DNC Convention Highlights: President Bill Clinton

NOTE: Clinton ad-libbed half of his speech, so part of the text will not match the video. He made the case to re-elect, Barack Obama.

Full text of the speech, here.

Trotting out former President Bill Clinton

First, I don't remember a former President taking the podium answering questions for the current President, while the current President is in a fight for a bill to be passed.

Yes, we call former Presidents to swing bats (due to popularity) during campaign swings, but to have a former President answer questions (which I say he did mighty well) to the White House Press Corps while the current President is in a current fight he is having?

I am sorry, that I have not witnessed.

Look, Bill Clinton is loved and hated within the Democratic Party. We understand his strengths and weaknesses. I am sure that some of the legislation (which Obama is now dealing with due to bills passed during the Clinton tenure) that Bill Clinton passed, he wish could take it back. Like, NAFTA, which has had a direct affect of jobs for the middle class in this country. Sure, he would probably want to take that back.

The reality is this. It was a nice picture, mini presser but Bill Clinton is not the President of the United States, Barack Obama is.

My husband said this, "...why is Bill Clinton answering questions to the current tax crisis/debate and Barack Obama is not? I think this makes Obama look weak. And this is 2010 and not 1994."

I thought about that and my husband was right. This is not 1994. Why? First off, the cable networks and cable chatter was not off the chain as it is now. The internet was not instant news as it is now, which many Americans, NOW get their information. And the big key my husband stated, "...the recession Clinton was in is different than what is going on now."

Clinton was retrieved because of the Internet boom that happened under his watch. But that bubble was busted once George W. Bush assumed office. The unemployment numbers that we see now are real, not a vapor. The people out of work are/have been for a while now, well over 6 months. And the truth, there are not enough hard jobs to hire folk in this country. That is the dilemma that Barack Obama faces. There will be no fake economy to save him, like it did with Clinton in the internet boom. What is happening out here is real.

So now, we see the Clinton/Obama show. It is nice, memory lane and all, but that is all it is.

All I can write is this. Barack Obama must be in real trouble to trot out Bill Clinton at this time. No disrespect to the former President, but one has to wonder why at this time and will it work. Will the Democratic base remember how Bill Clinton lost big time in 1994 and had to deal with the Republicans? Will the Democrats line up with Barack Obama and let all this pass? But, will the Independents come home as Barack go to the right? Those are the questions which we will see answered in the months to come.

Personally, I don't think Bill Clinton will make a difference. He was then and Barack Obama is now. That is the difference.

Cross-posted @ Daily Kos

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President Obama trots out former President Bill Clinton to make case for tax cut deal with the Republicans (Video)

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Clinton-Bush Public Service Announcement for Haiti (Video)

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Donate now at clintonbushhaitifund.org or text QUAKE to 20222 to give $10.

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Presidents Obama, Bush, Clinton unite for Haiti Relief Fund (Video)

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Clinton Bush Haiti Fund

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Harry Reid, Democrats, arrogance, bigotry and race

Everyone is yapping about the new John Heileman and Mark Halperin book, Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime.

The remarks by Senate Leader Harry Reid is offensive but not shocking to me. Reid said the following remarks:

In a private conversation reported in the book, Reid described Obama as a "light-skinned" African-American "with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one."

In fact the reference that Bill Clinton made to the late Teddy Kennedy about Barack Obama, "...a few years ago this guy would be getting us a cup of coffee..." Well, of course, the spin is Clinton is stating in reference to Obama being a junior senator, but ask anyone of color what that statement means to them. It sure is not about Barack Obama being a junior senator.

One thing about the Republicans, for people of color, they let us know how they feel. They let us know to our face, some of the Democrats? Not so much. They make references like this behind closed doors because they need people of color to win elections. It is arrogance, bigotry and thought like this that make them no different than any blatant Republican running. They are no different.

Harry Reid can lose his election in Nevada, I don't care. For me, there were other things of Reid that gives him a no in my book, but this disclosure is enough for me. Reid will not get one dime, no support from me. And don't tell me that we NEED HIM to hold the senate or keep a majority. Look at what we have in the senate now? A bunch of bought and paid for nothings who answer to corporations before citizens. They did nothing all of 2009 and losing Reid will not hurt this corporate bunch in my book.

Lastly, expect the apology tour. Reid already apologized to Obama, so expect more of that. But the thing for me is this, he said what he said and meant it, but now that he got caught say it all of a sudden he did not really mean it. What do I say to this, "BULLSHIT."

From morning joe:







Read it all at Daily Kos

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Bill Clinton says, ‘Teabaggers Are So Inflamed Because We’re Winning’

No shit.

“The reason the tea-baggers are so inflamed is because we are winning.”

— Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse paraphrasing Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, in a lunch with Democratic senators Tuesday

Clinton spoke with lawmakers today on the importance of passing health care reform, something he failed to do during his first term. According to Whitehouse and Politico, “Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) said Clinton described the ongoing tea party protests against the Democratic agenda as a sign their party was making progress.”

“The point I want to make is: Just pass the bill, even if it’s not exactly what you want,” he reportedly said. “When you try and fail, the other guys write history.”

Source

Senator John Ensign compares his EXTRA MARITAL AFFAIR to President Clinton

How utterly ridiculous is that?

Chasing tail is chasing tail!! Getting your piece on the side, is getting your piece on the side!! When did that change? Because Clinton did it, and he was totally WRONG, it is not ok because your ass got caught and you compare your cheating on your wife to President Clinton's infidelity?

John Ensign was wrong on every level imaginable. He was a hypocrite to his constituency, to Promise Keepers, and to his wife and family. Comparing one's self to another person who was equally wrong, does not make you come out smelling like a bouquet of roses.

Please, Nevada when 2012 rolls around, do get rid of this gas bag of a mockery.

Sen. John Ensign told The Associated Press on Wednesday that his affair with a friend's wife was different from former President Bill Clinton's relationship with a White House intern because he didn't lie about it under oath.

"I haven't done anything legally wrong," the Nevada Republican said.

"President Clinton stood right before the American people and he lied to the American people," Ensign said. "You remember that famous day he lied to the American people, plus the fact I thought he suborned perjury. That's why I voted for the articles of impeachment." read more here....

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Freed journalists from North Korea (Videos)

Two American journalists freed by North Korea returned home to the United States on Wednesday for a jubilant, emotional reunion with family members and friends they hadn't seen in nearly five months.

The jet carrying Euna Lee and Laura Ling, reporters for Al Gore's San Francisco-based Current TV, and former President Bill Clinton arrived at Burbank's Bob Hope Airport at dawn. Clinton met with communist leader Kim Jong Il on Tuesday to secure the women's release.

The journalists were arrested near the North Korean-Chinese border in March while on a reporting trip for Current TV. read more here....

Laura Ling

Former Vice-President Al Gore

Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton

President Barack Obama



Now I want to hear from Bill Clinton.....

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Two American journalists pardoned and released during visit of Former President Bill Clinton in North Korea (Updated)

This is breaking news....

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- North Korean media say leader Kim Jong Il has pardoned two American journalists and ordered their release during the visit of former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - Former President Bill Clinton met Tuesday with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il on the first day of a surprise mission to Pyongyang to negotiate the release of two Americans, holding "exhaustive" talks on a wide range of topics, state-run media said.

Clinton "courteously" conveyed a verbal message from President Barack Obama, the official Korean Central News Agency said in a report from Pyongyang. Kim expressed his thanks, and engaged Clinton in a "wide-ranging exchange of views on matters of common concern," the report said.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, however, denied Clinton went with a message from Obama. "That's not true," he told reporters. read more here....

More Here

North Korea on Tuesday released two jailed American journalists after a visit from former U.S. President Bill Clinton in the highest-level U.S. contact with North Korea since Clinton was president nearly a decade ago.

North Korea's KCNA news agency said North Korean leader Kim Jong-il had issued a special pardon to the two journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling of U.S. media outlet Current TV, which was co-founded by Clinton's vice president Al Gore.

Clinton was the highest-level American to visit North Korea since his secretary of state, Madeleine Albright, went there in 2000.

He was greeted warmly on his arrival and had what North Korea's KCNA news agency described as an "exhaustive conversation" over dinner with ailing North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and his top aides. read more here....

UPDATE

Statement (via email) from President Clinton's office:

"President Clinton has safely left North Korea with Laura Ling and Euna Lee. They are en route to Los Angeles where Laura and Euna will be reunited with their families."

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Former President Bill Clinton in North Korea to secure release of detained American journalists

President Bill Clinton (seated, L) and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il (seated, R) posing for a picture in Pyongyang August 4, 2009.

Former President Bill Clinton met Tuesday with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il on the first day of a visit to Pyongyang, holding "exhaustive" talks that covered a wide range of topics, state-run media said.

Clinton "courteously" conveyed a verbal message from President Barack Obama, the official Korean Central News Agency said in a report from Pyongyang. Kim expressed his thanks, and engaged Clinton in a "wide-ranging exchange of views on matters of common concern," the report said.

However, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs denied that Clinton had brought a message from Obama. "That's not true," he told reporters when asked about the report. read more here....

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Throwback: Bill Clinton Second Inauguration, 1997, (Video & Transcript)

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Throwback: Bill Clinton Inauguration, 1993 (Video & Transcript)

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Today's Great Picture(s), Presidential Reunion

Number(s) 41, 44, 43, 42, and 39

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Bill Clinton's Foundation Millions Given by Foreign Governments

This was a stickler during the primaries. A stickler for Hillary "possibly" being VP Candidate. And definitely a stickler, upon Hillary being appointed to Secretary of State, designate.

Former President Bill Clinton's foundation has raised at least $41 million from Saudi Arabia and other foreign governments that his wife Hillary Rodham Clinton may end up negotiating with as the next secretary of state.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia gave $10 million to $25 million to the William J. Clinton Foundation, a nonprofit created by the former president to finance his library in Little Rock, Ark., and charitable efforts to reduce poverty and treat AIDS. Other foreign government givers include Norway, Kuwait, Qatar, Brunei, Oman, Italy and Jamaica.

The MSM will soon jump all over this list. Expect it to happen. Along with Blago, they will bundle this one, too.

The foundation disclosed the names of its 205,000 donors on a Web site Thursday, ending a decade of resistance to identifying the sources of its money. While the list is heavy with international business leaders and billionaires, some 12,000 donors gave $10 or less.

One thing, Clinton did not reveal NAMES of who gave what, so, again expect the MSM to jump all over this.

The former president did not release specific totals for each donor, providing only ranges of giving. Nor did he identify individual contributors' occupations or countries of residence.

Donors gave Clinton's foundation at least $492 million from its inception in 1997 through last year, the most recent figures available.

Source

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The "Vet" of The Clintons is on!!!!

Ok, we all know how the primaries were. It was consistent drama on the daily from Team Clinton. I mean, there was not a DAY that went by without SOMETHING leaked out there by Team Clinton.

Hillary Clinton is qualified to become Secretary of State. She would not be my first pick, since there are others far more qualified, but this is not my decision to make.

This vetting process should be simple, easy but truer than a leaky faucet, we know everything. Or do we?

My take is this. Hillary Clinton wants this position. Right now she is another junior senator, a bench warmer from New York with an international famous name. The senate is not structure to catapult a junior senator to any leader status, it is strictly seniority based.

So, if you lost the nomination, looking at your rival as President-Elect, worked publicly for him to move your support over, of course you will want a cabinet position. This is all about smart politics.

I don't see Hillary being an albatross around Obama's neck, for now. I see her benefiting Obama's Administration. The issue is Bill Clinton.

Team Obama is a strict, disciplined organization. We saw them at work for two years and saw Obama run a stellar campaign. While all the leaks are around us and the media is throwing its opinion out there, Team Obama is tight lipped. As they should be.

We don't know what was said between Obama and Clinton. We also know that Obama has talked to Richardson and rumored others like Kerry for this same position. Now, we hear all this noise about Bill Clinton's business dealings.

Bill Clinton is a former president and probably believes he should get a pass, indifference for this vetting process, but it won't work out that way.

During the primaries some of these questionable folks emerged, like Ron Burkle. As a private citizen, who cares, but in the public eye this is a different story.

All of Bill Clinton's speaking engagements will have to cease, especially the high profiled paying ones. This is potential conflict of interest.

The bottom line, Bill Clinton's books must be opened and examined. Period. Obama cannot allow indifference here, his judgment is at stake. Why appoint Hillary to this position with highly questionable business dealings being speculated? Remember, no drama, Obama?

If Barack Obama asks Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to be secretary of state, she likely will face questions about the global network her husband Bill has created with his foundation, speaking engagements, and business ventures, experts said Friday.

Those questions could include whether Bill Clinton has conflicts of interest or follows the State Department line in his dealings with business and government leaders overseas.

Since leaving the White House eight years ago, Bill Clinton has entered into business partnerships and established the William J. Clinton Foundation, which sponsors international development, AIDS care and other initiatives in projects around the world.

The Clintons dissolved their blind trust and sold their stocks last year, and Bill Clinton disengaged from some investments, to avoid conflict of interest questions while Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) campaigned for president.

But Bill Clinton still runs his foundation, which has raised at least $375 million from donors, including some from foreigners whose gifts have been questioned in newspaper articles.

In one case reported by The New York Times in January, for example, Canadian mining tycoon Frank Giustra gave $131 million to Bill Clinton's charitable enterprises after the two went to Kazakhstan together.

And Hillary covering her bases, if this vetting does not pan out.

From the other side, a Democratic source tells me that Clinton herself is conflicted about taking the job.

So, what will happen? Who knows? Hillary is not even commenting that a meet took place in Chicago last week, so who knows? But Hillary Clinton wants this and Bill better pony up and do whatever it takes for her to GET THIS.



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Obama Morning Break. GOTV Time.

Barack and President Bill Clinton in Kissimmee, Florida

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GOTV. Period.

Alright, we have five days left. Five days left.

For those in early voting states, VOTE. Then help this campaign to GOTV on Tuesday. If you are in or close to a battleground state, GET THERE, ASAP.

The polls are tightening. Yes, the polls.

At this point, the only thing that is relevant is the ground game for Tuesday. The only thing that matters is getting folks to the polls.

I am confident that Obama will win, but the votes have not been counted and until the votes are counted, we are running like we are 20 points behind.

Remember, we win by VOTES not the "We got this" mentality.

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Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, Together at Last

On a chilly Florida night, former President Bill Clinton warmly embraced Senator Barack Obama as a fresh leader for a new generation of Americans and implored voters to rally behind his candidacy to return the nation to a steady course.

“This man should be our president – all of our president,” Mr. Clinton said, speaking to thousands of people here who turned out for a late-night rally. “He’s going to be the next president unless Americans forget what this election is all about.”

ix days before Election Day, the two men made their first joint campaign appearance of the season, striding onto the stage alone together. In the eyes of hopeful Democrats, it carried the air of a torch-passing – absent any of the bitterness from the long presidential primary – as they wore wide smiles and heaped praise onto one another.

Mr. Clinton delivered a spirited argument for the Democratic ticket, offering four distinct reasons to support Mr. Obama on Election Day next week: his philosophy, his policies, his ability to make a decision and his ability to bring change to people’s lives. continue

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Barack and Joe in Sunrise, Florida

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Obama Banks: Clues From The Early Vote

First, click through the data here and here.

Gallup and Pew data show that Democrats are leading in the early vote. The equally reliable Annenberg National Election Survey's data shows that, across the country, Democrats are tied with Republicans in the early vote. Obviously, early voting matters by state only, but these datums are worth noting because Republicans have historically held an early vote advantage nationwide. (Note: Republicans tend to get their folks to fill out absentee ballots and return them early; Dems are investing disproportionately in getting people to leave their homes and vote early, so Democratic numbers will increase as the election approaches.)

In battleground states, Obama is "leading" in Florida (2.5 million people; Democrats have a +6 advantage on ballots turned in) up slightly in Colorado (note that the early vote is already approaching 50% of the 2004 total), leading in Nevada, overperforming in North Carolina (where Dems have historically had a good program) and a few points behind in Georgia. (35.5% of the early voters there are black.)

A note about Colorado: an internal Republican spreadsheet suggests that Democrats have returned 34.6% of their ballots as of Tuesday and Republicans have returned 32.9% of their ballots for about a 15,000 vote advantage. In 2004, at about this time, Republicans had n advantage and won the early vote by about eight points. 1.6 million people requested mail-in ballots -- that's triple the 2004 number -- and Obama has a two to one advantage with low turnout voters who've already turned in their ballots. continue

and..................

Obama in Arizona?????

Morning Reaction: Obama Seriously Considering "Late Surge" into Arizona

Obama Informerical/Commercial

Recession, official. While Exxon/Mobil breaks record profits.

McCain camp trying to scapegoat Palin

Campaign Appearances
more info @ barackobama.com, under states

Today

Barack: Columbia, Missouri; Sarasota, Florida; Virginia Beach, VA

Joe: Allentown, PA; Williamsport, PA; Arnold, Missouri

President Clinton: Toledo, OH; Campbell, OH

Tomorrow

Barack: Des Moines, IA; Highland, IN

Joe and Jill: Lima, OH, Kettering, OH;

Hillary: Ironton, OH; Kirtland, OH

Al and Tipper Gore: Ft. Lauderdale, FL; West Palm Beach, FL

Saturday

Barack: Henderson, NV

Barack and Michelle: Pueblo, CO

Joe and Jill: Evansville, IN; Marion, OH

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Can McCain win White House?



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Barack Obama and President Bill Clinton Rally in Kissimmee (Orlando), Florida, October 29, 2008 (Video)

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The Bidens and Clintons in Scranton, Pennsylvania, October 12, 2008 (Video)

Jill Biden, Introducing President Clinton


President Clinton, Introducing Hillary Clinton


Hillary Clinton, Introducing Joe Biden


Joe Biden

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Bill Clinton on ABCs, "The View", September 22, 2008 (Video)

part one


part two


part three

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