Clinton poised to claim spotlight

[dubyaD40web]

Clinton poised to claim spotlight
What will ex-president do for — and to — Kerry?By Howard Fineman
MSNBC contributor
Updated: 2:21 p.m. ET June 02, 2004WASHINGTON - Word is that Jim Johnson — the Democratic Wise Man whom Sen. John Kerry hired to rummage through the lives of possible vice presidential picks — has surfaced from the vasty deep and is talking to Kerry's political advisers and not just to the nominee himself. You never know what the taciturn Johnson is up to, but his visibility may mean that the senator from Massachusetts is inching toward choosing a running mate. And not a moment too soon, for Kerry is about to be clobbered by a storm worthy of "The Day After Tomorrow." It's called Bill Clinton, and the question is what he will do for — or to — the Democrats when he makes landfall.

Though he left the Oval Office 3½ years ago, in many ways William Jefferson Clinton never went away. He remains a defining political phenomenon of our time. George W. Bush wired his presidency by toggling every Clinton idea in the opposite direction on everything from taxes to terrorism. Now, as he seeks to replace Bush, Kerry offers what amounts to a Clinton Restoration, relying heavily on Clintonites for substantive advice and trumpeting a new campaign slogan — "Let America Be America Again" — that proposes to design the future based on a model of the past, including, presumably, the Clinton Years.


http://g.msn.com/0MNBUS00/1?http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5120549/&&PS=70102&SU=http%3A//www.msnbc.msn.com/&HL=WAITING%20IN%20THE%20WINGS&CM=CoverBColumnBelowAutoBox1&CE=Highlight1


Included is a poll... who would you vote for? As of 3:10 CST the results are:
bush 35%
Kerry 62%
Nader 4%

[progressivebydesign]

1. Clinton still draws 'em in like a rock star..

Couldn't hurt Kerry in the least to have his charisma and sense of proficiency around him. Clinton makes people feel secure, as though an adult is in charge.. Bush.. I won't bother saying what we all already know about the feelings he causes (scared shitless comes to mind).

[Claire Beth]

2. yeah he does! n/t

[lancdem]

3. I think he'll do nothing but help Kerry

Having his book come out before the convention is ideal. I also believe Kerry will pick his veep closer to the convention, after the Big Dog's book is released.

I think it's ironic that the meme is "How will Clinton affect Kerry?" and not what Clinton's reemergence will mean for Bush. Won't he be "stealing the spotlight" from Bush, too? Think about it.

[dubyaD40web]

6. Of course, being an MSNBC article...

...they slant it as if Clinton will hurt Kerry. The last couple paragraphs, they're STILL trying to make it out as if getting a hummer is as bad as starting a war (and doing all the other f***ups bush has done).

IMHO, When Clinton was President, he had his finger on the button. If the man with his finger on the button needs a hummer, for god's sake, Somebody Please give him one!
Also, I can't name one person over the age of 35 (minimum age to be POTUS) who hasn't lied about sex. And yes, that includes my mom.

[FlemingsGhost]

4. Would the real John Kerry please stand up.

So John Kerry is abandoning the passive "Vote for me, I'm not Bush" strategy for the equally dodgey: "Vote for me, I'll be like Clinton?" How about we stop trying to return to the past--like the GOP--and forge an identity via a genuine vision for the future.

Kerry is so lucky his opponent is so despised. He'll get into the Whitehouse without having to present any real plan other than "If you liked Clinton, you'll like me."

[lancdem]

7. That's what the author, Fineman, is saying

I'd take it with a grain of salt. He's trying to turn Kerry into some cardboard cutout.

[FlemingsGhost]

11. So I agree with Fineman? Ouch!

Not a good day...

[lancdem]

12. LOL

At least you're not in agreement with someone as odious as Anthrax Coulter.

[cybildisobedience]

5. what complete and utter and typical Fineman crap

Yes, the real downside of Clinton is that so many people are going to remember the so-called "divisive" issues and not vote for Kerry because of that.
Are you kidding me?
If voters were ANYWHERE near that well-informed and engaged, Bush would be polling about 5 percent right now.
We're supposed to believe that Bush is so popular because average Joes want to have a beer with him or invite them to their barbecue. And at the same time, they're so tuned into the nuances of decades-old Clintonian policies that they have to not vote for Kerry?
Give me a freakin' break -- only today's moron media could get away with this crap.

[lancdem]

9. Fineman is a typical inside-the-beltway media whore

Why would anyone who might vote for Kerry care about what Clinton did 6 years ago? This race will be a referendum on Bush, NOT Bill Clinton. Earth to Howie.

[Cocoa]

10. Fineman has to stretch

to make the Clinton book look like a bad thing for Kerry.

[thebigidea]

8. so... did media whores accuse Nixon of "stealing thunder" with his memoirs

[bluedeminredstate]

13. This is like

the "Clinton fatigue" bullshit they tried to peddle during the 2000 election. The public wasn't suffering from it - the press was! They wanted a new administration and got it. Now comes this crap about Clinton hogging the limelight. I've heard about fifty variations of this theme and it's just lame. Fineman is such a whore...