Is Bill Clinton still relevant in politics?

[russ_watters]

Originally posted by Zero
For the record, Russ, I was in the military at the same time you were, and Clinton's 'evil' was more hype than reality. His dereliction of duty? In what way? And what does it have to do with Bush's derelictions of duty?

I'm talking about Clinton's actions while president, Zero. Somalia is a biggie for me. Also, his choice of advisors was absolutely awful - so bad some had to resign. The Sec AF called marines "extremists" and was forced to resign for example.

Clinton's first act when he took office was to try to allow gays to serve openly in the military. Not a move calculated to gain the loyalty of his troops. The "don't ask, don't tell" compromise is ok, but not great - but fortunately nowhere near full acceptance.

When you hate the military and appoint advisors that hate the military, bad things happen to the military and with the military.

 

[damgo]

Off-topic question: How is pushing for integration of gays into the military different from pushing for racial integration in the military? What about lesbians in the military?

And can you give some context on that AF secretary quote? It wasn't just typical interservice bashing?

 

[Zero]

Originally posted by russ_watters
I'm talking about Clinton's actions while president, Zero. Somalia is a biggie for me. Also, his choice of advisors was absolutely awful - so bad some had to resign. The Sec AF called marines "extremists" and was forced to resign for example.

Clinton's first act when he took office was to try to allow gays to serve openly in the military. Not a move calculated to gain the loyalty of his troops. The "don't ask, don't tell" compromise is ok, but not great - but fortunately nowhere near full acceptance.

When you hate the military and appoint advisors that hate the military, bad things happen to the military and with the military.

OK< you hate Clinton because you are a homophobe...you could have skipped the foreplay and just said that from the beginning. Any other groups of people you hate?

 

[Tog_Neve]

Zero,

OK< you hate Clinton because you are a homophobe...you could have skipped the foreplay and just said that from the beginning. Any other groups of people you hate?

No offense but keep the personal bashings aside. Russ did not state that he felt homosexuality in the military was a bad thing or that he was against it. What he said was that the move to attempt to openly allow homosexuals into the militar was "not a move calculated to gain loyalty of his troops." Which is a fact. A large portion of the military was against homosexuals in the military...just as they were against women in combat. The fact that the policy is now "Dont ask don't tell" is a compromise to those actions. If Clinton had his way then they would have been openly and his desire is that they would have been warmly greeted.
His military advisors tried to push to not get that agenda met. The military advisors are generally more interested in the cohesion of the units under their command, and felt that not only women but also homosexuals could jeapordize their unit integrity by possible rifts within the unit.
This is fact so you can stop trying to bring in personal name calling and such.

As far as me:
I dislike Clinton for many reasons. One of which was the treating of the military while he was in office. We always hear about how the military is underpaid...he did nothing to rectify that...pay raises while he was in office were cut back to being equivalent to infation rates.
Clinton cut spending to out intelligence agencies...knowing threat of terrorist attacks was increasing...even having been victim to a few outside of CONUS.
And IMO Clinton did not respect his office. He used it in order to gain more in terms of financial aspects, and personal goals...ie getting a piece of ass because he was the Pres. He used his office for his own personal gains and not as a service to the country. Is he the first to do this...no...could it be the agenda of all the presidents? sure...however other Presidents take the office seriously while they are in there...and I do not believe that he did. I think he used his powers for his own personal gain and not the interest of country.
He got extremely lucky to come in under an economic boom time in the 90's. And that is the only thing that kept him in office. The ignorant masses tried to credit him with the good times of the 90's when he had nothing to do with them...they just happened. Just as Bush is going to get blamed for the collapse of that bubble even though it started before his term did...and it was destined to happen anyways.

Tog

 

[Zero]

Originally posted by Tog_Neve
Zero,

No offense but keep the personal bashings aside. Russ did not state that he felt homosexuality in the military was a bad thing or that he was against it. What he said was that the move to attempt to openly allow homosexuals into the militar was "not a move calculated to gain loyalty of his troops." Which is a fact. A large portion of the military was against homosexuals in the military...just as they were against women in combat. The fact that the policy is now "Dont ask don't tell" is a compromise to those actions. If Clinton had his way then they would have been openly and his desire is that they would have been warmly greeted.
His military advisors tried to push to not get that agenda met. The military advisors are generally more interested in the cohesion of the units under their command, and felt that not only women but also homosexuals could jeapordize their unit integrity by possible rifts within the unit.
This is fact so you can stop trying to bring in personal name calling and such.

As far as me:
I dislike Clinton for many reasons. One of which was the treating of the military while he was in office. We always hear about how the military is underpaid...he did nothing to rectify that...pay raises while he was in office were cut back to being equivalent to infation rates.
Clinton cut spending to out intelligence agencies...knowing threat of terrorist attacks was increasing...even having been victim to a few outside of CONUS.
And IMO Clinton did not respect his office. He used it in order to gain more in terms of financial aspects, and personal goals...ie getting a piece of ass because he was the Pres. He used his office for his own personal gains and not as a service to the country. Is he the first to do this...no...could it be the agenda of all the presidents? sure...however other Presidents take the office seriously while they are in there...and I do not believe that he did. I think he used his powers for his own personal gain and not the interest of country.
He got extremely lucky to come in under an economic boom time in the 90's. And that is the only thing that kept him in office. The ignorant masses tried to credit him with the good times of the 90's when he had nothing to do with them...they just happened. Just as Bush is going to get blamed for the collapse of that bubble even though it started before his term did...and it was destined to happen anyways.

Tog

Does any of this make Bush a good president, though. Is just not being Clinton mean anything, or can Bush simply be a different model of 'lousy president'?

 

[Tog_Neve]

Does any of this make Bush a good president, though. Is just not being Clinton mean anything, or can Bush simply be a different model of 'lousy president'?

Nope it does not make him a good Pres...nor does it make him a bad Pres. The economy is in a slump because it was going to be in a slump. It could have been worse if not for the work that not only the past but current administrations are doing to attempt to stimulate it and turn it around. As far as Bush not being Clinton meaning anything. No it only means that Bush is not Clinton..and all I can say to it is...Thank God. Now maybe something could get done...and it is.
Yes Bush can be a model of a lousy President...or at least in your opinion a lousy Pres. And if I may ask again...what are you basing that on?

 

[Zero]

Originally posted by Tog_Neve
Nope it does not make him a good Pres...nor does it make him a bad Pres. The economy is in a slump because it was going to be in a slump. It could have been worse if not for the work that not only the past but current administrations are doing to attempt to stimulate it and turn it around. As far as Bush not being Clinton meaning anything. No it only means that Bush is not Clinton..and all I can say to it is...Thank God. Now maybe something could get done...and it is.
Yes Bush can be a model of a lousy President...or at least in your opinion a lousy Pres. And if I may ask again...what are you basing that on?

I base this on the PATRIOT ACT, which is a dilution of civil rights and liberties, Ashcrofts attacks on freedom, general government corruption, the fact that the administration is peppered with exectutives from teh worst of the 'Enrons'.

I did note that Clinton did his share towards the current economy...Bush is simply continuing the bad policy.

 

[russ_watters]

Originally posted by damgo
Off-topic question: How is pushing for integration of gays into the military different from pushing for racial integration in the military? What about lesbians in the military?

And can you give some context on that AF secretary quote? It wasn't just typical interservice bashing?

Lesbians are gay too, damgo. And its an issue because of privacy concerns, ie. living conditions. And ehh, I'll need to look for that quote. I don't remember the context.

OK< you hate Clinton because you are a homophobe...you could have skipped the foreplay and just said that from the beginning. Any other groups of people you hate?

I'm sure its very comfortable to believe that, Zero. And personal attacks are reprehensible for anyone, but worse for you since you are a moderator. Shame on you.

No offense but keep the personal bashings aside. Russ did not state that he felt homosexuality in the military was a bad thing or that he was against it. What he said was that the move to attempt to openly allow homosexuals into the militar was "not a move calculated to gain loyalty of his troops." Which is a fact.

To clarify, I *DO* think having homosexuals serve openly is a bad thing and that does NOT mean I am a homophobe. Unless, zero, you define a homophobe as anyone who is uncomfortable showering or dressing next to a homosexual - which probably includes 90% of heterosexuals. Thanks for the support though, Tog.

 

[russ_watters]

Damgo, slight error, it was the Assistant Secretary of the Army, not Air Force. http://www.th-record.com/1997/11-14-97/armymari.htm is a link to an AP story. It appears to have been a little bit of interservice rivaly, but she went over the line.

 

[damgo]

got the link, LOL -- doesn't exactly support your thesis that Clinton's advisors hated the military, though. Incidentally, I just read a Salon article with this exchange from the recent White House correpondents' dinner:

Al Franken: Clinton's military did pretty well in Iraq, huh?
Paul Wolfowitz: F*** you.

Pretty funny.

re: gays in the military, it seems to me this would be the exact same argument raised about racial integration -- white troops didn't want to have to shower/dress/be around blacks. It made them uncomfortable. Remember "separate but equal"?

Personally, I think this is something that people need to get over; and further that being put in that circumstance will get them over it pretty damn quick. Just like as with racial integration, once you are in close contact with gays for a while and realize they're not going to try and jump you on the spot, it becomes a non-issue.

On a random note, I think it's sort of odd that so many guys get so uncomfortable by the notion that a homosexual might find them sexy. I mean, if some unattractive girl hits on me, I'm flattered and certainly not bothered by it, even though I may have zero interest in doing anything sexual with her. Same thing when gay guys hit on me, I'm like "sorry, I'm not gay, kinda wish I was 'cause then I'd be getting some play now." It just seems a strange thing to get creeped out by ...

 

[Tog_Neve]

Damgo -
That link may not have but many other things do support it
"New York Post reported Sunday (date unknown but after Clinton admin) that a full 89% of Clinton budget cuts under the president's 'Reinventing Government' initiative came at the expense of the armed forces."

Former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger contends " that President Clinton had reduced U.S. military forces by approximately 50% during his eight years in office" This from his book "In the Arena".

And there are other tidbits and comments throughout as well as actions taken that support that Clinton was anti-military.

On a random note, I think it's sort of odd that so many guys get so uncomfortable by the notion that a homosexual might find them sexy. I mean, if some unattractive girl hits on me, I'm flattered and certainly not bothered by it, even though I may have zero interest in doing anything sexual with her. Same thing when gay guys hit on me, I'm like "sorry, I'm not gay, kinda wish I was 'cause then I'd be getting some play now." It just seems a strange thing to get creeped out by ...

Yes and no IMO. I don't know if it is so much that they would get wierded out if another guy came up and made comments. But more so the naked in front of others part. Me personally I know several homosexuals..both male and female. And although I have never been uncomfortable around them to talk with them sit with them and consider several to be close friends. I would not feel comfortable changing clothes or showering with the other guys. This also goes to state that I would not feel comfortable changing clothes or showering with hetrosexual women that I either am not intimate with at that time or do not know. So for some there are different reasonings.
And I think often it comes down to at times that "Why should I be force fed that persons life style, and be forced to adapt, why can't they be forced to adapt" type of mentallity as well. And the "Dont ask Dont tell" policy did not change much. Implimented a policy that officially one cannot ask about sexual preference. And also not to state sexual preference. Basically just keep your mouth shut and conform, on both sides of the table.

Tog

 

[Zero]

This one's so far off topic...