Did the Clintons numb us to scandal?

Question

This was a post to a question I asked earlier today that I happen to agree with. It was posted by S C.

"Scandals used to be scandalous and politicians used to (usually) resign when they were caught in scandalous situations. The Clinton administration numbed us to scandal.

There were so many major scandals not just involving Bill and Monica but Hillary's financial dealings, the Travelgate affair, Whitewater, the cabinet members who had to step down due to wrongdoing, the former associates from Arkansas convicted of a multitude of crimes and sent to jail..... and let's not forget the gross abuse of the Presidential pardon privilege in the last hours of the Slick Willie presidency .......and the White House artifacts found in the moving van."

And he didn't mention it all, especially Vince Foster, who was supposed to have committed suicide.

What do you think?

You Clinton fans, good luck with your history rewrite.

Actually I think it was Watergate that made us expect scandal.

Answer 1

Oh, Travelgate. When Ronald Reagan took office he dismissed all the democrats who had worked for Jimmy Carter. This is known as "spoils of war." Although there were a few complaints, most took their lumps stoically.

President Clinton was well within his rights to dismiss the White House travel office employees. The "scandal" is that he failed to do so his first month in office, instead delaying their firing by more than a year. Contrast this with the recent firing of the US district attorneys for failing to pursue trumped up partisan political charges against opposition party members. These two dismissals are like ant hills to mountain ranges.

Whitewater. The Clintons LOST $20,000 on a deal they neglected to include as a legitimate deduction on their income taxes. A subsequent $60,000,000 years-long fishing investigation turned up a single soiled dress. Hillary was not an insider, so her loss did not even amount to insider trading. Contrast this with Bush's sale of Harken Energy, a $200,000 profit, shortly before decisions of the board of which he was a member caused the corporate value to plummet. Not even a dime of taxpayer's money has been spent investigating that.

No, the so-called "scandals" are simply whining and moaning and carrying on of rancorous republicans who couldn't bear the thought they had lost the executive branch. Quite frankly, I thought Bush (Sr.) did a decent job as president. He was better than President Reagan. And president Reagan was far, FAR better than Chimpy McFlightsuit. But I guess that really isn't saying much--any of the previous 42 presidents surpassed this one in virtually every category.

What continues to amaze me to no end is how unpopular Harry Truman was. He sank below 20%. Why? On Truman's worst day, he was better than President Bush on his best. Why doesn't Bush's popularity ever descend below 25%? How is it his minions remain so faithful to his gross incompetence and mishandling of every disaster or debacle? One scandal comes along, and while we're still reeling from it, out come another, even bigger one. It is as though they're doing it just to distract us.

Answer 2

I think it's mostly a lot of hooey. Most of the so called scandals of the Clinton years were invented by the Republicans that hated him so much, and most of it was never, ever proven - even after millions of dollars spent to desperately get any evidence to bring an indictment. The stories grow and get worse as the years go by, until to hear a lot of people talk you'd think the Clintons were actually proven guilty, and/or even indicted. For instance, the stories about the White House artifacts? False:

http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/kellner/papers/GT2c11.htm

The Vince Foster thing and all the associates of the Clintons who met untimely deaths so they MUST have had something to do with it? False as well:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/clintons/bodycount.asp

In fact, most of the stories seen here in this forum are bunk, such as the really stupid Hillary Clinton/Black Panthers story, which was denied by Paul Harvey himself.

I think the Clintons had their share of secrets, just like any Presidential Administration. But this country was cured of scandal shock during the Nixon Administration. Watergate brought a whole new cynicism to our citizens that didn't end with new generations. It has lasted like a old musty smell that never quite leaves the attic. The Clinton years were not lily white, that's for sure, I'd never try to claim that. But the tattoo of scandal was due as much to the Republican witch hunters as it was to the Clintons themselves.

Answer 3

If this present administration wasn't so enmeshed in crooks, obstructors of justice, lies, scandals, fiscal abuse, outing CIA people, etc., this whole subject would be laughable. This President's friends are falling like leaves from the sad Republican tree, losing their jobs and some are going to jail. How many thousands and thousands of people are dying during this administration? Clinton's personal life was hardly admirable, but Bush's political life is lethal to the max! Are you also suggesting the Clintons murdered Vince Foster, or are you unprepared to make that claim?

Answer 4

It's not like they lied to send 160,000 troops to Iraq. Have them skip vacation, extend tour duties, cut short military health care...etc. And some 3500 dead.

You can play this game all day. Clinton did this, Bush did that on and on...

I'm gona make a board game. 'Let's Bash Clinton or Bush' Trivia Game. Patent pending! Don't take my idea.

Answer 5

No. You are confusing them with the Bush Administration.

Don't think Bush isn't going to misuse Presidential pardons? I'd be willing to bet good money Scooter Libby will be on that list of presidential pardons come 2008.

Answer 6

you clinton haters love to list off all your nicknames for all your pseudo-scandals. but after years of investigating by the starr commisssion, all they could get him on was one personal indiscretion that was no ones business but his wifes. how pathetic!
and bushs lawbreaking, skull and bones membership, trips to bohemian grove, defiance of the constitution, previous criminal record, and other potentially scandalous acts are so conveniently ignored by the gop cheerleaders

Answer 7

Nixon-Watergate?
Reagan-Iran-Contra?

You're simply playing a semantics game.

Answer 8

No, it was Nixon and his thugs who numbed us to scandal.

Answer 9

So, are you using that as an excuse to LOWER your standards?

just wondering...

Answer 10

UUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMM, Nope!