The Clinton Wars

[jiacinto]

I am reading that book right now. I am only in the 150s, so I have a long way to go.

But Blumenthal's book is really good. I am learning a lot. What I find interesting is how Clinton had to go through so much hositility. I am reading about the health care debacle.

The debate that is very interesting is the one over the anti-terrorism bill. What I find suprising is why Democrats didn't mention that Clinton tried to enact anti-terrorist measures, but that the GOP opposed them tooth and nail. I wonder why little mention has been made of the anti-terrorism bill.

I find it so refreshing that Blumenthal is reminding people of how the GOP was defending the likes of Randy Weaver and David Koresh just a few years ago. I wonder why that has been mentioned either.

[StephNW4Clark]

1. Have you gotten to the part about Clark?

For another good read, check out David Halberstam's War in a Time of Peace.

His conclusion is very interesting. He essentially says the two institutions most damaged after the Vietnam war were the military and the Democratic Party, and it's been such a struggle for either institution to move out past that shadow.

[jiacinto]

5. He is right in that way

The Party has still not fully recovered from the events of 1968.

[AP]

2. Also pay attention to the debate over the surplus. Notice that the first

option they rejected is the option Dean embraces: don't run surpluses/give people money back in the form of a tax cut/make sure the rich get their tax break even though the tax code is already regressive.

[Bandit]

3. ??? I was under the impression Dean wanted to repeal all of Bush*'s

Tax Cuts. Maybe you know of a different tax plan of Dean's than what has been published.:crazy:

[AP]

6. Dean's for balanced budgets. That means raising tax revenue when...

..you're running defecits. But it also means cutting taxes when you're running surpluses. This is what Dean did in VT. According to Blumenthal, it's the first thing Clinton rejected when they were making plans for the surplus in the late 90s.

[Bandit]

10. I was under the impression that Clinton gave the middle class a tax cut

while increasing taxes on those making over two hundred thousand dollars. He also increased child tax credits and college expense tax credits. He used his mix of tax cuts and tax increases to create a surplus while every single Republican said it would devestate the economy.

[jonnyblitz]

4. i just finished that book a few weeks ago. I liked it.

I didnt realize Clinton, Blair, and other heads of state where having "Third Way" conferences all of the time.

The book was long but the "dish" was always interesting. It was a good look into the mind of a DLC insider. I enjoyed reading it because I get exposed to a mindset quite different than my own.

[AP]

7. Blair comes off pretty well, eh?

Makes you wonder about all this "poodle" BS. He probably has something up his sleeve, you might conclude after reading the book.

[WilliamPitt]

8. I wrote two articles in a row because of that book

The Mission
http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/101003A.shtml

The Sins of September 11
http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/101303A.shtml

Great, great book.

[jiacinto]

11. Yeah it is a great book

I skimmed your articles. They sound good.

[Unknown Known]

9. Blumenthal is great!

I'm on Chap. 2 and it's so refreshing to read this intelligent account of those years. This book will be required reading in history classes in the future.

[leetrisck]

12. Really enjoyed the book and it's great

when you hear some outrageous "charge" by the right and you can go to the book and check it out. Love it.

[jiacinto]

13. I love it too

nt