Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Clinton, Bush Laugh While Launching New Program

"George W. Bush was known – and often criticized – for being insular during his eight years in the White House, but he made regular calls to a surprising adviser during his second term: his predecessor."

"Bill Clinton revealed on Monday that the second President Bush picked his brain twice a year for 30-45 minutes, in wide-ranging conversations that no doubt set the stage for the surprising, "brother-from-another-mother" relationship that the two ex-presidents now share."


68 comments:

Unknown said...

No one should hold Bill Clinton is high esteem. He's a dirt bag.

The Dude said...

He is a rapist - to call him a dirt bag does not go far enough.

I will stick with the worst pejorative I can come up with - democrat.

Eric the Fruit Bat said...

rhhardin might not show up to say "soap opera women" so I'll do it now and get it over with.

ndspinelli said...

I would Purell that microphone before taking it from Bubba.

edutcher said...

Why do the Bushes keep trying to rehabilitate this creep?

Thankfully, Dubya didn't listen to him.

rcommal said...

***OT Alert***

I'm not trying to threadjack and do not intend to provoke discussion in an unrelated thread. That said, not seeing a recent open thread*, I wanted to bring to the attention of Lem's readers to an article (and one hell of a righteous fisking) by Mike Rowe, of Dirty Jobs fame, which I think many here will find outstanding and of interest.

Mike Rowe rebuts a misleading (and unfair) article by a snotty Columbia University lecturer

/OT

*Schedule is unlikely to permit me free time on line over the next couple of days, so it was unlikely I would get back to check for an open thread. I surely am not expecting a discussion here; I just wanted to drop a link and that is all.

KCFleming said...

Bill's worst decision, for the US, was marrying Hillary.

His second-worst decision was emulating JFK.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Thanks rcommal.

Unknown said...

Everyone should have a high paying, tax payer funded, government job. with a good union boss who lobbies for more and takes 4 hour lunch breaks and parties big and hard with Harry Reid(D-corrupt) in Vegas. It's the American dream.

All those lowly immigrants can do your dirty jobs, right leftists?

YoungHegelian said...

Clinton & Gore were on the outs with each other by the time of the 2000 election, with Clinton miffed at Gore because Gore didn't want Clinton to campaign for him. Clinton thought this was one (but not the only reason) Gore lost the election.

I'm not sure that Clinton really minded Gore losing all that much, and, hey, he had his two terms, so why be pissy with Bush?

Eric the Fruit Bat said...

I made the mistake of going over to TOP and skimming that bit about Rice's wife's response to all the media hubbub.

And I remembered that kerfuffle over that blogger who posed in the group photo with Bill Clinton.

So I skimmed the wikipedia entry on Miss Havisham.

No, that's not quite it, was the takeaway.

Eric the Fruit Bat said...

I don't think Mike Rowe is the kind of guy who would refer to what he does as "generating a vortex."

bagoh20 said...

It's getting really hard to image that all college professors are not dinosaurs. Of course there are some who have evolved, but so many of them - like the one attacking Mike Rowe - just sound like the kid in high school who thought he was real bright with the Ho Chi Min sticker on his books, and the constant need to be contrary. They get to the university and they find people like them and actually get rewards and pay for remaining that jerk their whole life. They just creep me out without even going into the terrible damage they have and continue to do. To be technical about it, they are just icky.

ricpic said...

Why shouldn't one big government lib consult with another? With the exception of Reagan, who was mildly conservative, every Democrat and Republican president has been on the same page since Eisenhower, the grow government and take all your money cause we know best page.

ricpic said...
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Amartel said...

Amen to that. I have college profs in my (extended) family and they are absolutely insufferably pompous and punitive. The university needs more diversity. It is filled closed and narrow minds (and yet they still argue amongst themselves ferociously over the most minor details of what is Correct Progressivism.)

Amartel said...

Bush is such a mensch in that video.

Eric the Fruit Bat said...

Almost all of the academics I've known (or know) are really nice people.

Maybe I'm just lucky.

Synova said...

It makes a lot of sense to talk to the guy who had the job before you. "Can you tell me anything about dealing with Putin? What's he like?"

How much does anyone want to bet that Obama never has, not even to call Bill if he'd refuse to call Bush?

I'm Full of Soup said...

As if we need more new programs funded by the govt.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Rcommal [Reader] :

Thanks for the great tip to read Mike Rowe's reply to the college prof.! I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Rowe has the rare ability to not get personal when he is pointing out another's stupidity. I wish I had that.

I'm Full of Soup said...

And with all due respect to past and present presidents, we have had subpar presidents for 22 straight years now [since 1992].

So it is well past time we pared down the fed govt to its basic, essential, core responsibilities and leave the rest to the states.

ricpic said...

His [Bill Clinton's] second-worst decision was emulating JFK.

I can still remember when JFK was campaigning for the presidency (yes, I'm that old) and he was asked a question about his potential dual loyalty problem as a Catholic (a big issue back then) and he tried to finesse it, tried to be both an American first and a Catholic first. This was on one of the Sunday morning talking heads shows. Anyway, I can remember standing in our living room in front of the black & white round screen Raytheon and my Dad standing beside me becoming visibly upset and yelling at the screen "C'mon, stop trying to have it both ways, man up!" And I knew. I knew a different day and not a better day was dawning over America.

sakredkow said...

Why does Clinton keep trying to rehabilitate this creep?

bagoh20 said...
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bagoh20 said...

Bush does have a sense and a skill with humor that neither Bill nor Obama has without writers. Unlike the other two, he's never trying to convince you of how smart he his. He answers what you ask him, tells you what he thinks, and tries to make you feel comfortable and at ease. In short, he's neither a dick, nor a professor - two of his best qualities.

bagoh20 said...

No matter what you think of the two men, there is clearly only one of them who in any way fits the term "creep", and it's a pretty widely held opinion or fact if you will.

sakredkow said...

phx loves and defends rapists, but only if they are democrat rapists.

Scram, son. I'm pulling my friend edutcher's chain. You don' know nuthin'.

sakredkow said...

I will stick with the worst pejorative I can come up with - democrat.

phx loves and defends rapists, but only if they are democrat rapists.

As if political parties are the barometer to gauge good and evil. Where did you get your education, man?

Fucking public school brats! : D

sakredkow said...

No matter what you think of the two men, there is clearly only one of them who in any way fits the term "creep"

Actually, I wouldn't call either Bush or Clinton creep. Some of the extremists folks here, now...

Unknown said...

Ponder, if you will, what if there were a video of Bill giving Juanita Broderick a fat lip?

Yeah.

He's a dirt bag who gets away with a ton of crap thanks to the leftwing sycophant media and the leftwing Hollywood blow-jobbers.

bagoh20 said...

"As if political parties are the barometer to gauge good and evil. Where did you get your education, man? "

I could list them, but we all know history is full of political parties that were simply evil organizations. The important thing is to recognize them in their time rather than when it's too late. In their time they always have supporters, sycophants, apologists and defenders, who cannot later claim innocence. Maybe foolishness or naivete, but not innocence.

"Actually, I wouldn't call either Bush or Clinton creep. Some of the extremists folks here, now..."

If your daughter happened to be one of the many women he has used like floor mats, including his wife in front of the whole world, or say your name was Mr. Lewinski, I think creep would be exactly what you would call him, because sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

"Extremists"? Yea, all part of the "The vast right wing conspiracy". Remember who told you that lie back in the day, and how many she told you since then. Another of the Democrats who use dishonesty like the rest of us use salt.

sakredkow said...

Well, just imo, I can hardly think of anything less morally hazardous than the mainstream beliefs of ordinary Americans who belong to either the Republican or Democrat parties.

There's a lot of folly to be found in the rank and file of either party, but the apocalyptic terms of evil that some of you paint ordinary Democrats as is so freaking infantile, it's beyond belief.

sakredkow said...

If your daughter happened to be one of the many women he has used like floor mats, including his wife in front of the whole world, or say your name was Mr. Lewinski, I think creep would be exactly what you would call him, because sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

I suppose if I knew more about him. Hey, I know, maybe he DID kill Vince Foster! I'm a low information voter (my counterpart is the MISinformation voter), so I don't know. He seems all right to me. YMMV and that's fine as far as I'm concerned. I like to think the best of people, including GWBush and Bubba Clinton, until things are proved to me. I'm not easily scandalized by the things people do - either Republicans or Democrats.

sakredkow said...

"Extremists"? Yea, all part of the "The vast right wing conspiracy"

I know about extremists. You often speak in extremist terms yourself. At least some of the time you are an extremist.

I don't know nothin' about no vast right-wing conspiracy. I never accused anyone of anything like that.

sakredkow said...

I could list them, but we all know history is full of political parties that were simply evil organizations.

This I think is true.

I just don't think it's true of most mainstream political organizations i the world, especially not true of Dems or Republicans. But yes, I agree there really are evil organizations.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Phx- you are being very disingenuous if you didn't get Bag's VRWC reference.

The Dude said...

phx is willfully ignorant and probably lives in its mommy's basement.

History, schmistory it cries.

sakredkow said...
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sakredkow said...

Phx- you are being very disingenuous if you didn't get Bag's VRWC reference.

I got the reference. I said just because I recognize extremism on the right doesn't mean I think there's a VRWC.

Amartel said...

Calling Bill Clknton a creep is extreme?

Unknown said...
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Unknown said...

Yes- it makes you an extreme right winger.

Of course, if you are not on board with the neo-totalitarian left, you are also considered extreme.
If you desire smaller accountable transparent government, you are extreme. I heard about it on the TV, democrat ad talking point. If you are not with the democrats, you are extreme.

sakredkow said...

Of course the extremists will never own it - even as members of their own party edge away from them. Not only are they a personal embarrassment to the moderates and grown-ups, they're turning into a strategic disaster for their party.

Extreme? Who, us?

Amartel said...

Calling Bill Clinton a creep is extreme?

Amartel said...

It's an extremely reasonable assessment.

sakredkow said...

Calling Bill Clinton a creep is extreme?

Who is being disingenuous here?

Amartel said...

Who can't answer a simple question here?

Amartel said...

While being disingenuous?

Amartel said...

And a terrible no-good dirty low-down sexist! #WarOnWomen

Amartel said...

Get with the program, you extreme creep.

Amartel said...

Mission creep.

sakredkow said...

Calling Bill Clinton a creep is extreme?
...
Who can't answer a simple question here?


I'm responsible for my words. I'm not responsible for your words or for what you say are my words.

You seem to think I have to account to you the words or interpretations you put into my mouth.

sakredkow said...

I said there were extremists here. I never said calling Bill Clinton a creep made somebody an extremist.

sakredkow said...

It's pretty obvious you don't know what disingenuous means if you can't find it on yourself.

sakredkow said...
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Amartel said...

Well of course calling Bill Clinton a creep can't be extreme since earlier on you were calling Bush a creep which is fine, of course.

But I am very concerned about these extremists calling Clinton a creep. If calling Clinton a creep is not, in fact, a sign of extremity then how are we to identify these terribly dangerous extremists?

The Dude said...

This is from the "I know you are, but what am I?" school of argument, but it does explain what "phx" stands for - Peewee Herman Xvestite.

sakredkow said...

I'm pulling my friend edutcher's chain.
...
Actually, I wouldn't call either Bush or Clinton creep.


6:32 and 6:40 pm

sakredkow said...

This is from the "I know you are, but what am I?" school of argument, but it does explain what "phx" stands for - Peewee Herman Xvestite.

Amartel and I are at least having an argument that has some reality to it, son.

You must be looking for the playground.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Phx - you acted as if it was not true that the Clintons and especially Hillary didn't try to kill the Lewinsky story by claiming it was all due to a VRWC. That of course wasn't the case and yet Hillary has never owned up to it.

sakredkow said...

Actually AJ, I didn't think I expressed an opinion on any of that at all, other than to say I don't accuse anyone of belonging to a VWRC. That's not my thing.

Don't leapfrog to conclusions, like "if someone believes there are many extremists in the GOP rank and file, they must also believe everything that Hillary says."

Amartel said...

phx @ 5:11 "Why does Clinton keep trying to rehabilitate this creep?"

Amartel said...

Responsible for your words? Booboo, you won't even take responsibility for your farts!

sakredkow said...

Booboo, you won't even take responsibility for your farts!

I see your vaunted conservative and superior capacity to reason suddenly left us there.

sakredkow said...

Phx - you acted as if it was not true that the Clintons and especially Hillary didn't try to kill the Lewinsky story by claiming it was all due to a VRWC. That of course wasn't the case and yet Hillary has never owned up to it.

I don't recall ever defending the Clintons on that issue, AJ.

You're apparently leapfrogging to an assumption: because I believe there are extremists posting on this site, I must believe or defend whatever Hillary says.

Not everyone is so binary in their thinking.

sakredkow said...

edutcher: Why do the Bushes keep trying to rehabilitate this creep?

phx: Why does Clinton keep trying to rehabilitate this creep?

phx: I'm pulling my friend edutcher's chain.

phx: Actually, I wouldn't call either Bush or Clinton creep.

I think I'm accounting for and accepting the responsibility for all my words here. If you think me calling Bush a creep in that context was too much to bear for you, fine. If it bugs you so much GTFOH. I really won't miss the quality of your discussion or your brainpower.

I said what I said. I personally don't think of Bush or Clinton in terms of "creep." It's kind of ... childish, IMO.

sakredkow said...

I like both of em.