I do not breathe your politics
"Comment is free but facts are sacred." (C.P. Scott)
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Best. President. Ever.
By way of contrast to current events, this story makes interesting reading. What happens at Davos is basically unlikely to have any impact on the USA at all, but it seems that even in retirement, this President Clinton might.
AP stories often seem to end on a throwaway as if to avoid coming to a conclusion that might limit their market, and this is no different:
Klaus Schwab, the forum's founder and organizer, asked Clinton to advise the next U.S. president, noting that this person might either be married to Clinton or listening in the audience -- an apparent reference to Sen. John McCain, seated in the first row along with Microsoft's Bill Gates and other invitees. "In this world full of culturally charged issues I think we should make it clear that Senator McCain and I are not married," Clinton joked as the audience burst into laughter. The comment earned Clinton a slap on the back from the Arizona Republican, who fought a crowd to get to the former president after the event. "Interesting talk," said the beaming possible 2008 presidential contender. "You got us both in trouble!"With articles like this, it seems to me that you need to rewind back before the whimsical end to see the real conclusion. In this case you see Clinton playing the ex-president, subtly criticising the line given to Bush by his advisers. It's dangerous for them not to talk to Hamas, and this puts the idea out there in a way that makes it very hard for those advisers to hit back. Right/left schism or not, Clinton is still referred to, like all his living predecessors, as "Mr President", which causes those advisers to pull their punches. You'll not see Scott McClellan railing against Clinton from the podium, unless he has absolutely no other way to distract the press corps from Abramoff-related issues. posted by Michael at 1/29/2006 02:58:00 AM |