If you were Bill Clinton, what would you do this year?

[0rganism]

Another thread about disappointment in Bill Clinton got me thinking. What could the last popularly elected president be doing to help us Right Now?

I may have disagreed with much of his policy while in office, and I don't think there's too much question that he weakened the Democratic party somewhat. But he's still an incredibly sharp, well-spoken, and charismatic person. He's got assets; the question is, how should he use them?

If you were Bill Clinton in 2004, what would you do?

Me, I'd start by campaigning for Democratic party planks in stronghold states, to shore up the base during the primaries. We've seen some fairly ominous activity in New York and (holy shit!) California recently, so it wouldn't hurt to have the Big Dog playing defense there. An endorsement of a candidate is unnecessary at this time, I'd wait until after the nomination, but offer active support if the candidate wished it.

[rock]

1. Bask

[7th_Sephiroth]

2. if i were bill

i'd become a spokesman for the democratic party, maybe get a limbaugh type radio program

[Disandra]

3. To be frank...

...I want him to stay away from any type of campaigning.

I've never been a fan of the Clintons. I think that that problem with the Democratic party is that it is to conservative, and Clinton is the one who got us there. I won't get into a "Clinton" rant here, but I've never been happy with the guy.

Another thing to think about: he is the favorite whipping boy of the neocon's, and I guarantee you that if he spoke up for any candidate, the focus would be on him, not on the candidate.

[salinen]

5. He should go to the same area as * for the

MLK memorial service. Then we'll see who is respected more.

[Disandra]

10. ????

What I am trying to get across here is that if Clinton got up and did campaigning for someone, then the focus would be on him and not the candidate.

Yeah, I don't like the guy. I don't like Dubya either. Of the two, I prefer Clinton.

What is the point of your post?

[0rganism]

13. What about issue advocacy?

I agree with you about the candidate campaigning, by the way.

[Disandra]

16. Again, my answer would be for him to stay out of it.

*Anything* Clinton gets involved in, especially because this is an election year, he will be the main story. We need to make sure the focus is on the people that are running and not on him.

[Kanary]

18. I don't know why people aren't hearing you... you're right!

You're exactly right.

I guess there is so much fogginess around the issue of what Clinton wreaked upon the party that there is just not way to understand the simple concept that he isn't that helpful.

I hear you. I agree with you.

Kanary

[Disandra]

20. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

:yourock:

[rucky]

4. Ex-presidents aren't supposed to do anything

You never hear from Poppy, and his son is up for reelection.

Executive privlidge.

[Democrats unite]

9. Maybe Poppy is not happy with him?

eom

[0rganism]

12. Poppy doesn't give a shit, that's why you won't hear from him

It's apparent that he finds his eldest son to be a drug-addled buffoon, propped up by the massive corporate power structure his forebears created. Ever seen footage of the bushes together playing golf? It's hilarious!

[YNGW]

6. Play Golf.

nc

[slackmaster]

7. Dang, you stole my knee-jerk answer!

If I were Bill Clinton I'd take some top-notch lessons and sharpen up my game.

[YNGW]

11. Oops!

Great minds think alike.

Yeah, I'd hit the links.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[markburgess]

14. Bill Clinton was not "popularly elected" - 43% popular vote '92, 49% '96

http://en2.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._presidential_election,_1992
http://en2.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._presidential_election,_1996

Don't forget that Perot handed him the election in 1992 and possibly in 1996.

[Zynx]

25. '96 he won legit. '92 is a different matter.

[0rganism]

26. A plurality suffices in our system, or have you forgotten?

Clinton's 43% beat the other two candidates soundly.

Unlike the current resident who lost the vote, yet won the election through sheer corruption.

[ComerPerro]

27. Yeah but at least he got the most votes

unlike the idiot that you worship

[hang a left]

15. I get an exorcism STAT.

n/t

[Kanary]

17. Repent. Only partially facitious

It would help if he would start by acknowledging some of the junk he did, and the messes he created, and have the humility to listen to how people now want to *fix* what he did. If he were able to do that, I would be able to listen to him again. He needs to hear from the workers how he messed them up with support for NAFTA: He needs to listen -- and I mean really *HEAR* -- the pain he has caused those he screwed out of welfare.

*THEN* he could go on to heal some of the rifts, and bring some strength back to the party.

Campaigning isn't going to heal those rifts.

Kanar

[Disandra]

22. WOW!

I think I'm falling in love with you. Don't be alarmed. ;-)

[savior93]

23. Clinton

you mean act like he cares, act like he understands, act like he listens, because we all know he doesn't. just another politician

[Alenne]

19. Nothing at all

Because if it doesn't work out everybody will blame him for everything that went wrong.

[Deja Q]

21. I'm not Bill Clinton. More importantly,

anyone selected in 2000 that wasn't Bush would not have let 9/11 happen or at least would have taken greater consideration and genuine care toward the American people afterward.

If Bill Clinton had let 9/11 happen, he'd be toast for sure.

[0rganism]

24. It's a hypothetical question, my sweet mad toad.

Restating: "what do you, hypothetically role-playing EX-president Bill Clinton, do to help the Democrats in 2004?"

[Catherine Vincent]

28. Don't you mean who he would do?

;-)

[LSdemocrat]

29. Finish book. Release AFTER election

I can't wait til it comes out, but I hope he makes sure it doesn't interfere with the election.

[spooky3]

30. 1) Help raise money once the primaries are over.

Many on DU may not like him, but he remains extremely popular with many, maybe even the majority, of Americans, especially those in the center. Many would be happy to pay $$$ to hear him as a dinner speaker (and many already have).

2) Advise any candidate who seeks his advice if he wants to. He has valuable experience. The candidate can decide for him/herself how to use the advice.

3) Campaign with the nominee if asked and if he wants to. Nearly all of the people this will alienate, and I think this number is small, were going to vote for Bush anyway.