So why did the right really hate Bill Clinton so much?

[Sandpiper]

From 1992-2000, the right introduced the element of visceral hatred into our political discourse. The mere mention of Bill Clinton made them foam at the mouth.

But why? It can't be because of Monica Lewinsky. The wingnuts had been busy hating Clinton, and Ken Starr had been sniffing around in his underwear drawer for several years before Monica became a household name.

My feeling has always been that it was because Big Dog was just some nobody from Arkansas who tweaked the nose of the ruling class by beating their big money, blue blood, patrician candidate.

What about the rest of you? Why do you think Bill Clinton inspired such venom from the right?

[drdigi420]

1. Because black people loved Clinton

And that is enough to inspire hate in the party of bigots.

[Homer12]

2. Their were no more communists

[Cobalt Violet]

3. Have they ever like a Dem. President???

I can't think of one that they liked.

[porphyrian]

4. They never get blow jobs they don't have to pay for. - n/t

[Nederland]

5. Same reason the left hates Reagan

People love him.

[Philostopher]

15. This is what I think, too.

He doesn't have to be disingenuous or threatening to earn the average person's loyalty, and no matter what they do, they can't seem to make the majority of people hate him.

[bullimiami]

26. im sorry nederland that is just stupid

People despised Reagan for his cynisim and duplicity. He told one "feel good" story and did the opposite dirty business out the back door.

The hatred for Clinton was irrational and visceral. Not based on his policies but on his humanity, upon him personally and his family.

Bush is Super-Reagan+++ on steroids. Its not him its what he does and how he lies about it.

[calimary]

37. Several reasons all rolled up into one miasma:

The folks the republi-CONS don't like - like Clinton. Blacks, women, the disenfranchised. The people he really reaches out to, who see something of themselves in him - BECAUSE of his own impoverished background. They see him as one of them. That's why the right wing can't possibly identify with him, or support him.

That fact alone, regardless of the "riff-raff" liking him, is enough. He proved you don't need self-proclaimed blue blood, or a rich daddy (hell, he didn't even HAVE a daddy), or fabulous connections to pave the way for him and make life wonderful for him even if he was as dumb as a post and useless as a prune with wheels. Say what you will about Clinton - at least he made it ON HIS OWN. On the strength of his brain, his personality, and his hard work. He pulled himself up by his own boot-straps and made himself into a World Class citizen. And ironically, he's the kind of guy they should love - because they're always blathering on about how everybody - even you "little guys" can get rich in a marvelous, hol-holds-barred, no-big-government republi-CON economy. So by his very nature he makes their own "crown prince" look like a complete embarrassment.

One more thing - he had the nerve to beat them. TWICE. One does NOT do that to the party that regards the White House and all the seats of power as their personal birthright.

By the way, MANY good reasons here. YES certainly a big one was his ending the excruciating Reagan/bush era. The republi-CONS assumed it was just gonna be republi-CON after republi-CON in an ongoing dynasty as far as the eye could see. They were severely shaken in 1992 when he won. I can still remember clearly the reactions of people like Bob Dole and Trent Lott, to the rude realization that was dawning on them as they spoke - after being spoiled for 12 comfy-cushy years they were suddenly the party OUT OF POWER. Their faces, every single one of them, in one-on-one interviews at campaign headquarters on that election night and the day after, and on the morning of the post-inaugural breakfast the next January, they looked stunned. They sounded stunned. Absolutely WOOZY. It's something I'll NEVER forget, and that I took great pleasure in watching. They looked like they'd been rudely awakened out of a stupor of an all-night orgy, and were still trying to get their bearings. Like "This CAN'T be happening!!!! can it?" They were struggling like drunks going through the DT's to get their minds around the concept of being "the loyal opposition" as I remember Dole stammering, utterly shaken and bleary-eyed.

Oh yes - and Clinton had the nerve to be married to an independent, brilliant, assertive, resourceful, powerful-in-her-own-right woman, not the Stepford Wife image they were so accustomed to. She broke the mold and they hated that, too. And hated her. Which we still see to this day. She made them, AND their women, look bad. Probably because most, if not all, of the men in that arena aren't man enough to sign up with a strong woman, themselves. A strong woman threatens them, their sense of superiority, AND their manhood. Every time I hear one of them trying to attack her, all I can think of is - "WOW! They're SO THREATENED by her! Hmmmm. What does THAT tell ya?"

Basically, ANY psychologist will tell you, people hate what is different from them. People hate what they don't understand.

[Nederland]

94. Typical

Your hatred of Reagan makes it impossible to even admit that most people in this country liked the man.

[CBHagman]

35. No, it was the Central America policy, the tax policy, the coldness...

I couldn't stand Ronald Reagan, but it had nothing to do with how someone down the street felt about him. The sickening policies were what did it for me. It didn't help that he had that artificial air about him. I could always SEE him acting. Now a good many politicians do act, but the fact that Reagan had such ghastly policies and yet turned a smiling face to the world was creepy.

People may have called Clinton a phoney, but he didn't make the outrageous claims and pursue the ghastly policies the Reagan administration and first Bush administrations did.

[Poiuyt]

6. Good question

I think it was because he wasn't Republican. His policies were moderate, nothing too far to the left, and he was good for business. The stock market certainly boomed while he was in office. I'd say that Newt Gingrich had a lot to do with dividing America. He seemed to start the us vs them attitude in Washington.

[zbdent]

7. The D after his name

as in Bill Clinton (D).

Note, the defense of Packwood, Hyde, Giuliani, Gingrich (who wrote the "BJ is not sex" defense) when it comes to sexual hijinks.

Note, the defense of D'Amato, who in a matter of hours, took a $500 "investment" (allowed by the company) to a $35,000 profit. The defense said "he didn't do anything wrong".

[Ironpost]

8. Because right from the start,

It was obvious that the Big Dog was one of us "average Joes".

[Mandate My Ass]

9. He won (eom)

[trof]

2 reasons, I think.

1. A general "payback" attitude brought on by Watergate.
Even though most agreed deep down that Nixon was wrong, they resented his being caught and embarrassing them and were looking for anything they could dredge up one one of ours. Tit for tat.

2. Clinton didn't get a majority of the popular votes in '92.
They believe Perot cost them the election and were deeply pissed about it. Many didn't consider Clinton to be the "legitimate" president and began working to get him out of office, by means fair or foul, in any way they could.

[livetohike]

16. On the contrary trof

I just checked the electoral/popular vote for 1992 here:

http://www.multied.com/elections/1992.html

Clinton kicked Bush's *** in 1992! Perot did get a high portion of votes though, you're right.

[trof]

Sorry, didn't make my self clear.

Yes, he got more votes than Bush and Perot. The repugs claim that if not for Perot, they would have won. (who knows?) And kept pointing out that Clinton "only" got 43% of the popular vote.

[Hamlette]

33. trof is right

they thought he stole what was rightfully theirs because he didn't get a majority of the votes.

Sort of like so many people being pissed at Bush cause he didn't get a majority of the votes.

The people in control of the GOP now believe that they are engaged in a revolution for the heart and soul...nay....the very existence of the US. Talk of revolution is very powerful because it turns politics from a disagreement over issues into an aggressive fight for survival which rallies the troops. Us vs them.

Conservative populism...what will they think of next?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

39. Same argument we make about Nader that the RW dismisses

their lack of logic astounds me.

[livetohike]

43. That's true! Poor Republicans

maybe Nader will take votes from them this time :-).

[gpandas]

36. i agree with payback...

repugs have never gotten over nixon's resignation.

[noonwitch]

10. I think the class issue is somewhat relevant, especially when combined

with the fact that Bill actually likes black people and vice versa.

I also think that the Bushes and their ilk think that only they are really qualified to run and that everyone else is just a pretender. Reagan was just their stooge to use to get into power.

[livetohike]

11. He stopped their Republican Dynasty

of eight years of Reagan and four of Bush.

Also, they despised the idea of a strong, intelligent, woman as First Lady and therefore had more reason to hate Pres. Clinton.

[Dying Eagle]

12. Because

HE WON!!!

They didn't take his presidency and he is already becoming more highly regarded then Reagan.

[AP]

13. Because he was the anitdote to their BS -- a moderate looking, electable

guy who could act as a bridge to a future much more liberal than the one they imagined.

Also, one of the first things Bill did as govenor was end the Stephens Inc monopoly on issuing state bonds. The competition he introduced saved taxpayers millions of dollars and ended Stephens Inc's easy profits (direct transfer of taxpayer money to their pockets without having to do any real work for it).

This is EXACTLY the thing Republicans care the most about -- way more than gun, gods and gays -- and Bill represented the interests of regular citizens and not the super-wealthy. It set off alarm bells on the right.

[eissa]

14. He was a popular moderate democrat

They couldn't call him a northeastern liberal like Kennedy, Dukakis and now Kerry. He was a white southerner (their main demographic) with moderate policies (welfare reform, fiscal responsibility, etc.) He put them to shame by wiping out deficits they spent years building up. And he was brilliant. That's why he drove them absolutely nuts and I loved every minute of it!

[YellowRubberDuckie]

17. Because he got laid more than they ever did?

Just a wild shot in the dark.
Duckie

[Minstrel Boy]

18. Because hate is all they have.

Once they stop hating, they'll cease to be. They would go "pop!" and dissipate into the ether.

It's irrelevant what Clinton brought to the table. That he wasn't them was enough.

[LTR]

19. He ended the Reagan Revolution (aka the GOP Camelot)

Lee Atwater was the guy who initially got the ball rolling. Right after Poppy came into office, he was hard at work to try and destroy any Dem that may stand in Poppy's way in 1992. At the top of the list was a little-known, charismatic governor from Arkansas named Bill Clinton.

Atwater had some secret meetings and participated in some illegal activities to try and smear him, ala Nixon's CREEP tactics. Atwater did not live to see any of this, since he died before Clinton threw his hat in the ring, and the evil bastard is currently playing guitar for Hell's All-Star Blues Band. But many were ready to take the ball and run with it after he kicked.

Clinton brushed them all off, and made the rules himself. The fact that he could not be taken down infuriated the GOP minions even more.

Read "The Hunting of the President". It has a good background of all of this.

[Lindsey]

23. Also a MUST, MUST, MUST read is "Blinded by the Right

by David Brock. The documentary "The Hunting of the President" is due to come out this month - it's in very limited release.I'm glad I live in L.A. so I can catch it. If it's not in your city, please read it also (The Hunting of the President). I think VERY few people have an understanding of how complicated this issue really is. Also, the medias role in all of this (including where we are today as a country) can't be understated.

[Nederland]

24. Yeah right

Was that when he said "the end of big government is over"?

[calimary]

44. Let us NEVER EVER EVER forget Lee Atwater.

Satan incarnate. Actually, HE may have been the Antichrist because he, too, was charming and charismatic, and because he was a yuppie who could rock out and play guitar, they thought he was just dandy. But he pioneered the modern day slash-n-burn, scorched-earth politics that we see in full flower now. Campaign smears like Willie Horton were HIS babies. And guess who studied at his knee?

1) kkkarl rove.

2) george bush junior.

I don't care what kind of humble, death-bed confession he made to Michael Dukakis, or how many times he tried to wipe the stain off his soul. It's still there. And yes. If ANYBODY burns in hell at this moment, it's him.

[murielm99]

20. They have a sense of entitlement.

They think they should run everything, and own everything.

When someone from the other party, who started out with nothing, is more popular, talented and charismatic, they just can't deal with it.

Alot of it is jealousy.

Look at fat Newt and Limbaugh. They are eaten up with jealousy that Clinton is everything that they are not.

And Clinton is still popular, too. They are eating their little hearts out.

[havocmom]

21. He beat Poppy, postponed their plans for Empire, and was well loved

Poppy couldn't stand the insult, his neocons couldn't stand the delay so they went full throttle on the propaganda machine to instill rabid hate in people subject to that sort of manipulation.

Back in the 80s (Reagan/Poppy) the media went through major changes of ownership. News divisions, which had generally been income losers, were suddenly required to make money. That meant they could not bite too many hands and assured the end of TV journalism. A lot of heads rolled. But the power-elite-right needed control to assure selling their agenda. Given accurate information, the US public would not have bought the shit they were selling as they carved the nation into bits serving corporate greed.

Oh, yeah, and Bill has a great presence, intelligence and charm they all envied.

[Warpy]

22. Bush threatened him early in 2000

that if he ran, and he didn't throw the race to Bush, that he would be hounded and destroyed while in office. Bush had really planned to "finish" Gulf War I in his second term, and he didn't want an honest administration to get in the way of that ambition.

Right wingers are suckers, there's no kinder way to put it, who will hate whoever their hate radio talking heads tell them to hate.

The class issue was certainly an important one on the Bush side. However, the saps on the right were hating a guy who had been one of their own, so that wasn't the reason for the foaming and snarling.

[MallRat]

25. Because he wasn't going to roll over like Carter.

All of a sudden, not only did Republicans have to come to grips with a Democratic President, but a STRONG, FORCEFUL Democratic President.

The GOP ratcheted up the hate machine to win control of Congress.

Since then, all semblance of civility has been ejected from national politics.

And now that another Democratic candidate is poised to give a sitting GOP President a fight, maybe even WIN the White House, they've raised the venom another couple of notches.

Little wonder why this election has such an apocalyptic feel to it.

-MR

[aden_nak]

27. They couldn't beat him.

They knew he had a lock on too large of a voting block. Specificly, THEIR voting block. He appealed to too many of the voters in their "red" states. He had a way of making people think about how bad the system is fucking them without making them want to give up in dispair. In a lot of ways, it's the same reason they're suddenly going after Edwards like he's the antichrist. Because Edwards can play to votes they consider to be "theirs".

It's exactly what Clinton did. I'm not saying the candidates are identical, far from it. But they both have this aspect to them, and it drives the Republicans crazy. They lose out on a HUGE voting block that they don't have to do SHIT for all year. All they have to do is talk about Jesus around election time and they snatch up the states. Someone like Clinton made them FIGHT for those states, and still loose them often enough. Clinton took their votes without having to sacrifice any of his own, and for that they will hate him.

[gasperc]

28. not, Clinton, what he represents, US!!

the Republicans hate US!!!

[rfranklin]

29. Theirs is a religious fervor....

After twelve years of the Reagan-Bush debacle, they had come to believe that they were entitled to never-ending rightwing dominance of the White House. After all, God is on their side. Along comes this heathen Clinton who beats them on virtually every issue and initiative. They hated his charisma, his brains, his political savvy. The fact that the world was a better place meant

[JustaSingleDad]

30. Because he was a despicable letch..

Clinton was and is a destructive force that any clear thinking Democrat has to be disappointed. This man had the world at his feet, had the country eating out of his hand, but chose to recklessly squander his amazing intellect and personality to satisfy his cheap and creepy sexual appetite! Any other questions?

[Name removed]

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[Stuckinthebush]

47. Sex=bad but war based on lies=good

The hypocrisy of the GOP on this issue is astounding. It betrays an infantile reasoning process and a host of psychological issues.

Clinton was very good for the country, after millions of dollars and endless investigations, all they could hang on him was lying about an affair.

And to think that GOPers actually believe that GW is a more moral and upstanding person that Bill because W never had an affair. Oh...forget all of the evil bullshit he has done in his life like send close to 1000 Americans and 10,000 innocent Iraqis to their deaths over a lie.

Pathetic.

[jerryvov]

48. Despicable letch?

Clinton was and is a destructive force that any clear thinking Democrat has to be disappointed. This man had the world at his feet, had the country eating out of his hand, but chose to recklessly squander his amazing intellect and personality to satisfy his cheap and creepy sexual appetite! Any other questions?

Yeah, but the question was WHY DOES THE RIGHT hate him so much? And I think that's because they view a white, southern Protestant as automatically one of them. Last time you saw that kind of visceral hatred coming from the Republicans it was directed toward FDR who they called a "traitor to his class". That, I think, is what's at the heart of the matter...a Bill Clinton represents an enormous threat to the Republican dreams of perpetual oligarchy. Charismatic, smart, gifted politician, awesome fund raiser...hell, they had to bring him down and cripple his ability to help other Democratic candidates in the years to come.

What chance would a cretin like Chimpy in Chief have had in 2000 if Bill Clinton hadn't been hamstrung by Ken Starr and a House of Reps populated by the likes of Tom Delay, Henry Hyde, Jesse Helms and the rest of those Right Wing dipshits? Zero. Because Gore would have ridden Clinton's charisma right into the WH.

[Name removed]

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[JustaSingleDad]

53. Let me get this straight..

Clinton had the top job in the world, and the complete control of both branches of congress, and majority of the Governorships when he took office and a 58% of the country behind him.. When he left office we lost EVERY TOP SPOT and for the first time in recent history we control not a single branch of government.

I am going back under that rock because I am embarrassed I voted twice for this moron.. and you should too.. We need to drop the BS about the IT WAS ONLY SEX, unless you consider we got fucked by these despots!

[Name removed]

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[JustaSingleDad]

65. This is what is going to happen to us again.. OUR ASSHOLES CAN DO NO WRONG

WE will lose again if we don't get serious about picking winners that have the tools outside of their pants to win and govern with some dignity, because we are an entire country not just liberals, we have to have candidates that have some vestige of honor. Kerry is my guy now, Dean was my choice! I only hope Kerry doesn't disgrace us again..

[Sandpiper]

67. Uh huh

I believe you.

[Name removed]

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[JustaSingleDad]

73. Why because I don't like starting all over because of Clinton..

I have just about had it with this bullshit.. How much more do we have to give to the Clinton's before they go away.. These morons almost left us without a party. How long before more of us stand up and shout they we were wrong for sacrificing everything to make a silk purse out of a pig?

[Name removed]

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[Sandpiper]

77. When you start out with the argument

"Clinton was a creepy pervert" it sort of pegs you for what you really are right away.

[RummyTheDummy]

79. Yep

And like you said, I love the feigned outrage. Comical, really.

[JustaSingleDad]

81. BINGO.. You are correct for once

I could give a shit about who he fucked.. until it was me! I am telling you why more than a handful of Democrats left the party.. because they were disgusted by the lack of character of a leader that we chose.. That was the reason of this thread.. I gave my answer.. and there are more on these boards that feel the same way that I do but they don't have the balls to speak up because of bullies like you. I won't back down.. not all of us rule our entire lives with our pricks!

[RummyTheDummy]

82. Well I applaud you for your bravery.

You are truly a man who marches to the beat of his OWN dummer.

(sarcasm off)

[JustaSingleDad]

85. Listen closely.. the sound of that drum is getting louder.. :)

[RummyTheDummy]

87. You mean Bush's poll numbers?

Because that's what I think you mean.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[JustaSingleDad]

99. Thanks!

[Sandpiper]

83. I commend you for your bravery

Now pardon me while I go scratch my balls.

[JustaSingleDad]

89. I wasn't sure you still had any!

Too many of us lost them in the past 10 years!

[Name removed]

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[JustaSingleDad]

98. You are truly lost.. I rest my case!

[Name removed]

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[JustaSingleDad]

101. I win getting the dialog started.. it's about damn time!

[Sandpiper]

74. Maybe he's one of those Zell Miller "democrats"

You know, the ones who called themselves "Reagan Democrats" back in the 80's.

[JustaSingleDad]

78. Do you mean back when we won almost every important election?

Back when we had the majority of the south and almost a 2/3 majority of the North.. Are you calling me a bigoted FREEPER because I have had it with loosing to give it up once more to defend Clinton.. OK, YOU WIN! Who is the enemy, ME OR YOU? Clinton was a mistake, if you like hearing it or not!

[Name removed]

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[Sandpiper]

88. Or maybe even

A date with that right wing sex goddess, Ann Coulter.

[Name removed]

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[Sandpiper]

68. And now - the feigned outrage

n/t

[JustaSingleDad]

69. Tell me which point of the following is wrong.. GET REAL!

"""Clinton had the top job in the world, and the complete control of both branches of congress, and majority of the Governorships when he took office and a 58% of the country behind him.. When he left office we lost EVERY TOP SPOT and for the first time in recent history we control not a single branch of government!!"""

[Sandpiper]

71. Shouldn't you at least get your story straight

Your original point was that Clinton was bad because he was a creepy pervert...you know...the right wing talking point.

Now it's because GOP got control of congress and governships.

If you're trying to fool someone, you really ought to get your story straight.

*YAWN*

Is that you Senator Miller?

[bobbieinok]

93. uhhhhhh ----total RW media control=brainwashing AND

RW supreme court handed over the election to W after his brother and K Harris took 90,000 off the voting rolls and the yuppie republican workers faked a riot in Miami......

give it up..... too many of us at DU read and remember

[Nadienne]

57. Whereas he did give

the "moral majority" ammunition to make morality a political issue, I doubt that Clinton was the first president to have a cheap and creepy sexual appetite.

[pnorman]

31. Probably nothing personal (at the start anyway).

But Bush I was SUPPOSED to be reelected, and it was necessary to STOMP Clinton completely, so as to damage Gore also. They KNEW that Bush II couldn't make it otherwise. Reportedly, he had been regarded as a threat to Bush I in 1990, and they were watching him with beady eyes even then.

I was never a great fan of his; he was far too "centrist" & DLC for me. Bu I was greatly impressed by how he stood up to the onslaught. Put HIM on a Ten Dollar Bill, and put Bush on a Food Stamp.

pnorman

[hedda_foil]

32. He got in the way of their plans.

[QC]

34. You're absolutely right--it was mainly a matter of class.

Clinton, whom they saw as poor white trash from out in the sticks, whipped their aristocrat's blue-blooded ass. And they never forgave him for the effrontery.

[Commendatori]

38. Judging by all of my Freeper-type co-workers, the answer is

that "Clinton ran on a promise of a middle-class tax cut and then gave us a massive tax increase."

Note that I put that in quotes, so don't treat me like a Repug here.

The funny thing is that I don't remember him actually promising a middle-class tax cut. It was obvious by his spending proposals that there wasn't going to be one, and I voted for him anyway because Bush41 was such an incompetent piece of shit.

[wurzel]

40. Because they hate Democrats.

They would have done the same to any Democratic president. They didn't have to do it to Carter because the Democrats did it for them.

[madmom]

41. because under Clinton everybody had ......

a little disposable income, and the more people that have money, no matter how much, the less it's worth, so the rich aren,t as well off because they have something we don,t.The more poor people there are the more your assets are worth.

[Lerkfish]

42. many reasons: my list:

1. he prevented pappy bush from being a two-termer. they really got upset about that, to a rabid degree
2. He attacked and caused great damage legally to the cigarette companies. In case you haven't noticed, they are a HUGE lobbying entity, second only to pharmaceuticals and oil.
3. He was charismatic and greatly admired for his ability to govern. Republicans hate that.
4. Republicans are spiteful people. it isn't enough to win, everyone else must also die.

[bobbieinok]

46. several reasons

1-Clinton really likes minorities; he's comfortable with them.

2-He was a symbol of everything they lost in the 60s----he supported minority rights, women's rights, and opposed the VN publicly at the time and later.

Much of the impeachment process and the theft of 2000 was the attempt to 'redo the 60s' so the RW wins.

3-They hate/hated Hillary--the very idea of a strong independent woman drives them literally insane.

4-Clinton was raised in the Southern Baptist denomination, as were Carter and Gore. Clinton is (from what I've read/heard) a Christian who actually lives Christianity (and for sure makes some horrendous mistakes) but he doesn't talk it---he walks it.


He was/is a MAJOR threat to the religious right's takeover of Christianity (in today's US) and the country.

He has/had to be demonized.

[Nadienne]

49. Here's a theory:

Maybe they didn't hate him as much as was let on, but instead used him to unite the Republican party ("We have to get that monster out of office!") so that when the time for the Republican primaries came around, Bush would beat McCain.

[Blue Wally]

72. and........

It energized the Republicans in 1994. We lost control of the House for the first time since the 1954 midterm election.

[JayS]

50. The ones that I heard the most here were something like...

...the following:

*Hillary Clinton and health care. Something like she was coming across as elected when she wasn't and also socialized medicine.

*Bad choice of gun control. (my opinion is that he should have stuck to more of what he supported in his second term)

*Waco. Seen here as a poorly planned "show raid" and abuse of posse comitatas.

*Some 1993 WTC bombing stuff but I don't remember that well enough to comment on.

*Chinese Embassy mishap.

*Cole, base closings, etc.

*OK City bombing investigation and related. Didn't go far enough.

There were some others but I think those were the big ones. I know he had a reputation here of being Slick Willy...but oddly enough we loved Johnson for being that way. :)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

52. Two reasons I can think of

1. The Lewinsky scandal was payback for Bob Packwood. Now I think the Dems slipped up badly by not getting Packwood for his financial corruption and his co-sponsorship of the 1986 tax "reform." The sexual harrassment brouhaha was peanuts in comparison. Packwood was popular among fellow Republicans, and I just knew that the next major Dem who got caught with his fly open was going to be the object of their wrath.
2. In my previous apartment building lived an elderly gentleman who had grown up in a wealthy Florida family. Although his politics were more left than right, he hated Bill Clinton for being "white trash" and took absolute glee in pointing out his flaws. Given the dominant position of Southern rich people in the Republicanite party, the hatred for Clinton looks like hatred of an "uppity cracker."

[TWiley]

59. Like Kennedy, Bill Clinton has Charisma.

Power seems to come from two opposing sources; Force and Attraction. Force is something imposed upon and may have its legitimacy rooted in family lineage, wealth, or an appointment from either of the other two (including law).

Charisma is power of "attraction", and it does not obey the rules of royalty, wealth, or appointed power. It stands on its own, and it must be attacked by slander, or murder.

Charisma is frightening to established power. Supposedly, a king killed all the children of a certain age with hopes of eliminating one charismatic child.

I may not have used the best words in describing what I am thinking, but "Force" vs "Attraction" are the only words I have time to find.

[tom_paine]

60. You might as well ask why they hate Amercia?

Because the answers are one and the same.

Busheviks hate Clinton for the same reason they hate America.

Because it stands in the way of their One-Party Unchecked POWER!

[Karenina]

61. HE WON. TWICE.

eom

[Ishoutandscream]

62. First baby-boomer president. Defeated two guys from the "Greatest Gen"

Pot smoking, anti-Vietnam, hippy type. At least, that's what they tried to convey Clinton as. Plus the fact that he is a great intellect. The right was (and still is) very frightened of him.

[Dangerman]

63. Look at this.

Bill Clinton has help turn this country for the better during his term and those damn republicans probably don't like a healthy country.

Why the hell they demonized him just because he made sex with ms Monica?

Maybe they're paranoid morality-sensitive maniacs.

[seabeyond]

64. they and the media are now doing same with kerry

the same tone, the same words, so i am thinking has nothing to do with the individual person, has to do with the party,. and doesnt matter who we get, how good or smart or experienced. this is what is fed to public

[notadmblnd]

75. Because he refused to implement the PNAC plan

IMO, The Monica incident was his punishment for not going along with the program.

[mondo joe]

86. Because they're good so he must be evil

The cons are convinced that they're good, hence anyone they oppose is evil.

They never believed he had the right to be President because the cons don't believe in democracy.

[Fescue4u]

96. Guns and Gays and socialized medicine

It all started when Clinton went to work to allow gays in the military.

Then the issue of socialized medicine drove many into fits.

Finally, the hatred of Clinton was cemented when Clinton began his attack on the 2nd ammendment, which unfortuately cost the house and senate.

After that, the hatred was cemented and anything Clinton did was attacked.

[Moderator]

102. Locking.....

This thread is being locked due to personal attacks
and lack of civility. I would like to remind
everyone that calling someone a freeper/disruptor
is a rule violation. If you feel that someone
is a freeper/disruptor, please use the alert
button so that the moderators can take care
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Thank you.


DU Moderator