That's Why They Call Him 'The Comeback Kid'
Sixteen years since that first Presidential campaign, and Bill Clinton still knows how to stage a comeback. During Hillary's campaign he seemed to take on the role typically filled by a Vice Presidential candidate. He hit her opponent over and over, hard - so hard, in fact, that it hurt Clinton's image among some Democrats and left scars of bitterness on the party's psyche.
After tonight, those scars will probably heal. After this speech, any lingering bitterness toward the former President will probably be replaced by a 'come home, all is forgiven' glow. Obama supporters may differ with Bill Clinton on somepolicy issues, but Bill Clinton has restored his position as the patriarch and elder statesman of the Democratic Party.
"That makes two of us," Bill said of his endorsement and Hillary's. "In fact, that makes eighteen million of us." That was the punchline, the payoff line, and it delivered the emotional wallop everyone was waiting for. Bill went much further than Hillary did in praising Obama, and it made all the past rumors of bruised Clinton/Obama egos feel like nothing more than a dramatic build-up to a satisfying denouement.
Bill may have also been putting out a little "this is how it's done" vibe toward his successor, too. He was the old master, nailing line after line. Well, fine. Obama's going to have to step up his game anyway to nail that 80,000-person crowd. He could do worse than to deliver a line like Bill's about showing the world "the power of our example and not just example of our power."
Bill Clinton endorsed Obama's ability as commander in chief in unequivocal terms, and he laid out a strong argument about his ability to fix the economy. Sure, we could nitpick. The line-parsers are already jumping on his praise for Biden's experience, although I thought that the balance between "experience" and Obama's "insight" was well-nuanced. I did think he was too soft on McCain, overpraising his independence and failing to note the flip-flops and reversals that have marked McCain's campaign.
But these are minor quibbles. Will this speech help Obama in the general election? Almost certainly, and Obama would be wise to draw on Bill extensively in the coming campaign. Will it help heal the Democratic Party? Definitely.
I suspect this speech will fully restore President Clinton's personal stature within the party. After a bruising and bitter campaign, Bill Clinton is on his way to once again being a unifying Democratic figure. The more he helps Obama, the more he will renew his own reputation.
Tonight Bill Clinton did what he had to do - for the party, for Obama, and for the Clinton franchise. You gotta hand it to him: He just made one more comeback.
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Bill is still the best liar in the business.
Bill's speech last night was the coup de grace for what was undoubtedly KarlRove's puma gambit.
Thank you, Mr. President. Your speech reminded us what a strong, clear democratic message sounds like.
my hats off to Bill Clinton, he looked and sounded like the Bill Clinton I admired and supported 16 yrs ago...he did a phenomenal speech and showed the country(and world) what a polished, accomplished, intelligent and experienced President sounds like.
I felt proud to be an American!
I've loved him before - got mad - now am loving him again. Bill Clinton, last night was MAGNIFICENT. thank you.
This is how I feel. His speech was just masterful.
Same here.
I read each comment and absolutely agree with the "Yes We Can" crowd.
Like many, I was angry with the Clinton's and their supporters.
Like many, I've done my share of Clinton/supporter bashing.
Like many, I felt justified in my nastiness.
President and Senator Clinton have taught all of us a lesson. The Democratic Party is a force to be reckoned with.
And now, like many, I am proud to be a Democrat.
There were many charges made during the primaries and we did so loudly, vocally, emotionally.
But our charges against fellow Democrats pale, if not completely disappear, when stacked up against the charges against the republicans.
We truly cannot afford 4 more years of these republican criminals.
I'm reminded of a story my father, an Olde Tyme Democrat told me about Harry Truman in 1960. Truman had supported a candidate other than JFK in the primaries, but campaigned for JFK after he won the nomination. When questioned by a reporter about his switch he shook his cane in the reporter's face and said "I'm supporting him now and that's all you need to know!".
Don't stop thinking about tomorrow.
Don't stop, it'll soon be here.
It'll be here, better than before.
YESTERDAY'S GONE! YESTERDAY'S GONE!!
OOOOOH! DON'CHA LOOK BACK!
Time to move on, everybody!! Obama/Biden 2008
It wasn't a speech, it was a chat with friends. No other politician does that, let alone try walking backwards on a tight rope without a net. He sealed his legacy.
Legacy? You're jumping to conclusions.
If Obama loses this election, it's not that half-hearted speech people will remember, it is Bill and Hillary Clinton's overall efforts to torpedo his candidacy throughout 2008.
A torpedo's job is to torpedo, so? Hillary's message was I am an experienced street fighter for the people. Obama's message is fight the crisis not the opposition, thats what people want so they chose him.
There is no difference between someone who refuses to switch from Hillary to Barrack or who refuses to let go the fight in the primaries.
If we cannot work with the full spectrum of our party now, including Republicans and those outside the house like Nader, then we don't stand a chance of achieving this mandate.
Its our choice.
During the primary season, I became sorry that I had voted for Bill Clinton twice, but after last night, I remembered why I did. He was great. His speech was electrifying, and it showed that despite what happened during the campaign Bill Clinton can really help Obama to win. He more so than her. I'm also glad he made the analogy that when he ran the Repubs said he was too young and didn't have enough experience like Barack.
R.J. thank you for reminding us about Bill's "comeback kid" abilities. I had forgotten about that part of him. I still think the man likes the spotlight too much, but as the only two-term Dem president since FDR, President Clinton did earn the right to be there last night.
I'm hoping that the bad blood, mostly caused during the primaries, was really media hype. The only true indicator of this will come on Nov. 4 though. Say what you will about Bill & Hillary's personal traits, but they are both gifted politicians.
To me, Bill Clinton's speech last night was the highlight of the convention. Remarkable. Very effective. He is quite the warrior for the Democratic cause -- for an America that we can all believe in. What a potent mix when you combine intelligence, wit, and passion! I certainly hope that both Bill and Hillary Clinton become an important part of our campaign to secure the presidency. We need them.
Thank you, Mr. President - it was great speech!
Bill Clinton is God. I love him, love him, love him.
People are easily fooled. The major difference between Hillary and Bill is only that the latter is a much more convincing liar than the former.
I'm glad that he did it for the sake of the party, but anyone who thinks this really means Bill likes Obama or that either of them feel he is ready to be president is delusional.
The only evidence you have of that is literally in your mind. Your right...no one really knows the answer. But I'd rather give the benefit of the doubt. Are you trying to lose or win? Or are you a troll?
I'm trying to be honest. Bill Clinton is a habitual liar, he has proven such over a long period of time. He has been openly hostile towards Obama for the last year and if you think that really went away just in time for his speech last night, you're not being realistic.
As I said, I'm glad he gave the speech but please -- keep your wits about you.
Time brings perspective, but in this blogosphere of 24/7 news, there is no time to heal let alone breathe. For perspective think about the time you were dumped, how long did it take to get over it. This is nothing compared to the crisis in his marriage and office following the Monica fling.
For perspective, Bill knows Africa, he knows that the cheap seats for this convention are in the plains of the Serengeti, the townships of South Africa, Indonesia and Brazil. He walks with Mandela, both men have had time to reflect on their mortality. Beyond what we desire, we all know what is good.
You could argue that the Clintons have come full circle.... though he was a bright young star, division within the party led to the loss of the majority in congress, thus he didn't muster in the teamwork to get the job done.....n
Those crazy republicans, with their free market baloney. Can you believe it? What a joke.
I just can't wait until Barack gets elected. I just know the federal government can take over the oil companies and health care and manage them so much better.
And with Barack in office, no more wars and we will all be equal. Thank god for Barack. I just know he can make my life better.
No more Katrinas either, with BO's all knowing power he would just raise his hand and stop them. (But if he didn't - federal hurricane insurance!)
Um, you do know that the only people who have this weird "Obama as Messiah" thing are republican trolls and the 2 or 3 disgruntled PUMAs still knocking around.
We're voting for him because we agree with his policies, or we like him personally - in most cases, it's both.
Presumably it's the same thing for McCain supporters, so what's the big deal?
There is one thing that we can all count on the Republicans for. They all seem to share, live with, and breathe it -- NONSENSE. Your party has proven to be populated with a bunch of pathetic losers who can't see beyond their own selfish, Pinocchio-like noses. Before this campaign is over, all of America -- including the "low information voters" --- will be fully versed in your unparalleled record of FAILURE, DECEPTION, and DESTRUCTION. You people are a plague on the American scene and your bunch of Bush, rubber-stamping politicians will be getting their PINK SLIPS in bulk come this November. Good riddance to you and your party!
People are still caught up in the Nora Ephron view of the narcissistic, revisionist view, of the Clintons (did anyone else find it odd that a hollywood screenwriter would think to call a Senator and a one time President narcissists?)? But guess what folks, despite all the bruised Obama egos...the past 3 days has been the Clintons show. They didnt have to do any of what they did...Kenn
I'm confident of one thing, the Clinton drama put millions and millions of viewers on their couch who will not tune into the GOP convention.
That gives the Dems an opportunity to reach these people that the GOP won't have. Hopefully it worked.
It could not be scripted or choreographed better. Theater imitating politics..
The Republican convention will probably be little more than another episode of "Fear Tactics".
You forget! Obama gave clinton the oppertunity to redeem themselfs at this convention, and Demacratic party truested Bill and Hillary to salvage their legacy for her future political career. They Both did wonderful and we can be proud of them, but they didn't do it all for Obama, but for their own self served purpose, and the glory that would be distode upon them by people like you! They were good, and give them credit. But this is about the man who beat the the Clintons, and don't forget that!
This is the point. Clintons legacy was in question after Lewinsky. This greater battle between the 2 sides of the Democratic party has given him a chance to purge.
We can now choose the legacy we wish to remember him by, historic and positive.
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