Slick Willie Rides Again

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion?pid=274075

Slick Willie Rides Again
William Greider


The Clintons play dirty when they feel threatened. But we knew that, didn't we?

The recent roughing-up of Barack Obama was in the trademark style of the Clinton years in the White House. High-minded and self-important on the surface, smarmily duplicitous underneath, meanwhile jabbing hard to the groin area. They are a slippery pair and come as a package. The nation is at fair risk of getting them back in the White House for four more years. The thought makes me queasy.

The problem is not Hillary Clinton per se or the sharp exchanges and personal accusations that squeamish political reporters deplore. That's what politics is always about. Tough, even nasty conflict is educational, also entertaining. Politics ain't beanbag, as Mark Shields likes to say.

The one-two style of Clintons, however, is as informative as low-life street fighters. Mr. Bill punches Obama in the kidney and from the rear. When Obama whirls around to strike back, there stands Mrs. Clinton, looking like a prim Sunday School teacher and citing goody-goody lessons she learned from her 135 years in government.

I thought Obama did quite well in response, looked strong and stayed in character. But we shall see. He was compelled to play defense and to hope the audience recognized foul play. It's possible the Clintons won on points, simply by making Obama look like a confused young man who had to keep repeating what he had actually said.

The style is very familiar to official Washington, not just among the Clintons' partisan adversaries, but among their supporters. The man lied to his friends. All the time. They got used to it. They came expect it. I observe a good many old hands among the Senate Democrats are getting behind Obama. It would be good to know more about why they declined to make the more obvious choice of endorsing the power couple.

We are sure to see more of Mr. Bill's intrusions because the former president is pathological about preserving his own place in the spotlight. He can't stand it when he is not the story and, one way or another, he will make himself the story. I used to be sympathetic toward Mrs. Clinton on this point. No longer.

She is using her egocentric husband to do the low-road hits for her campaign. He is good at it--a real charmer if you've never seen his act before. Or is Mrs. Clinton's husband using her? People can ask that question without disturbing the principles of feminism.

Evidently, many of the mainstream party faithful want the Clinton team as their presidential nominee. It's their choice, of course. But does the rest of the country really deserve this?

Of course that applies to Edwards and Obama also.

JEB? HUCLEBERRY HOUND OR THE OLETIMERS MAN?

:think:

We'll see if ol' slick slides himself right into abyss.

Scared of Bill's popularity, I take it?

It just reminds me of how we came together and elected him, despite all of the name-calling and personal attacks on him and Hillary.

Nothing Republican sounding there.

Did I take a wrong turn somewhere and end up in freepland?

epitaph without monica.

then perhaps you did.

that well-known bastion of neo-cons

I don't give a SHIT where it's coming from this time.

And we do, at my house.

It's a pun. A FILTHY pun. It means that Clinton's got a wet penis because he has a lot of sex. I expect hearing it from right-wing asswipes, but not from the people on the left, no matter how badly they want their own canidate to win. So you can take your "Slick Willie" and shove it up your @$$.

I'm an Edwards supporter, but I find the term noxious and demeaning to all of us on the "left."

Best of luck to your guy, and to Obama, too. And no matter who wins when the dust settles, I'm gonna fight tooth and nail to see that s/he is elected. GO DEMOCRATS!

I doubt that was this place's intention...but don't let facts get in the way. Makes me wonder where your mind is. :wtf:

Also see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slick_Willy


Slick Willie is a nickname that can refer to:

* Willie Sutton, a prolific bank robber;
* U.S. president Bill Clinton (also, see: List of U.S. Presidential nicknames).
* Willie Brown, former California legislator and San Francisco mayor.

lol

slick: (of a person or their behavior) adroit or clever; glibly assured : he’s a slick con man

I'm an Edwards supporter and I second that take your "Slick Willie" and shove it up the OP's ass. I've been hearing a lot of right-wing talking points here on DU as of late, And it's making me sick to my stomach.

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gutter again! What a surprise. What next?

share the same opinion as so many who do. You need to embrace the truth.

trash posts or articles anymore. That's what happens when you post such nasty stuff ALL the time and it turns people off. I'm totally turned off!
When you change your attitude and start playing fair...I'll pay attention to your posts...but you have a long way to go. Good luck!

:rofl: You're a laugh a minute, Auntie! Thanks for the laugh! :rofl:

My husband gets The Nation and it's totally anti Clinton. They love Obama and Edwards so I knew what position the article would take..no need to read it on the web...got it right here. I used to like it before the primaries but now have no interest.

Anyone who wouldn't acknowledge that is wearing rose-colored glasses. We all know Bill Clinton is a liar, albeit a smooth and charming liar.

I don't mind hardball tactics. We're not electing a friend. Hopefully, we're electing someone who represents our values when they get into office. But when the dust settles I want someone who is 100% honest, or as close to it as possible. I don't mind tough campaigning and the double-teaming of one candidate. I do mind lies, spin and deception in the extreme.

:boring:

One side of the country Hillary is saying one thing - Bill is lying elsewhere in the country
Bill is lying to the country the same as he was when lying about Monica Lewensky!

Why do you have to use Republican talking points to make your point?

Word!