Vidal now believes, Clinton would be the better president.

[leave iraq]

Vidal now believes, as he did originally, Clinton would be the better president. “Hillary knows more about the world and what to do with the generals. History has proven when the girls get involved, they’re good at it. Elizabeth I knew Raleigh would be a good man to give a ship to.”The Republicans will win the next election, Vidal believes; though for him there is little difference between the parties. “Remember the coup d’etat of 2000 when the Supreme Court fixed the selection, not election, of the stupidest man in the country, Mr Bush.”

Now, he reveals, he regrets his change of heart. How’s Obama doing? “Dreadfully. I was hopeful. He was the most intelligent person we’ve had in that position for a long time. But he’s inexperienced. He has a total inability to understand military matters. He’s acting as if Afghanistan is the magic talisman: solve that and you solve terrorism.” America should leave Afghanistan, he says. “We’ve failed in every other aspect of our effort of conquering the Middle East or whatever you want to call it.” The “War on Terror” was “made up”, Vidal says. “The whole thing was PR, just like ‘weapons of mass destruction’. It has wrecked the airline business, which my father founded in the 1930s. He’d be cutting his wrists. Now when you fly you’re both scared to death and bored to death, a most disagreeable combination.”

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article6854221.ece

[ShortnFiery]

1. Gore Vidal is, without a doubt, a genius. However, he also has "issues." eom

[timeforpeace]

44. It always hurts more when one of our own says stuff like this about Obama.

[Beer on a stick]

2. That's because Vidal is a fucking idiot who loves the masturbating in a spotlight

[LaydeeBug]

33. that's not necessary. It's monday Morning Quarterbacking and it speaks for itself. nt

[EFerrari]

52. Norman Mailer, is that you?

[charlie]

55. *snarf*

:thumbsup: :D

[Beer on a stick]

62. No, it's Pierre Salinger. LOOK!!!! UFOS!!!!

[saltpoint]

72. Nearly a life-time Vidal fan here.

I'm not in agreement with the present political assessment re Obama and Clinton but I will read / have read just about anything else Gore Vidal has to say.

To choose just one of his perfect-pitch historical novels, LINCOLN, I would assert that its author is the far polar opposite of "a fucking idiot."

[VMI Dem]

3. When was the last time this guy was relevant?

[Cleita]

5. When he was the lone voice in the wilderness who dared criticize

the Bushies. I believe he's still relevant. Obama is showing his inexperience.

[meegbear]

8. Thank you!

[cali]

16. he was never the lone voice criticizing the bushies. not even close.

[hfojvt]

31. well us little people don't count. We're not celebrities on TV.

and Sean Penn and Tim Robbins don't count either. They're just B-listers.

[Cleita]

39. He was the only one on a media that was a big cheerleader for the Bushes,

who was even allowed to voice a dissenting opinion for several years. Yes, there were more in the print media, but it's not enough since most people apparently don't read.

[Beer on a stick]

18. Oh effing puh-leez! That's the image he tries to maintain, what he wants you to think.

[Cleita]

38. I'm almost seventy years old and have read much of what Vidal has written

both fiction and non-fiction. I don't believe he wants me or anyone to think he's something that he's not. His viewpoints have been pretty consistent over the years.

[Matariki]

21. That's right. And DU celebrated him then.

I don't agree with him completely, but I certainly agree about the WARS in Afghanistan and Iraq.

[QC]

65. Yeah, but what has he done for me lately?

:sarcasm:

[gateley]

9. I think he has some great insight at times, and then he's got some opinions with

which I disagree.

[Dreamer Tatum]

10. Until the moment you read the article nt

[EFerrari]

53. What is the date on the interview?

[BlooInBloo]

4. Thanks for playing, but Vidal *always* believed that.

[Forkboy]

7. No kidding. Next he'll announce that he now feels the sun is hot.

[gateley]

6. Disagree w/the statement: "He’s acting as if Afghanistan is the

magic talisman: solve that and you solve terrorism." Obama is questioning that now, as we all know.

Gotta agree with his take on the War on Terror, though.

[gkhouston]

11. So?

Last time I checked, Vidal was not Supreme Elector, chooser of Presidents. His opinion, then or now, means little to me.

[still_one]

12. Vidal also believed John Kennedy was a terrible president. It is just his opinion

and that won't even buy a cup of coffee

In fact, Obama has been in less than a year, inherited a tremendous amount of problems, and the story hasn't even been written

As far as his opinion that there is little difference between the parties, he is full of shit. Just on one issue, the Supreme Court. Here's another one, healthcare. Wait you say, look at the blue dogs, even the blue dogs are miles ahead of the republicans in regard to healthcare reform. What about war? There were Democrats who voted against the IWR and the Patriot Act, at most there were 1 or 2 republican who voted against it

No, I am not happy with a lot of things that the Democrats are doing, but I am not a complete idiot, and do realize at least still today there are major differences between republicans and Democrats, especially on social issues

[pokercat999]

20. It may be true that some Dems are slightly to the left of

their corporate masters. But the numbers are very few and shrinking. Most of those that are to the left of their corporate masters still toe the corporate line when push comes to shove and re-election draws near.

Let's face it we live in a country controlled by corporations and until we are willing to challenge them on a physical front we will lose....hell I figure the chances of America becoming an actual liberal democracy are about 534 to 1.

[still_one]

47. Perhaps, but read the republican platform verses the Democratic one

[pokercat999]

73. Yeah that'll do it.........when has either party stuck to their

platform?

[damonm]

13. I take great comfort...

that Gore's wrong about a LOT of stuff - this is no exception.

[FormerDittoHead]

46. Yes. I supported Clinton in the primary, but I think Obama's doing a better job than she would have.

To say that Obama's first 9 months has been flawed, does not mean to say that Clinton would have done better.

The President listens to the Clintons, and neither one of them are shy to voice their opinion.

I just wish he was listening more to the liberal Democrats than the "middle to conservative" Democrats.

As for Afghanistan, I'm thinking he knows the score, but if he's smart, he would probably know when to pick his battles, and he doesn't need a fight with the military industrial establishment right now as well...

[Ikonoklast]

14. So, he's angry his trust fund isn't as much as it once was.

And he thinks Hillary could have prevented that.

What a freakin' tool.

[Maru Kitteh]

15. He may be right, but we'll not be finding out now, will we?

We need to dance with the fella that brought us at this point.

[leeroysphitz]

17. The die hard Obama worshipers around here are going to run out of liberal Icons pretty soon.

Since they keep denouncing them as soon as they level any criticism of Glorious Leader™.

[Hello_Kitty]

25. Your statement should be declared a fire hazard, it's so full of straw.

I'm no Obama worshipper by a long shot, and I think Vidal is being a giant douchebag here. I frankly don't see where Hillary would be doing anything different, other than leaning on Congress harder to get craptastic "health care reform" that is a big giant gift to the insurance industry passed.

[leftynyc]

42. Hmmm

"Glorious Leader" is just what the freepers call him. Are you aware of that?

[leeroysphitz]

61. If the cult of personality fits, wear it...

[blue_onyx]

19. Hillary and Obama are the same

I didn't understand why there was such disagreements between Hillary and Obama supporters. I saw them as being 90% the same. What made me like Obama was his opposition to the war in Iraq and his opposition to the health care mandate. I am disappointed that Obama is escalating the war in Afghanistan and advocating for the health care mandate. So Obama basically proved my original feeling....that he and Hillary were the same (more so that I thought).

Obama is not doing "dreadfully." As long as he passes a good health care bill, he will be re-elected. If he accepts a health care bill with a weak or no public option and an individual mandate, Obama will lose.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

27. I'm 100% with you. +1

[DireStrike]

43. One more thing

Obama is a much better speaker.

Unfortunately, he never uses it to affect policy decisions or discussion.

[HughBeaumont]

22. "The Republicans will win the next election"?

I .. . I just don't think that's going to happen. :shrug:

I'm failing to see a candidate from their side that can even viably challenge Obama. Sarah Failin shoots herself clean in the foot whenever she talks. She cannot debate for beans. She's an economic know-nothing. The rest are wooden white-guy whack-a-doos.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

45. I really hope Vidal is wrong on this one

But the Republicans seem to come up with one attrocity after another, election after election. Bush didn't have the debating skills of a chimpanzee, but somehow was made into a viable candidate by the media.

[HughBeaumont]

50. Bewsh made it on his name.

That's what Sarah doesn't have - the NAME. This is why the religious right and the corptocracy are trying desperately to push her NOW, in time for 2012. With a NAME BRAND (which Repubs are big on), you can get away with just about anything, have any sort of past or present you wish, and you'll succeed. With each passing lunacy, tabloid dropping, stupid statement, rewriting of history, etc. from the Alaskan Queen Crab, the corptocracy that funds these losery no-names like Dole, Ford, McCain and Palin begin to regret their choice.

Sarah also has the unfortunate disadvantage of running against the most charismatic, articulate, intelligent and insightful candidate we've seen in years. People will see how successful his administration will be in the beginning stages of Republicrap cleanup. All he needs to do as a basis point is remind the American people just WHERE Sarah Palin's ideology lies - square with the party that got us INTO this giant shitheap mess in the first place.

Their candidates in one way or another alienate LARGE groups of voters. We like our candidates Christian, but not whack-a-doo. The public likes populists, not corporate fluffers, which ALL Republican candidates are. The public likes defenders, not warmongers. We're tired of the Bush/Reaganesque type of politician.

Put it this way - Who was the last Republican candidate that won a presidential election WITHOUT a "Bush" or a "Nixon" on the ticket? That would be Herbert Hoover. Granted, FDR had four terms, but still.

[H2O Man]

23. huge

[Cha]

37. Yeah, "huge" as in

stupid. Can't wait to hear what he has to say 2 or more years from now.

[JohnnyLib2]

24. Hell, if Vidal bumps Roman off the radar........

while Kate goes on alone

lalalalalala :hide:

[G_j]

26. isn't Hillary more of a hawk?

that wouldn't do much toward getting out of Afghanistan.

[TwilightGardener]

34. Yep. But she'd magically transform into a dove in office, this chucklehead believes.

[redqueen]

51. Yup. (nt)

[Greyhound]

28. Now you've gone and done it...

:popcorn:

[CakeGrrl]

29. Pointless flamebait

But you'll make the hearts of those who have always felt this way go pitty-pat as they take another walk down Woulda Shoulda Coulda Lane.

:eyes:

[Blue_Tires]

30. He's right -- If ONLY a woman of Hillary Clinton's intellect, political savvy, foreign experience

and skills for consensus-building had a high-ranking, high-profile place; somewhere, anywhere in the Obama White House...DAMN what could have been with that lost opportunity...:silly:

[damntexdem]

32. Uh, sorry -- the primaries were decided in 2008.

And so was the presidential election!

Vidal can THINK whatever he wants.

[rvablue]

35. Headline: Gore Vidal searches for relevancy in an ever evolving world! n/t

[Rude Dog]

36. Boo. Hoo.

Nobody who matters cares.

Unrec'd for backstabbing trash.

[Blue_Tires]

40. FWIW Vidal also believes McVeigh was a patriot, so he's all over the place in that interview

Vidal became a supportive correspondent of Timothy McVeigh, who blew up the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City in 1995 killing 168 people. The huge loss of life, indeed McVeigh’s act of mass murder, goes unmentioned by Vidal. “He was a true patriot, a Constitution man,” Vidal claims. “And I was torn, my grandfather had bought Oklahoma into the Union.” McVeigh claimed he had done it as a protest against tyrannical government.

[EFerrari]

57. His views are too complicated for the requisite smash n grab soundbites.

[NuttyFluffers]

68. thank you for that. it's embarrassing how smash n grab soundbitey DU has become...

bumper sticker slogans have their place, but in the grand scheme of things they quickly become the next refuge for jingoism. DU is just as human and just as not immune.

[EmilyAnne]

58. Wow. I've never read about the connection to McVeigh. Thanks for posting this. nt

[Hutzpa]

41. Just as Palin would have

made a better VP.

[Deja Q]

48. Good for him... Oh, would he be saying, if she were President now, that Obama would be better?

[rucky]

49. Because she's a woman?

Lame. Eloquently stated, but lame.

[AntiFascist]

59. Those Democratic intelligence gals...

like Jane Harman, Jan Schakowsky....Diane Feinstein....

[Liquorice]

66. WTF? nt

[ecstatic]

54. With Clinton, we'd be at war with Iran right now as well nt

[Orsino]

56. Because she's a woman. Riiiiiiight.

Woulda shoulda coulda.

Vidal will never be able to prove his alleged point, and no one else will ever be able to disprove it. He's safe enough.

[Libertas1776]

60. I have tremendous respect

for the man, but he is totally out there on this.

[mmonk]

63. I'm a little confused. Clinton would be more likely to escalate without

a lot of thought of consequences IMO. Be that as it may, with Obama's staff, we've got Clinton practically.

[pot luck]

64. Doesn't Hillary want Obama to send MORE troops

to Afghanistan? How would she be more likely to get us out of this war?

[A-Schwarzenegger]

67. Right or wrong, what a miserably unwise old man.

Teach me, your bitterness, how not to grow old.

[xchrom]

69. kick

[Forkboy]

70. She would have been almost exactly the same.

The two are so identical policy wise that's either real funny or not funny at all, depending on one's outlook. :)

[jgraz]

71. Hillary has far more contempt for the average voter

She would have been far, far worse.