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New London Update (2/24/06)
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Coverage of the Rally at New London's City Hall (w/ pics)
Monday, June 14, 2004
Bush Says Nice Things About Clinton...Say What?
At the unveiling of Clinton's WH portrait, President Bush said some nice things about Clinton. Now I know this has everyone either up in arms (Righties) or stunned speechless and credit-giving-less (Lefties), but here's my take.
Yahoo news posted this article outlining some of the thing Bush said. Let's take a look. To start:
Bill Clinton showed incredible energy and great personal appeal.
Now that could be taken any number of ways, and since I like to keep this site child and grandmother safe I'll leave it to your imagination adding only this: Monica.
Next:
As chief executive, he showed a deep and far-ranging knowledge of public policy, a great compassion for people in need, and the forward-looking spirit that Americans like in a president.
In order, he did appear to understand public policy, so ok. Compassion? He certainly professed plenty of it...and he may have even been sincere. As for the evidence, I would say he was generally compassionate when it served his interests. Forward-looking...that American's like...? He was certainly always looking forward to the next poll or intern and American's liked it all well enough to reward him with two terms.
Next:
Bush said that Clinton's rise from humble beginnings in the rural state of Arkansas "took more than charm and intellect. It took hard work and drive and determination and optimism."
Of course he had to work hard. How else could you get the attention of a great and wise mention like William Fulbright the renowned segregationist.
And so, from the quotes in that particular article, it seems to me that Bush has done a decent job of appearing to compliment Clinton while leaving wide open the interpretation that he was simply pointing out facts...and those facts are not necessarily all that complimentary.
[Disclaimer: I don't think Bush should give even a hint of praise to the steaming pile of pond scum that is Bill Clinton...but then he did let Ted Kennedy write the Education Bill...]
Update:
Chrenkoff has some thoughts on this whole thing as well. Check 'em out.
The Actual Portrait
I found this article to be somewhat interesting for at least one quote. Here's the background etc.:
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Simmie Knox, the first black artist to paint an official presidential portrait, is preparing to unveil his oil painting of former President Bill Clinton in a ceremony Monday at the White House.
[...]
Knox, who met with Clinton just before the former president left office, said he felt especially connected to him because they grew up under similar circumstances - in a poor family in the segregated South.
"I think that's why he has the compassion that he has," Knox said. "He knows how it feels to have lived a certain life and to have been deprived of things."
Now, this guy is obviously entitled to his opinion...and I'll even admit that his might be more valid than mine, but here it is anyway.
Does he really believe that Bill Clinton feels his pain because he grew up in the rural south? Seriously? I'm supposed to believe that Clinton (a poor white boy) experienced the same social stigmas as a poor black boy in the South all those decades ago? Maybe he really does believe it. Who knows. I just have a hard time believing it myself...but maybe it's just me.
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