Asset or Liability ?

[Watchman]

Just out of curiosity....

How would you rate the Clinton Administration in overall performance ?

I'm not intersted in slamming the pres or praising him, I just want to know in your opinion ,how do he do overall ? Would you consider his service to this country as an Asset or a Liability ?

Thanks ...

[ 04-08-2002: Message edited by: Watchman ]

[ateamer]

Service to his country? You mean the servicing he got at the expense of his country? He ought to be in prison, along with his power-hungry wife.

[Don]

Lie Ability - big time.

[occiferdave]

Asset,

We were a more prosperous nation at the end of his administration in 2001 than we were in 1993.

We had relative peace during that time and now we

[jarhead6073]

I don't know that I would say a period of relative peace. Granted we didn't have a major war. But look at Somalia, Bosnia, the first WTC bombings, the embassy bombings, the USS Cole. Not to mention the Isreal/Palestine situation. He spent his entire time in office "negotiating peace" and look where it got us. The 8 Clinton years were by no means "peacefull".
I don't know if you have heard the warnings from the Pentagon saying that our armed forces are being overtasked by this war on terror. Now, I'm no expert but this a fairly low scale conflict that should not be stretching a "Superpower's" resources. And guess what. The Clinton administration spent 8 consecutive years downsizing the military. So basically he took us out of the realm of Superpower.

The environment is in better shape than it would have been. But what did Clinton really do? He gave us NAFTA, what a load of crap.

Do you know what the Clinton administration's definition of a job was? Something that paid at least minimum wage and lasted at least a year. So all those jobs that he said that he created, were service industry jobs.

The 90's saw many companies moving good paying factory jobs to Mexico and S.E. Asia so that they could increase profits and the government did nothing to protect those workers who actually made enough money to buy the products that they produced.

Not to mention the whole "Family Values" campaign that he had in conjunction with the sex scandal"s". I won't even go there.

Overall I would say that he was more of a liability. True we had a budget surplus but at what cost? Namely the Military.

[CinaC]

Clinton administration spent 8 consecutive years downsizing the military.

I'd like to mention that the Republicans had control of the Congress for six out of eight years of Clinton's term.

Look, with the end of the Cold War, it's a given that the military would be downsized. It's not fair to blame Clinton for a downsize that would have happened in any case, to any President, faced with no more super-power enemy.

It is, however, fair to criticize HOW the military was downsized. I'm sure whoever was in office would've made some mistakes in so far as the application ... it's not like downsizing the military was an every-Presidential term occurance.

[packpolice]

His performance, hmmmmmmm. Well unfortunately I think he performed all too well. I love you slick.

He did much better in foreign policy than I thought he would. He is a very bright, intelligent and persuasive man. I was not old enough to vote for him the first time, but I supported him then because I liked Gore's work on the environment. Gore got screwed big time. In the end though it was his own fault. He doesn't have the charisma of Clinton and comes off WAY too liberal. He campaigned poorly. People like a moderate on most issues. The extremists on boths sides may control the lobbies and (PACs), but most voters are in the middle.

I don't think the average Republican cared enough about Clinton's affair to want to impeach him. I really don't. Frankly, the strategy blowed up in their faces (no pun intended) when they went through several speakers and potential scandals on their own side of the aisle. If morality was more important than power, the repubs. would not have supported GWB in the last election. I thought McCain WAS A FAR BETTER candidate.

Clinton may not have left with a golden legacy, but he won't be forgotten a few hundred years from now.

This Gary Condit "Convict" makes my skin crawl. I'd like to excommunicate him.

[packpolice]

The middle east ant the Bush family do have a score to settle, involving oil.

[Pigskin]

Good one, Don. Most appropriate term.

[Dinosaur]

I don't possess the understanding, nor adequate insight, to rightly evaluate the performance of any President. I'd guess, though, that Clinton was both an asset and a liability. Effective arguments could be made on both sides of the issue.

Personally, I did pretty well for most of Clinton's term in office. Things haven't gone as well for me during the Bush presidency. I'm uncertain as to whether or not there's any correlation.

I voted for Clinton, but ended up not liking him very much. I didn't vote for George W., but my low opinion of the man hasn't suffered all that much since he's been in office.

I took an online political quiz once. It purported to determine one's political affiliation based on answers to a few dozen questions. Turns out I'm a Libertarian. I've met a few people who claimed to be Libertarians. Can't say I felt a real sense of kinship with them, though. Groucho Marx once said that he'd never join a club that would have him as a member. I agree with that sentiment.

Chatboard political debates are an exercize in futility, IMHO. There's an old saying, probably a southern expression, about teaching pigs to perform some task. It sums up it's point by saying that such instruction annoys the pig. I think it applies here. No pun intended, of course.

[Mike Tx]

Selling our military secrets to China, releasing murderers from prison, more harm to our constitutional rights, Lying under oath, swindling people in Arkansas, Yes Clinton was a great president. He helped us in ways we may never fully realize.

Hail Clinton!

[InSane1]

BILL. BILL ROCKED! I'm glad he was our pres for 8 years. He did a lot for this county. I would have voted for him again if he had the opp to run again. he was a regular guy who liked sex. Come now people..... how many people don't have or don't think about having sex with someone other than your spouse?

Also, he did great with welfare reform. I was sick of seeing "lifers" on welfare. made me vomit. He was one of the best prez's ever. I think they should carve his face on Mt. Rushmore!

Seriously!

[Joseph]

I wouldn't go that far to put his face on MT. Rushmore. Maybe he will get his library hopefully. I voted for him seemed like he wanted to do a good job but there was to much baggage he brought to the White House not counting the embarrisment, secret deals, fun raising, and what he done to the integrity of the country. Just think of what all the young Children heard all over the world about the president of the United States. All kids dream of being president and he took the air out of the balloon of many childrens minds. Let's hope Bush can restore that so once again the children can say I want to grow up to be PRESIDENT.

[InSane1]

Bush is a MAN CHILD!

[Mike Tx]

I agree, they should definately carve his face.