The Clintons, The Trenches, The Abyss, and you-Pt.2

Clinton was unexpected, by Repubs and Dems alike. Certainly by me. I knew little about him, until he had all but sewn up the nomination. In the Ill. primaries, I think I voted for Paul Simon, a gutsy liberal, a great speaker and trustworthy man, of unfortunate looks, unelectable in the era of the blow-dried and photo-op accessible.

Clinton had charisma, He had charm, he had a twinkle in his eye, and a quick look of grave concern, when needed. He spoke of hope, and he was a Rhodes Scholar. He seemed genuine, and of far more importance? He looked like he could win.

And win he did. He broke the choke-hold the neo-cons had on at least one branch of the government. Optimism, rather than sneering, cynicism, seemed like a realistic emotion again.

The Right was apoplectic, it was a joy to behold. They were so used to having their way with us, they had momentarily forgotten, that unrestrained power wasn't their birthright.


And then they decided, Hell yes it was! They shook off the sting of disbelief, and opened their vast warehouses of industrial grade hubris. And they dug in their heels, and they set loose the dogs. And for the entire eight years of Clinton's presidency, they set out to tear him down, without a single thought to the cost to America.

They investigated him, and every single dealing he ever had, BEFORE day one. They fought his every idea, tooth and nail. They ground to a halt, the gears of American government, in unprecedented partisan histrionics.

If they couldn't quarterback, they were gonna fuck up the game. So much of the predatory, hateful political rhetoric that is the standard today, came from this period.

Through it all, Clinton went on. Love him or hate him now, admit that, He was the first man, in many years to stand toe-to-toe, with this gang of outrageous, self-entitled, powerful bullies, and hold his own.

He was incredible. He's already been historically revised as a centrist, but that's not really accurate. Every thing he did, that now looks moderate or half-measure, was a bloodbath of compromise, or force feeding through the neo-con congress. And that congress was only interested in bringing him down. Anything Clinton was able to do as commander in chief, was a street fight.
And the Left loved him for it, I certainly did. We NEEDED him, and he came through. He might not have changed the world, but he fought for us when only a fighter would suffice.

For all these reasons, I've always been a staunch defender of the Clintons.

coming up-Pt 3, Requiem for a Heavyweight