misses Bill--in some ways I do too. At least I wasn't freaked out all the time.
Golly, I wish he'd get all testy over the killing of our troops in Iraq but, after all these years, it's an ad the gets him mad.
Eight more years of BS?
Clinton needs to be giving this message to the spineless Democrats in Congress.
cetylovx @ 2:
It is not actually a bad idea to let your oponents go overboard before commenting. There really was not all that much to say a week ago when the Republicans were in a snit, now there is much more to say.
The problem for the Democratic party is credibility & integrity, they are as dirty and corrupted as the republicans, Partners in crime. The only individual, Dennis Kucinich, who hasn't been complicit with the neo-con republican reign of utter corruption & deception is the candidate who doesn't have the slightest chance. Talk about perspicacity.....
These people - the neocons, the right wing attack machine - have been waiting for somebody on the left - a liberal - to use the “Betray us” line. Using “Betray us” was an obvious (sophomoric) play on words for the General that even the smallest mind would come up with. The Roves of the Republican party knew somebody would use the “Betray us” comment. They were very lucky that MoveOn used it and the right wing have been waiting. They had all the talking points just waiting. They have been planning since the surge started when Petraeus was named. Who didn’t think “Betray us” when they heard the name Petraeus? Of course somebody was going to use the “Betray us” line. The ad was not that bad but these assholes were ready as if it was the worst thing that anybody could ever do. They were ready to pounce. The left or the liberals or the progressives (whatever you want to call us) should have pushed back and pushed back hard. It’s nice to see that Pres. Bill is doing it.
DFAL @ 22:
{sniff} {sniff} Is that a flame war I smell? Difference is ... Clinton didn't order a strike that lasted 4 years, has cost over 3000 lives of American servicemen and women. It's widely accepted that intelligence on weapons has been faulty for years. However, GWB exploited 9/11, used cartoons for Colin Powell's UN presentation, etc. Screw you.
The points remain undisgusted.
Why is the Petraeus/Crocker report differing so greatly from the NIE, the GAO and 14 intelligence agencies of our own?
Just an Old Lady @ 12:
PurplePatriot @ 11:
Greg @ 10:
He may well be doing a great job keeping the Republicans from actively persuing extending the number of terms a President can serve just by being here.
"these are the people that ran a television ad in Georgia with Max Cleland, who lost half his body in Vietnam, in the same ad with Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. That’s what Republicans do. And the person that rode into the Senate on that ad was there voting to condemn the Democrats over the Petraeus ad."
Which senator is this?
(NB: Saxby Chambliss of Georgia)
Testify brother Bill!
With each passing day Chimperor stays in office I love this man more and more. I mean forget for a moment Clinton was a far superior president to Chimp, Bill is intelligent, articulate and can string two complete sentences together.
Boy I miss Bill, faults and all...sigh.
Heliogabalus @ 27:
Yes, yes. Kucinich is wonderful. Bluebirds follow him around singing a joyous song as unicorns prance under rainbows. Acknowledged. Unfortunately the rest of us shitty people live and work on the other side of the looking glass, Alice.
Wolf Blitzer has now demonstrated the cut of his jib. He has now unquestionably told us that his goal is to support the republican party, and that he is absolutely disingenuous in pursuit of that goal. That he managed to twist a comment by Bill Clinton about the MoveOn ad into a discussion of Hillary's electoral chances while claiming to 'discuss what he said' is either an outrage or hilarious depending on whether or not you are still watching television.
Boycott television news, Boycott print media that distorts facts, and presents things through a republican frame. Get off the merry-go-round.
Big Bill Speaks!
After setting the table for the phuKKKing neocons and staying silent for 6 years, this corporatist piece of schitt want to pontificate?
He's only doing it for Hillary. I am not fooled.
JohnnyThief @ 32:
Yes. An excellent point. Ideally, I would have loved to see every democrat in the senate say the same thing.
ChrisM70 @ 25:
Amen, Brother!
PurplePatriot @ 34:
you doing another "take what you can get' rant? or are you just gearing up for it?
PurplePatriot @ 29:
And Clinton's vice president wasn't against the war before he was for it so once he became vice president he would be in a position to lie the nation into war and then could steer no bid government contracts to is former company.
BushCo are lying scum traitors. You can't even begin to compare Clinton and the Democrats to them.
Fools on the Hill @ 24:
Exactly.
Vote for someone who will commit to ending this war.
At least during Clinton a highly experienced professional workforce veteran with a degree or two had a choice between being a department manager at Best Buy or Circuit City.
The Clintons are different than the Bushes but they swim in the same tank. We just look in.
BaScOmBe @ 39:
I'm not about to start a rant when you're listening in. I've got no ammunition against you ... you're just too right on 100% of the time. There's just no fooling you.
The god damn liberals should be screaming what Bill Clinton is saying instead of caving in to these stupid congressional bills that they are voting for. They should be saying “Stop wasting our time!” and pulling out all the stuff the right wing has done over the last few years. What about this and this and this and this and this and this. PUSH BACK.
No, this isn't a "fascinating debate". It's all theater, and bad theater at that.
E Ryno @ 43:
No disagreement here.
PurplePatriot @ 44:
Or anybody else, for that matter.
PurplePatriot @ 37:
I'm sure the Democrats did say the same thing, only it was too themselves while cowering in the corner with tears streaming down their cheeks for fear the GOP would slam them if they said it out loud.
I'm ticked off that there aren't any visible Democrats pointing out the substance of the ad, rather than the 'outrage' from the GOP. It's gotten to the point that El Chimpo Grande was able to slide that in as the last question in his 'news conference' and no one noticed a guy who glossed over his entire last year of duty is standing in judgment of others.
And now, we have Hillabamawards all saying they can't guarantee complete troop withdrawal before 2013. Makes the 2006 'the American people elected us to get us out of Iraq' kind of a joke, and a bad one at that.
xoites defends Constitution @ 48:
Hey! Cut that out.
So a Dem win in 08 and people think we'll be leaving Iraq huh?
Funny
E Ryno @ 43:
Well, we know they ride in the same golf cart. You see Bush 41 riding around with Bill Clinton more than you do his own sons. I must admit, that gives me pause too.
Ruthless People @ 53:
I actually think that it makes Bush 41 seem much more intelligent.
So the point of the story becomes: "Whoa, Bill Clinton has anger issues!! He's a mad dog! This is great for Republicans!"
Never mind the substance of what Clinton actually said. Never mind the very good point he made, that Max Cleland and John Kerry were ruthlessly slandered by the same people who voted the motion against MoveOn.org.
Fucking bullshit. The media is completely broken.
A fish tank in a golf cart? Doesn't sound prudent...
[Deleted. Off topic-Sitemonitor]
He brought up an excellent point about that race between Chambliss and Cleland. Funny, Cleland actually was in favor of DHS and pushed early on for it, but had to veto it because it did not give those employees the same job protection as all other federal employees - and he gets labeled unpatriotic. Nice!
Rick Hunter @ 57:
Good and evil?
You gotta be kidding.
Themesong for the Kucinch supporters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKh86kOoiWQ
Last time we voted for a new marshall to clean up Washington we got Carter, and his was a real successful administration wasn' it.
PurplePatriot @ 34:
Patriot, give it a rest. Not everyone gets off on the Clintons like you do.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who is sick of your flame baiting comments.
What is it about the primary process you don't understand? Just because you're a pragmatic DLC enabler doesn't mean everyone else has to be one. God forbid, some of us actually try and vote for people who believe in progressive values.
Ricky Bones @ 58:
Even worse, Coulter discredits his injuries and claims he was some drunk that was screwing around and that he didn't truly earn the Purple Heart.
ysbaddaden @ 60:
Best ex President we ever had...
Ruthless People @ 53:
I've read that's because Clinton is more well mannered than georgie or jeb.
Who beyond hillbillies name their kids jeb?
Rick Hunter @ 57:
Clinton was good at his job and a better president, but he was a douche-bag. Don't forget, he was in favor of things like the Mexico City Proposal.
Annoyed Canuck @ 55:
This is why many more Dems and/or Liberals should come out as indignant as Bill.
About Time. Why is he the only one who can speak up on behalf of the Democratic Party. We all need to learn to use a little more courage in the way we speak and stand up to Criminals and Neo-Cons.
BaScOmBe @ 36:
Of course he's doing it for Hillary but it doesn't mean what he's saying isn't true and doesn't need to be said. And who says Bill's been silent for 6 years? Just because he's not on C&L video every week doesn't mean he's silent. Even so, for lack of better phrasing, you often have to side with the lesser of two evils. And Bill Clinton is far, far lesser evil than BushCo and the GOP
Shadowgm @ 50:
They have all been assimilated with the Borg. They know the town is on fire and they are just trying to hang on to their tickets for the last train out. And they don't want the rest of us to realize that it is the last train and that there are no more tickets.
"This is a great time to buy Enron stock!" - Ken Lay
ysbaddaden @ 64:
James Ewell Brown Stuart (February 6, 1833 – May 12, 1864) was an American soldier from Virginia and a Confederate States Army general during the American Civil War. He was known to his friends as "Jeb".
Jeb Stuart Magruder (born November 5, 1934, New York City) was the second official in the administration of President Richard Nixon (the first was Fred LaRue) to plead guilty to charges of involvement in events leading to the Watergate first break-in and the subsequent Watergate scandal.
"JohnnyThief @ 32:
“these are the people that ran a television ad in Georgia with Max Cleland, who lost half his body in Vietnam, in the same ad with Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. That’s what Republicans do. And the person that rode into the Senate on that ad was there voting to condemn the Democrats over the Petraeus ad.”
Which senator is this?"
That would be the odious Saxby Chambliss. Even fellow Republicans John McCain and Chuck Hagel called the Cleland ad "worse than disgraceful," "reprehensible" and "beyond offensive." Chambliss voting to censor MoveOn's ad is hypocrisy at its GOP finest.
Juba @ 61:
This liberal Democrat likes Ron Paul, Dennis Kucinich and Mike Ravel.
Juba @ 61:
I understand everything just fine. I do notice a difference between you and me, though. I can at least acknowledge validity, and at times agreement, with those who proclaim everyone except Kucinich as evil. But because I don't agree and hate 100% along with you, and think that there is a middle ground that may actually be acheivable, that makes me an asshole.
How about trying to pull out the positive parts of all of these positive messages that have turned you from the darkside, and present them in a logical, positive light. Show us why your way is better, instead of spending two sentences on it, then spending two paragraphs on why you hate everyone else.
And I hate to break it to you ... there are people here who are sick of what you post too. But I encourage you to continue in the dialog. Peace.
PurplePatriot @ 54:
Little doubt he's more intelligent than Bush 43, and would probably rather have Bill for a son than Bush 41, but still......
Well. I think both the Cons and the Dems are playing us for suckers at this point.
End Story
There is no reason to get all happy because Hillary is a liberal or that Bill is a liberal because they are not. They are middle of the road Democrats. Centrists. I would be curious what a neocon would say if you asked them what they don’t like about Hillary. What would Bill Kristal say? They just do not like the Clintons because they are one of “them”. Clinton was never a radical left wing liberal. And neither is Hill.
Oh! GoD! And did John King not bait and switch on the issue as well? Observe not a substantive approach to the issue of whether Bill Clinton is correct in what he was saying, but instead a deflection that it's people like Clinton who will unite a GOP because of this brand of alleged sour grapes.
Clinton's "long memory" (gee, is 7 years really that long?) was well-used here to point out hypocrisy, not to slake his taste for the angry retribution that they claim is his sole raison d'etre. I despise these people
PurplePatriot @ 37:
Chambliss?
E Ryno @ 72:
Tell us more about Ravel ... haven't heard of him. I'd love to hear about a new face. And Ron Paul? Wow. You must be in favor of every single private entity being able to do just about any unregulated damn thing they please.
L.A. Confidential @ 75:
Agreed. One of them wants to keep taking our money. The other wants our money and Armageddon.
The main reason I like the Clintons is because the right wing hate them and they don’t even know why they hate them. :lol:
It would be so nice to have him back in the White House!
Orangutan. @ 67:
Because he's never running for public office again. The pussycrats in congress are worried about how they "look" -- kinda like Busholini's blinding interest in his "legacy".
PurplePatriot @ 78:
Ravel was a composer of classical music, wasn't he?
xoites defends Constitution @ 70: