Clinton is going on the attack and will be the rally round

[WCGreen]

figure to give the Dem's a national identity ....

I believe that is why he is granting interviews now, while congress is in session in order to help give the Dem's a voice that is almost as loud as the one coming from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue...

[yurbud]

1. I hope you are right--Clinton has the Charisma and Clarity Dems lack

or at least it's harder for the MSM to justify ignoring him.

[madfloridian]

2. He is positioning himself as the face of the party.

Partly for himself, partly for Hillary.

Many of us are ready to have others be party faces as well, but there is only so much oxygen.

[grasswire]

3. I believe he is mostly concerned about his legacy.

He is positioning himself as the uber Jimmy Carter, doing good in the world. And he truly IS doing good in the world. But I don't think he's doing this for Democrats or for America, even. I believe he just has to satisfy his demons by positioning himself as a much-loved peacemaker.

[madfloridian]

6. It's ok....someone showed me not to say anything.

I have learned my lesson.

[MrCoffee]

7. I'm not being impudent, but so what?

He's out there swinging the bat for those who, for political reasons, can't. If he gets a little legacy polishing in as well, so what?

Again, that's an honest question, i'm not trying to pick a fight. Promise.

[AtomicKitten]

8. I agree.

He is hammering his Clinton Global Initiative hard and has raised $9B+ funds this year already. Regardless of the ankle-biting and declarations of his intentions and ulterior motives made with such certainty , his work in the world community is an awesome sight to behold, particularly in contrast to the devastation being rendered by this administration. And if he can step into the void and provide a strong, eloquent, and succinct voice on behalf of the Democratic Party and has an opportunity to dispel the myths of Path to 9/11, that's gravy.

[grasswire]

10. I'm torn over this.

On the one hand, he has taken the upper road, attempting to make friends with those who have done wrong against him and being an example for good in the world.

On the other hand, people like Rove and Cheney EXPLOIT those traits because they are psychopaths and will not be shamed by even pure and holy actions of others.

The refusal of Democrats to PUNISH those who have attacked the Constitution over the last eight decades has allowed the erosion of everything we hold dear -- everything that protects our way of life and our freedoms.

The same gang of elite industrialists nearly effected a military coup against FDR. It was brushed under the rug "for the good of the country." From then on a series of assaults against the Constitution has weakened this country, and it was accompanied by a propaganda war against Democrats.

They won't stop because one man is urging some others to rise above the fray. No matter how pure his motives, the BFEE will exploit his peacemaking. Count on it.

[madfloridian]

11. Well said.

Kudos.

[AtomicKitten]

13. It can never be said that taking the high road is the wrong thing to do.

I think feeling torn over this is understandable when the opposition continually breaches civility over and over again to their advantage, but the Pavlovian response to dirty politics is beginning to fade in efficacy.

I would offer this morsel of hope. When, and I mean when - not if, the Dems take back the House this November, they will do the oversight the Republican Congress has failed to do. The Constitution will prevail. I have no doubt whatsoever that oversight will lead to investigations, and the truth shall set us free.

Patience. We are almost there.

[WCGreen]

14. He has to take the first step toward party leadership...

Cause no one in the Media can question his motives...

He will start the ball running and then others can pick it up...

But like it or not, he is the one voice that can comand enough attention to get more than a soundbite out concerningthe democratic agenda...

[AtomicKitten]

16. that and subpoena power

will move this country in the right direction

[madfloridian]

17. The media can question whomever they wish.

And there are several Democratic agendas now. There is not just one. It is just not going to be that way anymore.

The Third Way/DLC agenda got us into Iraq with no visible way out.

I do not think we can survive without allowing other voices and another agenda.

He is not the only voice for the party.

Our nominees for 2004 would ordinarily be spokespeople, and they need air time. They are working other ways, but they need to be seen and heard.

And if he continues on TV, as wonderful as his global work is...he needs to stand aside from being so cozy with the Bush family. He needs to call them out for being the criminals they are.

[AtomicKitten]

18. correction

"The Third Way/DLC agenda got us into Iraq with no visible way out."

Wrong. The PNAC boys thought up this escapade years ago and executed it via a compliant executive branch.

Secondly, there is plenty of room for all kinds of voices in the party, so you needn't expend so much energy trying to marginalize Clinton. Many Democrats are grateful for his voice resonating at a time when not much else can be heard above the din of the GOP Noise Machine. Bill Clinton is doing some amazing work with his Clinton Global Initiative. Try to muster the grace to allow the well-deserved kudos to be heard.

[madfloridian]

20. "muster the grace"? I guess I got spanked with that one, didn't I?

I think you know better.

And don't deny that group was all for the invasion. They were, most surely. Denial at this stage is just wrong.

[AtomicKitten]

21. say what you will -- "all for the invasion"

but most if not all the Dem 'yes' votes on the IWR were cast for political reasons (to protect their asses in response to the "Dems are weak on terror" meme); had you made that argument, I would agree with you.

The pre-election 2002 IWR vote was orchestrated by the GOP for the same reason as DOMA before the 1996 election, to put the Dems between a rock and a hard place. That's well-known cheesy GOP strategy.

It's bad enough that the Democrats didn't have the integrity to pull up their socks and vote the way they should for political reasons. You don't need to impose presumptuous allegations to further denigrate them. It's gratuitous, but that seems to be the way you punctuate your POV.

[WCGreen]

23. He is the only one who has an open mic....

Everyone else will be accused of promoting their own agenda...

They won't give Nancy Pelosi a microphone...

they won't give Harry Ried a microphone...

They have to Clinton a chance because of his continued popularity...

[madfloridian]

24. His agenda could be perceived to be Hillary.

And actually some do have an agenda of actually caring about the fact that the party structure was allowed to disintegrate.

Some really do care about the party, and have that as their agenda.

[WCGreen]

25. I'm just sharing with the board how I feel the presence of

BC and others is probably perceived by the media...

I know others have legitimate claims to an agenda...

I lived through the 1994 take over and how the Newt and Rush combine blindsided the Media into perceiving them as a legitimate political force...

It's not my choice...

It's my perception...

[madfloridian]

15. The high road is good when you have an informed populace.

We don't have a media that knows what is going on, and neither do the people.

We should at least make an effort to point out the evils they are perpetrating on our government.

Tell them, go on the air and tell them, not just go on and talk happy talk.

I am all for the high road in some cases.

[MODemocrat]

9. He is doing so much for people who have so little

I can certainly relate to that, since I was from a family of ten siblings. There was never enough, and it surely would have been nice to have someone around who cared about people like us. Bill Clinton is
a great person. That's why the rightwingers are constantly berating him.
Go Bill: :thumbsup:

[madfloridian]

12. Clinton is doing a lot for the world.

My comment was not about his global efforts. I think it is time to call out the Bush family for destroying our country, and he is hanging out with them.

[MODemocrat]

26. I definitely agree, and he shouldn't hang out with them

My husband gets real upset when he sees Clinton with the Bushes, just as I do. They can have a sword in
his back with a smile on their face; they're not to be trusted. As mean as the republicans have been to
Clinton, it's hard to see why he would even want to associate with any of them. :spank:

[madfloridian]

27. Well, it is the way of unity.

It is what he in his philosophy thinks will work. I am quite sure he knows how evil they are. But he gives them credibility by hanging with them.

[MODemocrat]

30. Of course Bill Clinton is aware of their evil ways

And I have to remember that he is doing this for the sake of others' plights. I still am not pleased about it.
I'm just not a politician. If somebody is hateful to mean, they can just kiss me goodbye. I won'd "turn
the other cheek to be smitten."

[OzarkDem]

28. He's doing it for Dems, too

We sometimes forget, but Clinton has always been incredibly loyal to the Democratic party, even when some of its members were not very nice to him. Like Truman and others, he strongly believes in the party as a institution, bigger than any Dem leader.

He's also a very grassroots Dem. He ran the best campaign in Ohio than any Dem president in recent history. He's doig this because he knows its his duty, its what he wants to do and he's doing it for us, more than himself.

[patricia92243]

4. I hope that's it and not just to promote his World Initititive Program.

[Kolesar]

5. His "Global Initiative" is definitely well-considered and on-message

My global warming agenda is centered on efficiency and conservation. Clinton's is on alternative energy generation, but that is ok. Alternative energy is a simpler concept and is more hopeful. How can you not be enthused when you are looking into the sky at a wind turbine?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

19. I am so pleased to see him out on the hustings.....

Perhaps he will stand as a reminder of how good Democrats can actually be...

But in any event, his voice is a very welcome one as he fights to improve our chances in November.......

[bluedog]

22. Clinton loves doing this......he loves the attention

and he sure knows he can "rile" the Republicans like no other man can.......
Glad to see him out and speaking.....finally giving some of the same crap right back to the GOP.

He can only get better......hes hitting the talk shows .......because......he's trying to unite the Democratic party...he speaks so well..nothing like the bumbling from *.........

[Vidar]

29. I hope you're right.