The American Spectator : Remembering Clinton and the Episodic Apologists

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The Current Crisis

Remembering Clinton and the Episodic Apologists

By R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. on 2.24.11 @ 6:09AM

Welcome to Softball, with Chris Matthews, episodic apologist extraordinaire.

WASHINGTON -- Frankly, I did not think of Chris Matthews as an Episodic Apologist until I watched his MSNBC documentary this week, "President of the World: The Bill Clinton Phenomenon." The Episodic Apologists are a familiar fixture of the Clinton Administration much as the Court Historians are a fixture of the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Whereas the Court Historians could always be relied upon to spin history FDR's heroic way, the Episodic Apologists always end up slobbering all over the Clintons -- albeit with a twist.

The Court Historians were always pretty straightforward. They adored FDR from the beginning to the end. The Episodic Apologists' life is endlessly more complicated and melodramatic, as the Clintons are more complicated and more melodramatic. There seems to be a script prepared for them. The Apologists begin with high hopes and admiration for Bill and Bruno. Then Bill and Bruno fail them. The Clintons lie before grand juries or filch White House property while exiting for Chappaqua or they are get caught in Troopergate, Travelgate, Filegate, or renting the Lincoln Bedroom. Of a sudden, the Apologists suffer blighted hopes. First they become indignant. Then they feel used and abused. Some cry in public. Finally, hope springs anew.

As John F. Harris, formerly of the Washington Post, wrote in his 2005 book The Survivor: Bill Clinton in the White House -- and after years of such humiliating scandals -- the Clintons are "the two most important political figures of their generation." Perhaps he forgot about George W. Bush and Newt Gingrich. By the way, Harris was tapped by Matthews to shill for Clinton the other night.

However, I would have expected more of Matthews. To be sure he was always a reliable Democrat on most public matters and public figures, but on Clinton he was often skeptical. During the Monica Lewinsky, shall we say, exposure, and subsequent impeachment proceedings, he seemed impatient. I always suspected that it was his Catholic sense of right and wrong that was triggered by the Clintons' amorality. Apparently, enough time has elapsed for him too to join the Episodic Apologists.

This week's documentary was hagiography for a rogue. If it ever raised an uncomfortable question for the "World President," I missed it. His scandal-plagued presidency, its Animal House exit, and the reckless way he has amassed his fortune got not a nod of interest. "Bill Clinton's position in the world continues to grow," hymned Matthews. "He's part dignitary, part humanitarian, part international statesman, and somehow greater than all of them." Well, he has done some good of late, but few presidents have been more self-absorbed and mediocre, and, in fact, he piffled away almost a decade as the Playboy President when America needed a competent chief executive. I have always compared him to Warren G. Harding right down to his love of golf and the bossy wife, though Mrs. Harding was relatively honest and did not make such a thing of her hair.

Halfway through the hour-long gush of celebration there was one name mentioned, I think by way of criticism. It came fast and without much elaboration, Marc Rich. He was the most notorious of the 140 pardons and 36 commutations granted by Clinton in the hours before leaving the White House. Actually there were many more miscreants in Clinton's back-of-the-hand insult to federal prosecutors, including money launderers, drug dealers, murderers, and even Susan McDougal, whom Clinton said he would never pardon. The Clintons' brothers were discovered arranging pardons for cash, along with former White House aides. Then there was the White House property, for which the Clintons finally made a minimum payment, the office equipment that their staff sabotaged, and the property stolen from Air Force One on its last flight with the Clintons. Finally, Bill began his fundraising campaign for a comfortable retirement, $43 million in the first four years, much of it from very dubious sources such as the Red Chinese. The fundraising continues.

The Clintons' White House exit led even Democrats to inveigh: "totally indefensible" (Joe Biden), "disgraceful" (Jimmy Carter), "terrible, devastating" and "appalling" (William Daley), "Clinton is utterly disgraced" (former Clinton secretary of labor Robert Reich), and "some of Mr. Clinton's closest associates and supporters are acknowledging what his enemies have argued for years -- the man is so thoroughly corrupt it is frightening" (the New York Times' Bob Herbert). I could continue, but you get my drift -- and all would be back on board in a couple of years.

Two editorials stick in my mind from these early years of Clinton's Presidency the World. The Times called for congressional investigations, lamenting that "the former president… seemed to make a redoubled effort in the last moments of his presidency to plunge further and further beneath the already low expectations of his most cynical critics and most world-weary friends." The New York Observer noted that the Clinton critics "were right, after all. Mr. Clinton was, in fact, an untrustworthy low-life who used people for his own purposes and then discarded them." As for Hillary, the newspaper explained that New Yorkers had "made a terrible mistake, for Hillary Rodham Clinton is unfit for elective office. Had she any shame, she would resign."

Oh, and by the way, on the day of the MSNBC documentary a headline in the Washington Post read: "Several Clinton fundraisers now facing criminal charges."

About the Author

R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. is the founder and editor in chief of The American Spectator. He is the author of the forthcoming The Death of Liberalism, published by Thomas Nelson Inc. His previous books include the New York Times bestseller Boy Clinton: the Political Biography; The Impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton; The Liberal Crack-Up; The Conservative Crack-Up; Public Nuisances; The Future that Doesn't Work: Social Democracy's Failure in Britain; Madame Hillary: The Dark Road to the White House; The Clinton Crack-Up; and After the Hangover: The Conservatives' Road to Recovery.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (99) | Leave a comment

MikeD| 2.24.11 @ 7:57AM

Unfortunately, the essence of this story is less the Clintons and their total lack of morality, but Chris Matthews and HIS total lack of morality, and honesty, and objectivity, and so on. Matthews has become such a blatant Democratic/Left wing apologist that any credibility he ever had has been gone for years. He's always been a kind of a joke; but the time has come to look at the whole sordid triangle of corruption that supports the new American Socialist Party, formerly known as the Democrats.

The three supports of that triangle are the media, academia, and public unions. Unless they are living in a deep cave under the south pole, Americans are witnessing daily the evils of this triangle. The public employee unions have slit their own throats with their behavior. The media has confirmed not only their total lack of objectivity, but also administered another dose of self flagellation with their biased coverage. The sins of academia are legend and must be rectified and rescinded before they destroy yet another generation of Americans.

At the end of the day, every person in America who calls themselves a Democrat, or who proudly identifies as a liberal or 'progressive' (the latest 'non ge guerre' liberals are using to hide what they are) had better look in the mirror because THEY are the enemy. The evidence is clear, and any democrat who tried to tell themselves that it's not THEIR fault is lying.

Chris Matthews may think he's some kind of a journalist; but he's no more than a shill leading the rabid mob. He's been abusing our cherished freedom of speech for years. Will he ever learn?

Alan Brooks| 2.25.11 @ 12:25AM

Clinton was exponentially better than the two Bushes, Carter, Nixon, LBJ, and Dole & McCain.
(Ford doesn't count).

Rosemary| 2.25.11 @ 9:23AM

Surely you jest, Alan. Your mind is so poisoned with hatred for the American Way, you can't see how inappropriate your post is.

john| 2.25.11 @ 2:38PM

And than there was also Anita. Broderick, who said clinton raped her!!

Curly| 2.25.11 @ 4:03PM

Clinton's dereliction of duty led to September 11, 2001. Clinton was, is and always shall be a traitorous pig.

Occam's Tool| 2.26.11 @ 4:59PM

Magnificent summary of a moral MAGGOT, Curly.

tarheel| 2.27.11 @ 6:11PM

Was Dole or McCain ever elected president? I must have missed something along the way to your insane post. Clinton was, is and always will be a fifth class cad! He isn't even a first class cad, he is so completely lacking in morals and I am appalled the he will always be known as once being the POTUS.

RetUSASNCO| 2.27.11 @ 12:41AM

I am flipping a quarter on my right hand in regards to Mr. Tyrrell, Jr's comment's and your's. Well said by you and Mr. Tyrrell, Jr. Ok. I cannot stop flipping; cannot stop. Hold on, I think I have a solution. A beer in each hand? Flipping........

Ken (Old Texican)| 2.24.11 @ 8:56AM

Mr. Tyrrell,
What on earth is left to say about the disgraceful Clintons and their cheerers. Oh I know! The stupid American Public fell for it.

Nancy in NC| 2.24.11 @ 1:54PM

Just like they fell for the current imposter in the White House.

Dixie Pixie| 2.24.11 @ 9:01AM

What about the $1 billion dollars collected by Bill Clinton for Haiti where the majority of the money disappeared on little cat feet.
Or the billion dollar Clinton Foundation who's finances have never been explained.

Oh...I forgot.
The Clinton's are the big foot Democrats and thus have a lifetime immunity to any Law,Rule or honest act.

MikeD| 2.24.11 @ 10:30AM

They just set the stage for the even worse transgressions of barry the muslim and his merry band of criminals, racists, and thieves. Worst of all, Billary gave us the Permanent Campaign and the Politics of Personal Destruction. Yet, the democrats have managed to get even worse since the days of the clintons and "I did NOT have sex with that woman." Just think of all the kids out here in America that justify what they're doing because the president of the United States said it wasn't 'sex'. democrats=disgrace. 'Nuff said.

Occam's Tool| 2.26.11 @ 4:59PM

I donated nothing to Haiti. I'm glad I did.

Brian Mc| 2.24.11 @ 9:10AM

Thanks for the reminder concerning those dark years of childishness, hedonism, reckless disregard for the future of the Republic and other sins against humanity displayed by the treasonous dallyings of the Clinton administration. You left out my personal favorite. The colonel in charge of the nuclear football was standing in his rightful place as the residents of the White House were exiting a vehicle, the trunk was opened and Hillary turned to the man who held the power to destroy the civilized world and said something that proved her spiteful arrogance, "Get the luggage", or something to that effect. New York State has no right to their electoral college points for having elected this parasite to the senate.

InLineFour| 2.24.11 @ 3:02PM

and after seeing their youthful photo, I still can't see why Bill chose Hill...

Missouri David| 2.24.11 @ 7:15PM

Ms Hillary Choose William and he saw such an aggresive, unflinchingly go getter gal, that they looped their rope together, and one wonders if they had a soul to sell to Satan, but they're going still. God will judge us for their being elected, even as Dan 4:17 says. Merry Christmas and keep it up Tyrrell, I almost miss the antics of KId Clinton, if only for your articles!

VBMax| 2.24.11 @ 9:35AM

And lest we forget, the current AG Holder was at that time the facilitator for the Clinton pardons.

RacerJim| 2.24.11 @ 10:40AM

The current racist and GLBT proponent AG Holder who has been the facilitator for Obama's anti-Constitution bent.

Doctor Right| 2.24.11 @ 9:36AM

And yet if I woke-up tomorrow and heard that Obama was gone and Clinton back in the White House, I'd be instantly relieved...

...Funny world, isn't it?

Nancy| 2.24.11 @ 1:29PM

You must be insane or living in Alice's Wonderland !!!

Doctor Right| 2.24.11 @ 2:13PM

Not really.

Clinton's narcissism and political survival instincts virtually guaranteed that he'd turn to the right if it would keep his fat butt on Air Force 1.

Additionally, Clinton may be a con-artist and a shyster, but he doesn't hate his country, and he wouldn't have gone out of his way to alienate long-standing allies like Great Britain.

I also don't think Clinton would be on a multi-trillion dollar shopping spree like Obama.

Liberal? Sure. But since Obama arrived on the scene, we see that there are Liberals and then there are the lunatic-fringe Liberals. Right now, the lunatic-fringe is calling the shots in the WH. It wasn't like that in the 90's.

Curly| 2.25.11 @ 4:11PM

Sorry, you're Doctor Wrong in this instance. Clinton gave the ChiComs our top secret military ICBM data for huge amounts of cash and repeatedly rejected Sudanese offers to hand Bin Laden over to US custody. Clinton's a traitorous bastard, and no better than the Marxist presently occupying the White House.

Purple Lips| 2.24.11 @ 9:42AM

Love that pix of Bill and Hillary! Hillary sure was a hottie back then!!!

Ret. Marine| 2.24.11 @ 10:01AM

And some dared call him the greatest liar ever to hold the presidency. I totally concur, he was and still is. Now we have not a liar but, a pretender, so what does this say of the American electorate, I believe it was Lincoln who said, "you can fool some of the people some of the time but, you can't fool all of the people all the time".
I wish a thousand times over I would have the opportunity to live a couple of generations from this time, in hopes of finding out what the historians, if they are honest about the facts, have to say about the pretender-n-thief, obamas Bin Lyn, and his part in this world as it caught fire by intention, (yeah We know about the little part of OoA and his involvement in the match that caught this fire) and then as the open flames of rebellion caught up most Countries, even our own. I think by comparison, bubba was a light weight but still remains an integral part of the flames that fueled the fire. I keep asking why it is the impeachment proceedings have not already started. I however am not naive enough to not know the answer.

Chalkdust| 2.24.11 @ 10:49AM

No doubt Bill Clinton was and still is a low-life, petty pick-pocket. But the current occupant of the "peoples house" is in a different class(less) category, but I don't believe he is impeachable, nor do I believe you could find 353 honest politicians in Washington, DC. at the present time.

Tulsa Jack| 2.24.11 @ 2:38PM

The only reason that Bumba-Dumba has avoided impeachment so far is that self-serving, irresponsible, like-minded lawless Democrats, led by crooked Nevada "Zoning King" Harry Reid, control the United States Senate. The Kenyan's contempt for the law is, however, becoming more apparent by the day.

Now this odious fraud is actually announcing that his administration will not enforce laws which he personally does not agree with. This is as blatant and direct a repudiation of his oath of office as is possible to imagine. Bumba is daring the Senate, the Congress, and the American people to do anything about it. After all, he's got black skin.

When government acts above the law, there is no law. The United States now, in fact, a dictatorship. Will "responsible officials" recognize the danger and act in time to preserve our freedom, democracy, and the rule of law? Hah. Clinton led the way. Now we've arrived.

Anthony| 2.24.11 @ 4:56PM

Bob, a small point, if I may. The Clinton exit was not the only manifestation of Animal House, his entire presidency was conducted from the annals of Animal House.
From jogging shorts in the Oval Office to discarded pizza boxes, to the height of adolescent immaturity, Monica Lewinsky, Bill Clinton had nothing on Bluto.
Hell, even Mrs. Dean Wormer was far more classy a sex trophy than Monica.
Oh well, el presidente white trash at least made cigars popular again.

Mike| 2.24.11 @ 10:20AM

Speaking of episodic apologists, Mr. Tyrrell, I suggest that you take a look in the mirror. Your efforts to canonize Ronald Reagan are equal to the work done by Matthews.

Chalkdust| 2.24.11 @ 10:36AM

Really?

J.C.Eaton| 2.24.11 @ 10:37AM

Mike, you sophomoric twit, SOME people have EARNED political canonization. See a difference?

Mike| 2.24.11 @ 2:21PM

J.C.

Did Reagan earn it for raising taxes? Perhaps he earned it for breaking the law even after he was warned by members of his own staff.

Tulsa Jack| 2.24.11 @ 2:47PM

Since when did people like you give a hoot about the law, much less freedom and equity? For you and your D-rat buddies, the U.S. Constitution is an obstacle to the socialist dictatorship you are intent on fastening upon us. You're not fooling anyone. Nothing you say has a shred of credibility, because your leftard propaganda is unconcerned with facts and truth. Reality sure bites, doesn't it?

Mike| 2.24.11 @ 6:01PM

Tulsa,

Your anger outpaces your knowledge of Reagan's presidency. This rant is hardly a rebuttal.
Pathetic, Jack, pathetic.

old white guy| 2.24.11 @ 3:42PM

regean is dead. obama is killing your country and aholes like you think it is ok. jeez you are stupid.

Mike| 2.24.11 @ 6:03PM

This accounts for the president's rising polls in the deep south.

BackToBasics| 2.25.11 @ 1:35AM

Great move, sell your enemies some second-hand armaments and use the money to help your freinds in Central America.

Smart move, commendable to do and end-run around sham Democrat-passed laws that are used ONLY to weaken America as a Republic.

BackToBasics| 2.25.11 @ 1:42AM

And I make to apologies for saying it was a good move on Reagan's part.

Jesus himself did not allow his disciples nor the needy to be constrained by "BAD LAWS."

It was UNLAWFUL in His day to heal the sick and needy on the Sabbath but he did so.

It was UNLAWFUL for people to eat the consecrated bread but Jesus commended King David for allowing his hungry followers to do just that. Matt 12: 4, Luke 6:4.

Again, great move to circumvent sham-Democrat-passed laws.

BackToBasics| 2.25.11 @ 1:43AM

And by doing so to support freedom fighters in Central America.

BackToBasics| 2.25.11 @ 1:46AM

typo- And I make NO apologies for

Occam's Tool| 2.26.11 @ 5:03PM

First he lowered taxes, significantly. Then he raised them slightly. Bill went and raised them more. Reagan won the Cold war. Clinton let Osama out of his gunsight.

Treasury Bonds were running 15% under the reign of Carter. Clinton was saved by the Republicans in the House from suffering the same fate.

Clint| 2.24.11 @ 12:23PM

Mikey ObamaBoy Is In Mourning.

The Era Of The Big Lewinsky Is Dead.

Publius2011| 2.26.11 @ 9:33AM

The key difference being, of course, that President Reagan is, in fact, worthy of being lionized for his service. There is absolutely no comparison between Mr. Clinton and President Reagan except for the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue address both occupied for 8 years.

Chalkdust| 2.24.11 @ 10:32AM

Arkansas came out of twelve years of Bill Clinton as governor ranked only ahead of American Soma in every measurable social categories. Plus a string of fraudulent land and commodities deals that would make Bernie Madoff and Al Capone blush. Outside the struck dumb and clueless people of Arkansas, 42% of the American voting public, WHO could have guessed Billary would have turned the White House into a "gangsta" hideout. I don't care how you spin it, only a liberal could even stand to look at them

Ned the Red| 2.24.11 @ 11:15AM

Our enemies recognized the incompetency of our President and Secretary of State. They know and are showing they must move now and not wait until 2012 on the chance we might correct the mistake.

Biggles| 2.24.11 @ 11:21AM

I agree the Clintons had a slime factor. For me, as someone who spent part of their career on trading floors, my favorite would have to be Hillary taking like a thousand dollars and making it into 100,000! She said she read the Wall Street Journal! Oh, and the guy that "processed" the trades also happened to work with the biggest agricultural company in the state. You have to give the devil his due though- unless the trader turned on them you couldn't prove anything in a thousand years- smart, very smart.

Of course not to rain on anyone's parade, but as we trash Clinton, we should remember he was hands down the most fiscally responsible President in modern times by a long shot. Reagan spent like a drunken sailor and W like a sailor on crack- numbers people, numbers.

Ned the Red| 2.24.11 @ 11:23AM

I wonder if the Republican House might have had something to do with President Clinton's responsible spending.

Biggles| 2.24.11 @ 12:01PM

No doubt. Just as the Democratic House had something to do with appropriating the funds and writing the bills for the military that helped topple the Soviet Union. Still, as in the military, what happens on your watch, good and bad, you own.

And remember, Bill Clinton ran on balancing the budget- he is slimy, but a fiscally responsible slimy.

Frisbee| 2.24.11 @ 2:22PM

Could we all agree that, compared to Obama, Clinton wasn't so bad?

Tulsa Jack| 2.24.11 @ 2:50PM

Yes, and compared to Joseph Stalin, Franklin Roosevelt was a conservative. The point is that Bumba is a flaming disaster and should be impeached immediately on his oath of office. Can we agree on that?

old white guy| 2.24.11 @ 3:39PM

hate to do it but lol.

old white guy| 2.24.11 @ 3:40PM

got to ride on others coatails.

Chalkdust| 2.24.11 @ 3:29PM

Damned by faint praise I'd say. The man was/is lawless sheep dip and was bailed out in 1992 by Ross the Boss, 1994 by the Republican landslide and again in 1996 by combination of Ross the Boss/idiot Republican intelligentsia who put up the RINO-in-Chief Bob Dole to run against Clinton. The Billary's life is full of Dead-man Foster moments...dumb luck.

Zip75497| 2.24.11 @ 11:56AM

Of course, let's not forget the wonderful work he has done in Haiti as "special envoy".

Gee.

Steve A| 2.24.11 @ 12:06PM

Come on Ned. don't you remember when Bill said, "the era of big government is over."??

bobmontgomery| 2.24.11 @ 1:18PM

MikeD: Yes. NedtheRed: Yes. Emmett: Well, Double Yes. Plus, the rest of the story: the abdication of the Congress of the United States. Emmett knows this, but what resulted was the rise of Al Quaida leading to 9/11; then the rise of Hillary Clinton as a 'serious person' ???, prepping her for 'a diplomat' ????? leading to the loss of the Middle East. All of the 'gates' from Arkansas, and the pooh-poohing of 'conspiracy theories' et cetera may be swept under the rug by the apologists, but the trashing of the Office of the Presidency, the 'loathing of the military' and the obstruction of justice were all convictable offenses.

Nancy| 2.24.11 @ 1:28PM

Matthews must be severly misguided to revere a scum bag like Clinton. He was a disgrace. He only does anything for his self aggrandizement. I wouldn't trust him or his sort of wife with my pet rat if I had one. !!!!!

old white guy| 2.24.11 @ 3:38PM

bill must have given him a tingle up his leg.

PattyMor| 2.24.11 @ 2:09PM

Well Bill reclassified our missile technology, so it could be sold to the Red Chinese. Surely this has to be worth a lot to them as they couldn't figure it out on their own.

Frisbee| 2.24.11 @ 2:18PM

Chris Matthews is a Catholic? I think I'm going to be sick.

old white guy| 2.24.11 @ 3:37PM

chris is a catholic in name only. there are alot of people who call themselves christians but christ would say i do not know you.

Rickfell| 2.24.11 @ 2:38PM

Comparing Bill and Barack: both have already gone down on record as betraying their country. Bill pulled out all the stops so the Chineses can put an ICBM down our throat, and he did it for money. It makes one wonder why Barack would take sides with the Mexican Government and the Mexican Drug Cartel over Arizona citizens.

jim| 2.24.11 @ 2:48PM

yeah, clinton was so awful. which did you hate worse, the peace or the prosperity? if only he had tripled the national debt like Big Ron, then maybe you screwy right wingers would love him, too.

old white guy| 2.24.11 @ 3:35PM

too f'n bad the congress and senate were dems. you are stupid.

Yippee Kayay| 2.24.11 @ 6:41PM

The lamestream media and the Clinton public relations experts did a number on your brain, jimbo. It was "Big Ron"'s policies that allowed Clinton to coast along on a tide of prosperity pretending he was the man who made it happen. But I understand this is a key truth of recent history that you'll deny and deny and deny. FYI this is the sort of thing we're talking about when we reference the dishonesty and absurdity of "Episodic Apology". Thanks for the boorishness.

Occam's Tool| 2.26.11 @ 5:05PM

The "Peace" was bought at the price of strengthening terrorists. As DAVID LETTERMAN noted, because Clinton didn't kill Osama, Clinton's own daughter was running for her life in the streets of manhattan that day.

Tulsa Jack| 2.24.11 @ 3:02PM

You have some nerve crediting "Boy Clinton" for the peace and prosperity of the 1990s. "Slick Willie" did nothing positive in either area. We were coming off twelve years of competent, responsible government under Reagan and Bush-1, achieved in spite of the D-rat Congress, and the only reason Bush lost was that Ross Perot split the Republican vote. Clinton won with a plurality, not a majority, and when his stupid attempt to socialize American health care got shot down he crawled back under his rock.

The 1990s were a "lost decade." Frat-boy Clinton was a huge embarrassment all over the planet, wasting a great opportunity to build upon his predecessors' successes. But no. Not him! He, frankly, did not not care.

old white guy| 2.24.11 @ 3:33PM

there are one hell of alot of stupid people in this world. i'm guessing we smart people are outnumbered about a million to one.

CforUS| 2.24.11 @ 3:52PM

Does anyone else suspect that Whitewater was all Hillary? I think she just shoved the papers in front of him and told him to "sign right here".

Oldefarte| 2.24.11 @ 4:23PM

Great piece, as usual, Bob! Oh, BTW, the Clinton lawyer-associate that legally recommended the pardoning of Marc Rich was..........ERIC HOLDER, our current Attorney General. Woopie-doo, EXCREMENT!!!!!!!!!!!1

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.24.11 @ 4:31PM

I have to say, Bob, your interview on C-Span was delightful, and your handling of the callers was hilarious. But, geez, where do they get those callers?? lol.. I have to assume a liberal was screening the calls..

Great article btw, Was laughing out loud in the office this morning while reading it. Loved the comparison to warren harding and mrs. harding..

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.24.11 @ 4:34PM

Not that I didn't like your response to the caller who asked if you got dressed in the dark that day, but if that lazy hippie has ever been to men's wearhouse he would know that in today's world, yes, you CAN wear striped suits and a striped shirt.

But I did love your response, "yes, as a matter of fact I did." lol

gearjammer| 2.24.11 @ 5:00PM

Not a word about the needless atrocity at Waco. No

Republican president could have survived such a vicious and needless decision. The vast majority of Branch Dravidians were harmless folks minus any record of criminality. They were simple fools entrapped by Koresch and his evil core cadre. The worst terrorists would have received more consideration and due process. Imagine burning down a mosque under the exact same circumstances ? By the way, this Matthews guy is plain nuts ! Reno lasted 8 years once giving the order to attack. Lack of accountability on what happened there is what emboldens the left and democrats today that they can get away with anything.

Yippee Kayay| 2.24.11 @ 6:51PM

Let alone any word of his complicity in the genocide in Rwanda.... Lack of leadership resulting in tyranny and oppression, whether at home or abroad, is a hallmark of the "great" Democrat presidents. Wilson and Versailles. FDR and Yalta. Carter and Zimbabwe. Clinton and Rwanda. One could easily add Chamberlain and Hitler were he not a British "Democrat". I'm quite sure Wahhabi King Kisser Obama and Iran/Egypt/Libya/God-only-knows-how-many-more-states will be another chapter of infamy and lament for future historians with integrity and honesty. The common thread is capitulation to evil and disregard for the values that made America great.

Jimmy Joe| 2.24.11 @ 5:18PM

I love this article,Its about time.except a few forgotten/unmentioned,or unaware.but no one ever spoke of,and was covered up.1.The political propaganda scam,which backfired,on the clintons.to discredit the two most powerful forces of the republican party,at that time.The n.r.a,and the christian coalition.The incident;"Waco"Which was originally intended to use this wakko' from waco,with the help of the useful idiots in the media.To dis-credit,and portray all gun owners,and biblically principaled christians.As crazy nuts.Played out over national t.v.Until impatience of the media,after a month.seeing no action,and losing ratings.Spurred some to action.causing the death of those inside,as well law enforcement.Un necessarily.Causing a backlash against the clinton administration,Instead of who they wanted to cause backlash against.The democrat parties two greatest political rivals,and enemies."We are endowed by our creator"Christians,and"Right to bear arms",constitutional activist ,and gun owners.Bill clinton tried to have his political advisor,(dick morris) fire janet reno afterwards.To downplay,and divert the attention,and backlash,against already under investigations clintons.To blame Janet reno.But in front of dick morris,Janet reno overheard bill clintons attempt to make her the scapecoat,and firing her.She threatened bill clinton to reveal the facts about bill,and hillary if he did.And the rest is conviently forgotten history.Why?Republicans did nothing to investigate.And their were cover-ups,from the A.T.F.the media,and through-out government.A year later the oklahoma city bombing,domino effect.The clintons use the very same political propaganda tactics.Blaming talk radio's rush limbaugh,biblical christians,and gun owners.As they have done for decades,and still do to this day.The other untold story,and unsung hero's.are two men named john kasick,and pete domenechi.who are the unsung hero's of the contract with america.yet bill clinton is seen,as the mastermind genius of their work.even the republican party gave bill clinton all the credit.Including newt gingrich.Why has historical facts been re written so blatantly false.By revisionist in both parties.John kasick has to much class to say anything.But a generation has been fed lies,sold as truth.Same as waco.Sold to americans not just by those loyalist democrats.But by liberal lapdog washington elitist republicans.who sell themselves as conservatives.Who act like teenage groupies when it comes to the clintons,and now the obama's.Including the bush family tree.Why?newt gingrich,mike huckabee,mitch daniels,hayley barbour,mitt romney,donald trump,all presidential king,and queen makers,and presidential wanna be's.All eye on the prize,self preservationist,politicians.None duty to,and love of country,first.None visionary's,nor consistant on judgement,character,truth,honor,ethics,allegience,or courage of their convictions.The question i ask is why?Please reply,thank you.Jimmy Joe"The Liarfryer"

JimP| 2.24.11 @ 6:26PM

My guess as to Matthews no becoming another Clinton apologist is that Obama is so demonstrably awful that ole 'Tingles' needs to resurrect a Dem Prez to distract from how stupendously bad Obama is.

Yippee Kayay| 2.24.11 @ 6:56PM

It's a dirty job that needs doing. It's hard to redeem Carter. He keeps saying mean things that show his ignorance. Who else is there besides Clinton. So someone has to step up and try to rehabilitate the Party Face ahead of the incoming Shellacking of 2012 or there may not be a viable political party for the New York Times to push incessantly for quite some time.

dw| 2.24.11 @ 7:56PM

In April , 1994 the Hutu government and its para military began the mass extermination of all Tutsis in Rwanda. In about 100 days, between 800,000 to 1,000,000 men, women and children were murdered by the Hutus. President Clinton and the U.N. refused take action. Later Clinton admitted that if he had sent just 5000 U.S. troops 500,00 lives could have been saved. His liberalism and the pressure of his fellow leftist kept him from doing this.

Nathan| 2.24.11 @ 8:58PM

Given that Clinton presided over the best 8yrs of the US economy since Eisenhower, I reckon President Clinton was definately one of the great world leaders. With the economic incompetence of George W. Bush and Barry Obama wreaking havoc on the homes and lifestyles of Americans, if only we could have the adults back in charge again.

PCP Smoker| 2.24.11 @ 9:34PM

Adults= Billy "Blow Job" Clinton. Some adult. Some judgment.
Stop smoking marijuana laced with PCP, you fucking idiot.

PCP Smoker| 2.24.11 @ 9:24PM

I love having Clinton around. It's not only the memories (bent penis, herpes rumors, Mena-cocaine connection, the coked up half brother, stealing from the White House, pizza night, Lewinsky's thong, getting a Lewinsky while on the phone, phone sex, and, my all time favorite, Lewinsky performing anal oral on him*, etc), but reminding people who voted for him of his outrageous behavior. Let's celebrate the scumbag. Let's celebrate him forever.

Yes, she performed penile oral, but also anal oral. *Read Tyrrell's book, specifically the part about animal sex.

Jose Luis Stecca| 2.24.11 @ 10:23PM

If one were to tour the Whitehouse today, one would see cigarette burns in the carpet, ant lines
leading to chicken bones randomly discarded on the floor, and skid marks in the toilet bowls...

I know this thread is about Bubba Klintoon, but compared to the current sack-a-dog chit sitting in the Whitehouse, Bubba is simply not in the same league... not even close

According to the pols, Barry's current approval ratings are in the mid-40's... If those numbers are accurate, then there is little hope for the future

Ann Anon| 2.25.11 @ 3:55PM

Jose, You must have some experience with living like you stated in your post; however, I am certain that the Obamas know nothing of this kind of life. You are so-o-o pathetic! lol

bluecollarbytes| 2.24.11 @ 10:27PM

With the disappointment of Obama, I think the talking faces have fallen back on the Clintons for their emotional uplift.

Yosemeti Sam| 2.24.11 @ 11:13PM

" Remembering Clinton ...."

Indubitably, as the life-long DRAUGHT he evinced - in the Blibical sense!

Marc Jeric| 2.25.11 @ 1:33AM

What a gallery of deadly rogues:
1) Carter - a functional moron;
2) Mondale - a bloviating gasbag;
3) Dukakis - a certified cretin;
4) Clinton - a disbarred felon;
5) Gore - a dangerous fool;
6) Kerry - a self-proclaimed phony hero;
7) Obama - really Abu Hussein al-Mombassa, or wherever in Kenya that marxist Muslim was born.
Please add to this gallery of rogues.

Dee See| 2.25.11 @ 4:54AM

---As a Rhodes scholar, Clinton is simply an
obviously set-up instrument of the Globalists.

Rhodes is a known longtime front for Globalism
and eugenics. ON RECORD.

The next level of barf are the revelations about
his actual bloodline connections. CHECK IT OUT!

Of course in the end, like Gore, he's just a front op..

The REAL source
of our RED China sellout and economic TREASON lies
deep within the heart of Harvard/Yale/Princeton
and among our false-front Republicans.

Remember, its not even about money at this
point ---rather it's about world consolidation at the service of a deeply entrenched psychopathic
'elite' with the ultimate aim being ------incremental genocide via tainted food, water
and vaccines and covert mass GMO sterilization.

It's in their reports, documents, memos
and is the prime article of ALLLLL their agendas.

-----Super Bowl's over kids!

--------------------WAY OVER

Brian| 2.25.11 @ 5:21AM

Matthews on Clinton was almost as bad as Rush's interview with Bush.

Amy Bush| 2.25.11 @ 7:42AM

While I know 2 wrongs don't make a right, sir, I myself have had a problem with the Reagan apologists for the past 30 effing years. Pick your fights carefully.

Lawler Nicoteri| 2.25.11 @ 11:56AM

The Clintons are pond scum. They disgraced their every office and contributed nothing to any but themselves. An embarassment to this great nation exceeded only by the poseur in the White House today.

obadiah| 2.25.11 @ 12:37PM

there are two political parties. i call them the vultures and the jackals. each party has a better offense than a defense. when the vultures are feeding, the jackals are able to organize a coordinated offense and throw them off. then the jackals start feeding, but the vultures organize an air offense and take over. first the vultures then the jackals then the vultures then the jackals. the faces change but the parties stay the same.

Richard Baker| 2.25.11 @ 8:51PM

Matthews has a good paying gig. He's also a legend in his own time. Just ask him. Personally, he reminds me of the kid in school who wants to be the leader of student government and just
CAN'T shut up. If he did he's explode.

BS Footprint| 2.25.11 @ 11:48PM

Hm.. could it be that all this hagiography is aimed at 'elevating' Clinton's profile, in preparation for a bid to head the U.N.? I've heard that discussed in the past, nothing about it lately...

Or is Matthews just trying get the 'tingle up his leg' feeling all over again...?

J Dowling| 2.28.11 @ 2:33PM

"After the Hangover: The Conservatives' Road to Recovery"...
Where were the conservatives during 2000 - 2008? Oh yes, they were the ones that gave us the hangover. Are we really to believe that they get it now and things will be different? I think not...

Richard Baker| 2.28.11 @ 2:39PM

Dowling:
The Conservatives were raising Absolute Holy Hell but the Establishment Republicans weren't listening and I guess you weren't either. Betcha y'all are listening now.

J Dowling| 2.28.11 @ 9:20PM

Baker:
You mean the Conservatives that supported Bush through two terms while he drove this nation to the brink of disaster? The same Conservatives that are currently supporting the Republican's "more of the same failed policies" agenda?
Yes, I was listening and I've been watching the growing political fringe polarization that has gripped, and threatens to destroy, our nation. The GOP has allowed your "Conservatives" to destroy their party...