Bill Clinton's Cory Booker Moment, Part II
Less than a week after describing presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney's business record as "sterling," former President Bill Clinton ran afoul of President Barack Obama's campaign again today. In an interview with CNBC, Clinton seemed to support extending all the Bush tax cuts, including the ones for higher-income earners that Obama has vowed to eliminate.
While Clinton did not go as far as Republicans who want to make lower rates permanent, his comments appeared to acknowledge what one would expect a good Keynesian like Obama to acknowledge -- raising taxes would only make a bad economy worse. Clinton's office later issued a statement denying that the former president supported a temporary extension, but this excerpt from the CNBC interview suggests otherwise.
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Jul '11
Re: Bill Clinton's Cory Booker Moment, Part II
Maybe Dick Morris is right and Bill Clinton wants Obama to lose.
Nov '11
Re: Bill Clinton's Cory Booker Moment, Part II
On his show today, Limbaugh mentioned a rumor floating around the Clinton is actually telling people privately - including conservatives in his circle of friends - that he hopes Obama loses. That may or may not be true, but, hey, where there's smoke, there's fire. Know what I'm sayin'.
I know he's in his mid-60s, but maybe Clinton is, finally, growing up a little bit.
Edited on June 6, 2012 at 5:56amSep '10
Re: Bill Clinton's Cory Booker Moment, Part II
Two options: 1) Clinton is a loose Biden-like cannon that shoots from the hip or 2) Clinton is playing a seriously devious game. Bets?
Jul '11
Re: Bill Clinton's Cory Booker Moment, Part II
I suspect option 2 but sometimes cardiac bypass patients have Biden moments as they age (not a joke).
Mar '11
Re: Bill Clinton's Cory Booker Moment, Part II
There is also the remote possibility that Mr Clinton wants the best for the country and regards Mr Obama as an amateur - someone wrote a book about that, I believe.
Jun '12
Re: Bill Clinton's Cory Booker Moment, Part II
Or, Billy-Boy is still stinging from his wife being defeated by Obama in 2008 and is getting his payback.
Feb '11
Re: Bill Clinton's Cory Booker Moment, Part II
Clinton doesn't want Obama to win.
If I had my druthers Mr Bill would be on TV every day until the election. :)
Re: Bill Clinton's Cory Booker Moment, Part II
Above all, he seeks Validation. From daybreak to the moment when the head hits the pillow, Validation. In the twitchy REM hours, Validation. It's remarkable to think one could be elected to the highest office in the land - twice - and still need to feel reassured of one's worth and stature, but Bill Clinton is a peculiar mutt.
What could be better than becoming the First Husband? The parties, the perks, with none of the work. The eyes of the world would once more swivel his way, as they should. The brand reinstalled in the socket of power. Validation.
Not to say it's all Machiavellian calculations. He's a smart guy. And I'd prefer an extroverted narcissist to an introverted one. The former have to pretend they like other people, but it's hard for them not to learn something in the process.
Jul '11
Re: Bill Clinton's Cory Booker Moment, Part II
Hilarious and astute James Lileks. Yours is a superior mind.
Jun '10
Re: Bill Clinton's Cory Booker Moment, Part II
How often does the incumbent party retain power after an eight year presidency? In the last 60 years the answer is once (George H.W. Bush followed after eight years of Reagan). Truman, Eisenhower, Nixon/Ford, Clinton and George W. Bush all surrendered power to the opposition after eight years in office. Americans eventually get sick of incumbents even when they're successful. Bill Clinton knows his wife won't have a snowball's chance in hell after eight years of Obama. The Clintons need Romney to win in 2012 to have a shot in 2016. Simple.
Apr '11
Re: Bill Clinton's Cory Booker Moment, Part II
I know he's in his mid-60s, but maybe Clinton is, finally, growing up a little bit. · 5 hours ago
Edited 5 hours ago
Not a chance. Whatever he does, he is first and foremost looking out for own interests.
Re: Bill Clinton's Cory Booker Moment, Part II
The swift reaction from his office leads me to think that Clinton made an honest gaffe. Honest because he really doesn't think the tax cuts should expire. A gaffe because he wishes he hadn't said it.
Aug '10
Re: Bill Clinton's Cory Booker Moment, Part II
Doc
I know he's in his mid-60s, but maybe Clinton is, finally, growing up a little bit. · 5 hours ago
Edited 5 hours ago
Not a chance. Whatever he does, he is first and foremost looking out for own interests. · 1 hour ago
Exactly. Bill Clinton is concerned with one person, and one person only: Bill Clinton.
Apr '12
Re: Bill Clinton's Cory Booker Moment, Part II
There is nothing like a woman scorned, that is until Bill Clinton came along. That last Democratic leadership battle left Clinton looking shriveled and impotent, particularly the Kennedy endorsement part of the story. When Clinton was called the R word too, that was shocking and probably has him up at night still. What sweeter revenge than to slip the small dagger between Obama's ribs and twist. I am liking this older Clinton, minus the photo ops with porn stars, mind you.
Jun '12
Re: Bill Clinton's Cory Booker Moment, Part II
Indeed. O appears to be learning the age-old lesson that you should be kind to people on your way up, because you'll meet them again on your way down... which seems to be the direction The One is going.
Mar '11
Re: Bill Clinton's Cory Booker Moment, Part II
Well... I suppose photo ops with porn stars:
could be considered an improvement over sexual escapades in the Oval Office.
Tasha Reign and Brooklyn Lee for the curious.