Bill Clinton: What Obama can learn from FDR (Time)

[Jackeens]

Getting It Right

By PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON

My grandfather was a dirt farmer with only a sixth-grade education. During the Depression, he eked out a living selling blocks of ice. But in those days, even though he was poor, he knew someone special: from listening to the fireside chats on the radio, he knew Franklin Roosevelt. And he believed that Roosevelt knew what his life was like — and cared about it too.

I grew up listening to my grandfather's tales of what it was like to live through the Depression and the war and what Roosevelt meant to him. When I was President, in another time of change and uncertainty, I often looked at the portrait of F.D.R. in the Roosevelt Room and remembered my grandfather's stories.

More: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1906802_1906838_1906981,00.html

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

1. I've always liked Clinton's style and have also diliked many of his policies. He is spot on in this

article. It's both brief and to the point.

[Beacool]

2. Oh Bill, I wish you were still president.

Despite your personal flaws, you are a good man.

:-)

Great pic of Eleanor. Where's Captain Hilt? he would enjoy the Time article.

[muffin1]

3. I kinda like the President we have now...

but you're right...Bill Clinton was a very good man, I like him quite a lot!:)

[mkultra]

8. shes kinda hot

[Beacool]

10. There are more pics.

Check the Time link. She was pretty in her youth.

[Forkboy]

4. I look forward to the handful of DUers upset that other DUers make the comparisson show up.

I want to see them tell Bill the same thing.

[Moochy]

6. I too would love to see that!

But I wouldn't hold my breath.

[whistler162]

12. Problem is WHAT President Clinton learned from

the example of FDR!

Affair with a staffer! NOT a good thing to learn.

[scheming daemons]

5. Did Bill follow FDR's example?

:shrug:

[whistler162]

11. Extra marital affair..... check!

[troubledamerican]

14. 1999 Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act ends FDR's Glass-Steagall ... signed by Clinton

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gramm-Leach-Bliley_Act

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass-Steagall

Go ahead and delete this post too, creepy moderators.

[mkultra]

15. Ill just challenge your premise

If your trying to assert that Bill Clinton is to blame for the repeal, i suggest you read the entire link.

As pointed out, congress passed a veto proof bill which no president ever vetoes. He essentially was beat by congress.

On November 4th, the final bill resolving the differences was passed by the Senate 90-8,and by the House 362-57. This legislation (whose voting margins, if repeated, would easily have overcome any Presidential veto) was signed into law by Democratic President Bill Clinton on November 12, 1999.



This bill was one he threatened to veto. The congressional democrats where spineless, kind of like they are today.

[polmaven]

17. Facts, facts, facts!!!!

Why do you insist on bringing facts into it? Facts only get in the way! How are we supposed to get a good bash underway if people like you keep bringing FACTS into it?

[mkultra]

19. you have my deepest appologies.

:toast:

[polmaven]

22. Accepted!

And Thank You kindly! :fistbump:

[Doremus]

21. And I'll challenge yours. :)

If the big dawg HAD vetoed the bill we wouldn't be here 10 years later complaining that he hadn't.

:hi:

[MarjorieG]

7. I think the GOP/corporatists are worse with longer reach. TVs sell health/insurance ads.

Everyone, including ConservaDems have their bread buttered by lobbyists. This isn't a question of will. They're betting Obama wants some reform, it's necessary, but who will blink first. How does Obama get the message out more than he has? Even on the manipulated ABC format, truth got out.

[Uzybone]

9. Would have been nice if Big Dawg had also learned from FDR

[accuracyman]

20. Well, 87% of Democrats think he did an excellent or pretty good job

As of April, 2008:
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=902

63% of Americans in general say the same thing.

I don't know if similar polls have been conducted on FDR, but those are pretty strong numbers if you ask me.

[Sebastian Doyle]

13. Oh the irony.....

If you had learned from FDR, Bill, you would have reversed the damage Reagan and Poppy did, and not caused any of your own. Your first move should have been telling Poppy Bush "Fuck you asshole. You lost! I'm pulling the plug on your NAFTA shit".

THAT is what FDR would have done.

[DoBotherMe]

18. Let me Remind You

that the Republicans controlled both houses during Clinton's presidency, Rush Limbaugh ran a tally of the number of days "America (is) Held Hostage" by the Clinton presidency, and NEWT GINGRINCH SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT. It was a nasty time and we were able to gain and hold the presidency because it was a national office. In targeted states the opposition was better funded and supported by hate media. It was a difficult time to be a Democrat, I was called communist just because I wanted health insurance coverage for my child. So you're lucky the Democratic Party survived long enough to restore our freedom. Dana ; )

[FrenchieCat]

24. Clinton had a Democratic majority in Congress 6 months into his presidency

but lost it in the midterms of 1994.
For the first time in 40 years Congress became majority Republicans....
so He should talk....or maybe not.

[960]

25. Yet he was still more effective than Obama.

Things that make you go hmmm....

[zulchzulu]

16. Excuse me, but what's a "dirt farmer"?

Having a friend who is a farmer, he uses dirt like all farmers do...

Clinton had his chance to be more like FDR. I'd say we need to get past this "needs to be more like FDR" or "needs to be more like Bush" business and start with a new template.

[whistler162]

23. My understanding was always a dirt farmer was

someone whose farm land is so bad that the only thing that would grow on it was dirt.