Bubba Trouble: The Comeback Id: Vanity Fair

Vanity Fair:

Old friends and longtime aides are wringing their hands over Bill Clinton's post-White House escapades, from the dubious (and secretive) business associations to the media blowups that have bruised his wife's campaign, to the private-jetting around with a skirt-chasing, scandal-tinged posse. Some point to Clinton's medical traumas; others blame sheer selfishness, and the absence of anyone who can say "no." Exploring Clintonworld, the author asks if the former president will be consumed by his own worst self.

Read the whole story: Vanity Fair

Comments

[tyrdofwaitin]

Bill Clinton's problem? Too much to drink too much of the time.

[XME]

Let me put on my surprised face...

Bill Clinton was the number one reason I don't trust Hillary Clinton. To me, she would be a much more credible person and less concerning to have her in the White House, if she'd left him years ago. His "antics" were an embarrassment to the country, regardless of any good that came from his presidency. And when someone can look at camera, broadcasting to the entire country, and claim with a straight face that the didn't do something he did do, I don't want him anywhere near the White House ever again.

[ishok]

I've said it a thousand times on this HP... the Clinton's clearly had to be re-vetted. The type of campaign that Obama ran against her did NOT vet the Clintons. I say that plural because you can't separate them politically. The Republican camp has had "the goods" on them for a while. Bill has been sleeping around both financially and physically since they left the WH. Financially resulting in a 109M kitty. Physically resulting in numerous philanderings with "kitty-cats". The Republicans have the names and addresses of all the felines in question and had planned on releasing this stuff "Chinese water torture" style over Sep. and Oct.. To the last of you Hillary supporters think about this, if Hillary knew about this all along (with the Middle-eastern business dealings) why would she put us and you through this prolonged fight to the death? I say its the product of the same mind that would make up a Bosnia story that could so easily be debunked. This is a person that can conveniently make up their own reality and believe it. SCARY! Very Bush-like.
I'm so glad that we made the right choice here. Please don't chalk this up to sexism, this has nothing to do with her being a woman.

[lee4]

The straw that broke the camels back for me was when Bill Clinton pardoned fugitive financier Marc Rich who gave him $ 700,000. for his library. The Clintons are so corrupt. They're always wheeling and dealing.

[KGinSanFrancisco]

Same here. I stood by him and tried to forgive him for all the women and monica and impeachment but this episode showed me very clearly what kind of scum he was. That was no turning back.
Everyone should read this article. It's written by a serious journalist with inside info (married to Dee Dee Myers). He could have written a much more damaging article but showed restrain.

[4wehttam]

I can't believe their now attempting to attack Dee Dee Myers. I see her all over tv defending Hillary left and right. She's been on Air America and has never said a bad thing against the Clintons. I'm sure she knows a lot, but she's too decent a person to go there.

This is what I'm talking about with the Clinton's. They are rabid attack dogs, they don't stop to think clearly before they pounce on whoever they perceive to stand in their way. I read the VF article twice. It didn't sound the least bit tawdry as they claim. As far as I'm concerned, seems like they left things out (specific things about his foreign govt. dealings and how long Hillary covered for him while he lied to the American people.)

[SmootyBooty]

Bill Clinton: The greatest Republican president of the 20th century...

[Buckywunder]

Actually, Teddy Roosevelt *busted* the national trusts -- Bill *made* global ones. But after Teddy, yeah, sure...

[rowzeer]

Wow that doesn't say much for the others....­Bill's presidency brought the repeal of Glass-Stegal Act that was the catalyst for the mortgage crisis, he continued and expanded the privatization of the military helping make companies like Blackwater and Halliburton rich, he brought us NAFTA, he pushed welfare reform that left many young children home alone.

The only good thing he did was push education for all. For that you got Republicans complaining that if "everyone got an education who would mow our lawns and cook our food". Bill was right about that educating Americans would raise the middle class which has been sinking into poverty.

[racetoinfinity]

Right. What a disappointment he was to liberals/p­rogressive­s. His place in history has been badly tarnished.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

Hillary does not have good judgment by maintaining her associations with this man.

Frankly I'm not surprise but continually disappointed with Bill Clinton. He could have been one of the best presidents in history if he had any moral compass at all.

[southafrica4obama]

the article is too long. it is veering me off my sunday schedule. todd should have written a book with his wife.

[globalmusing]

The protracted campaigns have given us all a view of the kind of presidential leadership we can expect from Senators Obama and Clinton. Right or wrong, Senator Obama is clearly the leader of his campaign. The same cannot be said of Senator Clinton - it's difficult to tell who IS the leader of her campaign - Bill Clinton?, Harold Ickes?, Howard Wolfeson?, Terry McAuliffe? Mark Penn?

It's disturbing (but not at all surprising) that Senator Clinton's campaign is so highly influenced by her husband, and her large group of highly visible and vocal advisors is scary. I don't see how Senator Clinton's White House would look much different, structurally and procedurally, from Bush & Co. Nothing in her campaign makes me believe that Senator Clinton would actually be "the decider" on all presidential matters.

Our country cannot afford another round of Bush & Co.'s "permanent campaign", either the Clinton version or the McCain version.

I prefer Senator Obama because, although he is, like all of us, an imperfect human being, he is also compassionate and extremely intelligent, and clearly, a highly skilled politician who knows how to put together and run a "no drama" operation. Our country desperately needs this kind of President. Unlike Senators Clinton and McCain, Senator Obama appears to take responsibility for his mistakes and their impact. And Senator Obama's campaign has clearly proven that he ascribes to "the buck stops here" mentality.

[Umungus]

Nice post, well stated.

[lynnn]

Transparency is the key difference in (IMHO).

[happypup]

Who cares about Bill Clinton's sexual liaisons, or lack thereof, and personal outbursts?

It is his appalling public outbursts, as a former President of the United States, that have been so damning and damaging to our nation's image..

[csepwede]

Bill Clinton would be the biggest impediment toward an Obama/Clinton ticket and is probably what makes it unworkable.

He'd have to sign a strict ethics clause to not pursue business dealings with foreign countries. Also, given his penchant for scandal, it just would leave the Obama presidency vulnerable in a way that would not be good for America.

[ILoveNYC]

Csepwede,

I was laughing so hard when you said "He'd have to sign a strict ethics clause..." as we are all to aware, signed agreements are meaningless to the Clintons, so that would NEVER work!

[csepwede]

good point.... it should be a no-go for all of the above.

[johnwinner]

the sad part, for me, is I voted for him twice and her twice (in NY), and in their corruption and egocentrism, they have utterly trashed everything I voted for. I'm ashamed to have ever voted Clinton. Their legacy is garbage.

[Testtubebaby]

This is Great News...she won't be on the ticket!!!!!

[trumanlincoln]

It's sad. Like Bob Knight or Richard Nixon, most of the good things that are said about him are true and most of the bad things that are said about him are also true. I think the Dems dodged a bullet. Crazy pastors will be much easier to deal with than post 2000 Bill Clinton.

[Axolotl]

Madam Clinton and Monsieur William J. Clintone:

If you cannot stand the heat, you need to get out of the commode, as they say. comprendo?