Clinton: Losing House Would Help Obama in 2012

[cal04]

Says Republican Opposition Had "Shocked," "Disoriented" President, But He Believes Obama Is Getting His Groove Back
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/09/19/ftn/main6881548.shtml

Former President Bill Clinton said he believes President Obama was "shocked" and "disoriented" by the intensity of Republican opposition to his efforts to move the country forward.

Appearing on CBS' "Face the Nation" this morning, Clinton also said that speculation over Mr. Obama losing his touch - owing to Washington gridlock - is not the whole story. He said that Republicans who learned during his own presidency that saying "No" can be rewarded at the ballot box are reusing that playbook now, regardless of how such tactics might stall economic growth.

Yet in a telling comment, when asked if President Obama's reelection chances might be improved if the Democrats lost control of the House of Representatives in the midterms, Mr. Clinton said yes.

The former president discussed the current state in Washington, in relation to his own two terms in office; Democrats lost control in Congress after a rise in anti-government fervor in 1994, and yet President Clinton was able to score several major legislative victories with the help of Republicans.

(snip)
"When he got elected, the first thing he said was, 'I don't want any investigations into the Bush years; I want to go right ahead. We want to get this country moving again,'" Mr. Clinton told host Bob Schieffer. "He kept thinking that he would find some partners in the Republican Party. He didn't.

(snip)
"I think he is getting his groove back now. He's still fighting for specific things on small business and manufacturing and all the stimulus money that hadn't been spent for clean energy stuff. He's out there combating the opposition now. Maybe that will make a difference. I think it will make some difference; I think we'll do better."

[onehandle]

1. Possibly, meanwhile nothing will get done for two years.

And Obama will have to go begging to the orange man everyday.

[still_one]

2. Amazing, every ex President has their opinion on Obama. Why not give him a chance. You had yours

Funny how this is coming out now that elections loom in November

Seems to me the corporations and wall street are getting concerned that the Democrats might just retain Congress, and we need to stir things up a bit

[ProSense]

3. I never liked Clinton's way of thinking.

"Former President Bill Clinton said he believes President Obama was "shocked" and "disoriented" by the intensity of Republican opposition to his efforts to move the country forward."

Obama shocked by Republican opposition? They spent the entire 2008 campaign building the meme that he was a Muslim socialist.

[breadandwine]

27. Just what we need - a GOP House. That will really solve everything!

Stockholm Syndrome rocks! People who love their captors. Now THAT will really solve EVERYTHING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LiberalAndProud]

4. Even assuming he's right that losing the house would be good for 2012 ...

which I doubt, it would not be a good thing for America. Which of Clinton's legislative "victories" post 94 were good things? Can anyone enlighten me?

[iamjoy]

7. HIPAA and CHIP

That's two. Of course, considered in the context that we lost an opportunity for comprehensive health care reform those seem kind of lame.

[ladjf]

12. Good post. nt

[DJ13]

5. It would only help if conservative policies are desired by the WH

The only real value would be in providing cover for moving to the right.

[iamjoy]

6. What Is Wrong With Democrats?

Republicans picked up seats in 2002 and Dubya still got reelected in 2004

If the Republicans take back the House, they will find it easier to obstruct and when the economy is till crap in 2012 use it to campaign against President Obama.

[Individualist]

10. DLC is what is wrong with Democrats

[FormerDittoHead]

11. ...maybe impeachment for all of Obama's crimes!

..or finally - the "official" congressional hearing on that birth certificate!

Yea, good thing can happen!

...and while politicos like Clinton count their "accomplishments" like NAFTA, the rest of the country is going to hell.

[Nite Owl]

8. It might help Obama in '12

but what about us? A right wing agenda won't help people out of work at all, it won't help anything.

[Enthusiast]

21. Plus One. nt

[Maccagirl]

9. Possiby Obama doesn't have the ego that Clinton does

It's not all about you, Bill. And, everyone saw what the Pubbies were going to do-if Obama honestly didn't, I have serious questions about his judgement.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

13. I'm having an acid flashback --

"...and yet President Clinton was able to score several major legislative victories with the help of Republicans."


From a letter I sent to O back in August after the Gibbs Hill article:

"I can see only two reasons for Mr. Gibb's statements:

1) You wanted to polish your "moderate/pro-corporate" cred (and fundraising) before the midterms and feel completely comfortable shitting on your base because you are confident they will take it and still show up to vote for the Democrats come November and 2012. After all, where else do they have to go? Right?

2) You want liberals to be discourage and to stay home. Why? I dunno, maybe it's because it is easier to be in the minority -- easier to explain away why you can't get a solid Democratic agenda (that perhaps was unwanted in the first place) through Congress, easier to huff and puff about how bad the GOP is without having to actually accomplish anything futher or, worse, easier to sell out traditional Democratic values in order to get the GOP support you would then need to get anything through.

Which ever the case, it is wildy cynical. Ugly. Unbefitting a Democratic President."

Only a neoliberal/DLCer like Bill Clinton would think it a good thing to lose the House so we can get even MORE fucked by playing footsies with the GOP. :eyes: :puke:

[Enthusiast]

22. I'm with you!

With friends like Clinton who needs enemies?

[Arkana]

14. No it would not, Bill.

[bluestateguy]

15. Yes, if he became comfortable with using this here

[LiberalFighter]

16. On this topic Clinton is full of it.

[glinda]

17. No it would not. It would destroy the Country.

[Rex]

18. True and just the politicians will benefit, while the working class goes further down in flames.

I sometimes hate people that live a totally privileged life.

[lumberjack_jeff]

19. I care less about what helps him than what helps us. n/t

[Enthusiast]

20. Why didn't this big mouth

veto the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. And what about NAFTA? He is the best Republican President we ever had.

Clinton, you suck. I mean, you really suck.

[Mefistofeles]

23. Clinton added, "Whether it would be good for the country or not. I don't know."

It's right there. In the article.

[blondeatlast]

24. With all due respect, Mr. President: Kindly keep your foolishness to yourself.

Losing the House is bad for the President and far worse fot the US>

[BlueIris]

25. I can't follow the logic here.

I like President Clinton, but I think it will be harder for the sitting president, come 2012, to convince people he deserves reelection if he's gotten even less done between now and then, which will be the case if the House "goes red" after November.

[necso]

26. Whatever power the cons gain,

they'll use to try to obstruct, undermine and destroy Democrats, regardless of the harm done to the national interest in the process (cons serve themselves and their paymasters -- not the common interests of the country and people).

Moreover, while there's a chance this strategy could backfire, politics doesn't happen in isolation (ie, as is generally the case, there's a greater context to consider; more specifically, this isn't the 90s).

And if the country's situation (especially the economic situation) doesn't improve significantly over the next two years (like because of republicon obstruction), this could well hurt Democrats' chances in 2012. (Even now, extremists appear to be doing well in a number of races (including Nevada, Alaska, Kentucky, Florida senate races... what madness); and Democrats have only had 20 months (months of republicon obstruction and vicious, baseless attacks) to attempt to fix the great disaster handed to them by the cons.)

But in any case, if con ugliness and extremism is seen to work for them, then more, and worse, can be expected from them. So people thinking of voting republican should consider the consequences -- and forget that "Who could have foreseen?" bs. (In particular, anyone hoping for Social Security, Medicare, or other benefits of the sort that help (and are important to) ordinary people, should realize that voting for republicons is voting to be screwed; because the cons will continue with their characteristic behavior (eg, to serve elite interests, abuse popular trust). -- So don't be conned.)

[EstimatedProphet]

28. Bill...shut up. Really. Shut up.

[MilesColtrane]

29. "Clinton was able to score several major legislative victories with the help of Republicans"

Victories like revoking anti-trust laws in the Telecom Reform Act, Welfare "reform", the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act which directly led to the Great Recession, and the granting of Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China (more damaging to American jobs than NAFTA and GATT together)?

No thanks, Bill.

[Erose999]

30. Losing the House would definitely help the DLC, including Obama. New democrats are just republicans.