Why do Republicans blame Clinton for Bushs' mistakes?

Question

I am not American.I don't live in the US.My various sources are international and not just from the American press.
Just looking at the economy,the following are facts.

Average economic growth of 4.0 percent per year, compared to average growth of 2.8 percent during the previous years. The economy grew for 116 consecutive months, the most in history.[16]
Creation of more than 22.5 million jobs—the most jobs ever created under a single administration, and more than were created in the previous 12 years. Of the total new jobs, 20.7 million, or 92 percent, were in the private sector.[17]
Economic gains spurred an increase in family incomes for all Americans. Since 1993, real median family income increased by $6,338, from $42,612 in 1993 to $48,950 in 1999 (in 1999 dollars).[18]
Overall unemployment dropped to the lowest level in more than 30 years, down from 6.9 percent in 1993 to just 4.0 percent in January 2001. The unemployment rate was below 5 percent for 40 consecutive months. Unemployment for African Americans fell from 14.2 percent in 1992 to 7.3 percent in 2000, the lowest rate on record. Unemployment for Hispanics fell from 11.8 percent in October 1992 to 5.0 percent in 2000, also the lowest rate on record.[17]
Inflation dropped to its lowest rate since the Kennedy Administration, averaging 2.5 percent, and fell from 4.7 percent during the previous administration.[19]
The homeownership rate reached 67.7 percent near the end of the Clinton administration, the highest rate on record. In contrast, the homeownership rate fell from 65.6 percent in the first quarter of 1981 to 63.7 percent in the first quarter of 1993.[20]
The poverty rate also declined from 15.1 percent in 1993 to 11.8 percent in 1999, the largest six-year drop in poverty in nearly 30 years. This left 7 million fewer people in poverty than there were in 1993.[21]
The surplus in fiscal year 2000 was $237 billion—the third consecutive surplus and the largest surplus ever.[20]
President Clinton worked with the Republican-led Congress to enact welfare reform. As a result, welfare rolls dropped dramatically and were the lowest since 1969. Between January 1993 and September of 1999, the number of welfare recipients dropped by 7.5 million (a 53 percent decline) to 6.6 million. In comparison, between 1981-1992, the number of welfare recipients increased by 2.5 million (a 22 percent increase) to 13.6 million people

Answer 1

The frightening thing is: Bush and the GOP cheated to get into office in the first place. Bush was not elected by popular vote, and only through voting irregularities was he able to ascend. His popularity was linked solely to the 9/11 attacks, when all Americans rallied together to fight. But the right wing started believeing their own lies. They thought they had a mandate. they did not and still do not. So the only thing they can do is try to blame Democrats and scare people by airing Bin Laden ads. They are going to lose miserably unless they rig another election.

Answer 2

The Republicans, like me, blame Clinton for 2 major things:

1. Not dealing with terrorism. By refusing to retalliate against terrorists, they realized we are not willing to fight back. 9-11 happened because there were walls put up in his administration and people did not share information. He had chances to take out Bin Laden and other terrorists and he refused to make the tough stance. While this is Monday Morning Quarterbacking, it is a legitimate position.

2. You do not understand what actually went on during the Clinton years. We had a false boom. Wall Street went crazy over technology in the mid 1990's. Companies were being bid up to unsustainable levels because they did not want to miss the next big thing. Eventually, this had to deflate. For example, Amazon.com was at $130 a share in 2000 yet they had never broken even in a single quarter. To my knowledge, they still have not. They have so much debt and interest payments that cripple them. Clinton took credit for this and the government had nothing to do with it.

Also, Clinton was strong armed into welfare reform. He went into it kicking and screaming.

We are now getting back on course economically because of tax cuts. It took a few years after 9-11 to get strong.

BTW, the American media that you probably look at is grossly biased liberal and against Republicans. They are losing share everyday. Fewer and fewer Americans even bother. Be careful where you get information from.

Answer 3

Very good data.

Most things presidents do take many month to years to influence the economy. They are also subject to normal swings and world trends.

Clinton took credit for many things that Bush SR. implemented. He inherited from Regan a declining economy and a natural cycle. Not taking anything away from Clinton, he didn't mess it up for many years. But then again we have natural and unnatural cycles.

9-11 made a huge impact on the economy, DO NOT underestimate it. In my industry it was everything, not bush or Clinton. I wouldn't matter who was in power, we were headed for a down turn then the impact of that. It's amazing that it wasn't much worse.

Clinton's huge mistake was NAFTA. Now Bush Jr is paying for it but he doesn't care because it helps all his friends. Jr's big mistake is the budget deficit.

In the end The two parties are more alike then different.

Answer 4

Its simple the republicans are a bunch of liars and would not know the truth if it slapped them in the face. as long as they are able to spin the whole thing and make some other blind, person believe its all clinton's fault they can keep the blame off where it really belongs, (bush and the gop) Those of us who have lived through the clinton and bush years know the truth no matter how much they lie.

Answer 5

Under Clinton we had :
Kidnappings of U.S. Citizens in Colombia, January 31, 1993:
World Trade Center Bombing, February 26, 1993:
Attempted Assassination of President Bush by Iraqi Agents, April 14, 1993:
Attack on U.S. Diplomats in Pakistan, March 8, 1995:
Bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City, April 19, 1995:
Attack on U.S. Embassy in Moscow, September 13, 1995:
Khobar Towers Bombing, June 25, 1996: A fuel truck carrying a bomb exploded outside the US military's Khobar Towers housing facility in Dhahran, killing 19 U.S. military personnel and wounding 515 persons, including 240 U.S. personnel. Several groups claimed responsibility for the attack.
Empire State Building Sniper Attack, February 23, 1997:
U.S. Embassy Bombings in East Africa, August 7, 1998:
USS Cole

And the list goes on and on

- The only president ever impeached on grounds of personal malfeasance
- Most number of convictions and guilty pleas by friends and associates*
- Most number of cabinet officials to come under criminal investigation
- Most number of witnesses to flee country or refuse to testify
- Most number of witnesses to die suddenly
- First president sued for sexual harassment.
- First president accused of rape.
- First first lady to come under criminal investigation
- Largest criminal plea agreement in an illegal campaign contribution case
- First president to establish a legal defense fund.
- First president to be held in contempt of court
- Greatest amount of illegal campaign contributions
- Greatest amount of illegal campaign contributions from abroad
- First president disbarred from the US Supreme Court and a state court

It was Clinton and his administration who did nothing about the Cole and further emboldened the terrorists to do even greater distruction. Clinton and his administration had more than one opportunity to get Bin Laden in his hands and/or kill him but the opperations were abruptly stopped several times. It was the Clinton administration who fell for Kim's sop story and gave him everything he asked for, including the tools to make the nuclear bomb that he recently exploded. Our economy is the best it has been since WWII and unemployment figures are the lowest they've been since then.

Answer 6

A point that no one seems to want to admit it that the Clinton surplus was a SHAM. The surplus was a result of not spending money allocated for the military and the result was that the terrorists walked all over us. Everything about the Clintons was a sham. neither of them would know the truth if it slapped them across the face.

Answer 7

Not ALL Americans are doing well financially
I have the distinct displeasure of living in the #1 State for unemployment, poverty, home foreclosures, bankruptcies

Answer 8

They only like old gay men who likes little boys. Clinton liked young chubby women, so they don't like that. Lot of it is just GOP marketing campaign to associate democrats with lot of bad things. They want to hang onto Clinton's dick till they get elected.

Answer 9

You go ahead and read your international press. But have you looked at the numbers since Bush was elected. I guess not. Why don't you shut up and worry about your own stupid country.

Answer 10

The blame game will always be played by individuals or governments so nobody will be accountable for the screw ups.
Thanks for stats on Clinton.