The Clinton Years

[kevinmc]

BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/documentary_archive/6925848.stm

From displays of political brilliance to the darkest days of personal turmoil, Bill Clinton's presidency was as controversial as it was colourful.

This four-part series explores his turbulent time in office, looking back over key domestic and foreign policy decisions and analysing his contribution to modern international politics.

Part One: Election

When William Jefferson Clinton was elected President of the United States on 3 November 1992, hope was in the air. But the honeymoon did not last long.

By February 1993, President Clinton had registered the lowest approval ratings at such an early stage of a presidency since polling began.

Yet it would prove to be at such moments of adversity that his political skills were at their greatest.

Listen to the programme: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/worldservice/meta/dps/2007/08/070823_the_clinton_years_part1a?size=au&bgc=003399〈=en-ws&nbram=1&nbwm=1

[Lasher]

1. I believe the February 1993 approval rating was in reaction to tax increases

A courageous and wise move. He recovered from that by about the end of his first year in office and after that he was the most popular president in modern times - more popular than Saint Ronnie of Reagan, who by manufactured myth was supposed to have been the most popular person ever born.

[Doctor_J]

3. And the takeover of the media by the GOP

Those two events coincided, with the MSM repeating "largest tax increase in history" 5 times per minute for a month, and ignoring the fact that taxes went down for 99.5% of Americans.

[Captain Hilts]

2. The revolving door of AG nominees and the gays in the military, not taxes, did it.

The tax increase affected a very small number of people.

The luxury tax would later do that.