NYT: If Clinton Could Run Again

[kskiska]

AT the convention last week, former President Bill Clinton was embraced ecstatically by the Democratic faithful. That led some Democrats to wonder: What would happen if Mr. Clinton was running instead of John Kerry? Would he beat President Bush?

"Not only do I think Clinton would win, but I think he would win by a substantial margin," said Larry J. Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. "Given a choice between what happened under Clinton in the 90's and what has happened under Bush's tenure, there is no doubt the people would choose the Clinton conditions."

Few political strategists imagine that a Bush-Clinton contest would be a typical issue-driven race.

(snip)

A Republican political strategist, Frank Luntz, said that he went to the Democratic National Convention certain that the nation suffered Clinton fatigue and that, if faced with the choice, would surely pick the sitting president over the former president. He left with a different view.

"I think it would be really too close to call," Mr. Luntz said. "People really do look back on that Clinton era with a sense of fondness of how easy things were - easy money, easy existence and easygoing president."

more…
http://nytimes.com/2004/08/01/weekinreview/01bigp.html

[Nite Owl]

1. Peace and Prosperity

That's what I most remember and it seems ions ago after these past almost four years. Would be hard for them to campaign against but they would go back to the tried and true Clinton bashing.

[Miss Authoritiva]

2. Ah yes, and if only I had been voted Queen of the Prom.

So much silliness in the paper of record -- especially the paper of record whose editorial pages were part of the gladiatorial fun 'n games known as the Clinton impeachment.

First off, I don't think there was such a thing as "Clinton fatigue." It was more like "fatigue with the media's whacked out coverage of Clinton" (not as pithy, but closer to the target).

Second, what on earth does "independent voters outside the Democratic base" mean, as used by Republican consultant Charles Black?

Third, I've heard of fantasy baseball and fantasy football, but fantasy politics--

"Of course, thanks to the Constitution, the Bush vs. Clinton fantasy will never be tested, allowing strategists to debate the possibilities until well past November."

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. If Clinton would run again, I would love to hear what he would do

differently. On the top of my wish list, I would hope that:

(1) He would recognize that, at least in his case, his private life is open for examination. And he will vow to make better choices.

(2) He admits that NAFTA was a mistake.

(3) He recognizes that we are an independent nation, separate from Israel. And that it's okay to be allies, but that in giving Israel unlimited support, we lessen its desire to compromise with its Arab neighbors.

[denny1958]

4. Imagine a Clinton / Bush Debate

I would give up my life savings to charity to witness Bill Clinton and George W in an open debate. Clinton would mop the floor with the little puke in about 2 minutes.

Come to think of it, in a properly staged debate setting, John Kerry could do the same.

[dumpster_baby]

5. Clinton Sucked. He ruined our economy.

A lot of the job market problems we are having now is due to the "Free Trade" policies he supported, that and the high levels of immigration he encouraged, which wiped out wage increases and made blue collar jobs much harder to find.

Fuck CLinton; he was nothing but a republicrat.

[MODemocrat]

6. Prove it dumpster_baby

This rheoteric gets so boring.....