Most of it came from this site, here at DU, from various folks who responded to similar threads, although I didn't save it by their names or dates, so I'm very sorry that I can not give credit where credit is due. I never saved a link or bookmark, just been collecting info on Clinton in a word doc. If someone recognizes their contribution to my Clinton file, take a bow and thank you very much for the info. Also, I haven't checked all the facts mentioned here, in these various posts, so I can't guarantee they are correct. I'm posting this as per what I captured and saved to a Word file at the time.
Here goes:
From DU:
Under President Clinton's leadership, almost 6 million new jobs were created in the first two years of his Administration -- an average of 250,000 new jobs every month.
In 1994, the economy had the lowest combination of unemployment and inflation in 25 years.
As part of the 1993 Economic Plan, President Clinton cut taxes on 15 million low-income families and made tax cuts available to 90 percent of small businesses, while raising taxes on just 1.2 percent of the wealthiest taxpayers.
President Clinton signed into law the largest deficit reduction plan in history, resulting in over $600 billion in deficit reduction. The deficit is going down for 3 years in a row for the first time since Harry Truman was president.
The President signed into law the Brady Bill, which imposes a five-day waiting period on handgun purchases so that background checks can be done to help keep handguns away from criminals.
The President's Crime Bill will put 100,000 new police officers on the street. More than 1,200 communities have already received grants to hire 27,000 additional officers.
The Crime Bill also punishes criminals by expanding the number of offenses eligible for the death penalty and implementing the "three-strikes-and-you're-out" provision.
And, the Bill banned the manufacture of 19 specific types of deadly assault weapons, while simultaneously protecting hunters' rights by exempting over 650 hunting rifles.
President Clinton signed the Family and Medical Leave Act. The law, which covers over 42 million Americans, offers workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-guaranteed leave for child birth, adoption, or personal or family illness.
President Clinton has already cut the federal bureaucracy by more than 100,000 positions. Under the recommendations of the National Performance Review, the federal bureaucracy will be reduced by 272,000 -- its lowest level since the Kennedy Administration.
And, he reduced the White House staff by 25 percent.
President Clinton expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit to cut the taxes of 15 million working families with incomes of $27,000 or less.
President Clinton granted waivers to 25 states -- half the nation -- providing for comprehensive welfare reform demonstrations.
President Clinton ordered the U.S. Justice Department to conduct the first-ever crackdown on deadbeat parents who refuse to accept financial responsibility for their own children.
Signed an Executive Order cracking down on federal employees who owe child support.
Under the President's Direct Student Loan program, students can borrow money directly from the government at a lower interest rate and with many flexible repayment options, including the option to repay with a percentage of their after-graduation salary. Taxpayers will save at least $4.3 billion over five years.
In 1994, over 20,000 AmeriCorps members tutored students, immunized children, reclaimed urban parks, and patrolled neighborhoods. In return, they earned $4,725 per year of service towards college tuition or job training.
President Clinton signed into law Goals 2000, a national standard of excellence for our public schools. Already, 41 states and territories have received federal grants to raise academic standards and improve schools.
President Clinton's Safe and Drug Free Schools and Community Act and the Safe Schools Act provide funding to schools to fight violence and drug abuse. Schools can use up to 25 percent of their funds to purchase metal detectors, develop safe zones, and hire school security personnel.
The President's School-to-Work program provides venture capital to spark a nationwide system for moving America's young people from high school to a job with a future. In 1994, all states received planning funds for their school-to-work program.
Charter School legislation signed by President Clinton encourages states and localities to set up public school choice.
The Clinton Administration forged a bipartisan coalition to pass NAFTA, after concluding tough negotiations on side agreements covering workers' rights, the environment, and import surges. Exports to Mexico rose 23 percent in the first 11 months of 1994.
President Clinton led the fight to pass GATT, which lowers tariffs worldwide by $744 billion over ten years -- the largest international tax cut in history. GATT cuts tariffs on manufactured goods by more than one-third overall and eliminates tariffs in major markets in a number of sectors in which the U.S. is particularly competitive.
Under President Clinton, the EPA launched its "Common Sense Initiative" to make health protection cheaper and smarter by focusing on results rather than one-size-fits-all regulations.
The President's Northwest Forest Plan is putting communities in the Northwest back to work, while conserving ancient forests.
After decades of conflict, the Clinton Administration negotiated a consensus plan to protect California's most valuable natural resource -- its water. The San Francisco and Delta estuary supplies dr inking water to two-thirds of the state's people, provides irrigation for 45 percent of the nation's fruits and vegetables, and sustains 300 aquatic species.
President Clinton hosted the signing of the Israeli-Palestinian Declaration of Principles in September, 1993, and the signing of the Israeli-Jordan Washington Principles in July, 1994 -- historic agreements between the leaders of Israel and her Arab neighbors to settle differences by peaceful means.
To enhance European security and stability, the Clinton Administration proposed the Partnership for Peace program, offering former Soviet republics and Central/East European states closer ties with NATO. Already, 22 nations have signed on, since NATO's adoption of the program in January, 1994.
As of May, 1994, nuclear missiles in Russia and the United States are no longer targeted against any country. And, as a result of other Clinton Administration efforts, the Ukraine is ahead of schedule in reaching the goal of transferring 1,500 nuclear warheads to Russia for dismantlement.
President Clinton peacefully restored democracy to Haiti, curbing the violence that threatened tens of thousands of Haitians, securing our borders, and upholding our commitments and the commitments made to us in the process.
Signed the Economic Package, August 10, 1993.
The economy created 7.7 million new jobs in the first 34 months of this Administration.
Passed the largest deficit-cutting plan in history -- saving more than $1 trillion over seven years.
On track for three consecutive years of deficit reduction -- for the first time since Harry Truman.
Cut federal spending by $255 billion over 5 years.
Made new tax cuts available to over 90% of small businesses.
Unemployment has fallen from 7% when President Clinton took office to its current rate of 5.6%
Lowest combined rate of unemployment and inflation since 1968.
1994 real GDP growth was the highest in a decade.
Proposed a plan to balance the budget while protecting critical investments in education.
Increased Head Start funding by almost $760 million.
Passed the Student Loan Reform Act, August 10, 1993.
Implemented the National Service Act, September 21, 1993.
Signed the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, March 31, 1994.
Enacted the School-to-Work Opportunities Act on May 4, 1994.
Signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Reauthorization
Passed the toughest most comprehensive Crime Bill ever, September 13, 1994
Signed the Brady Bill, November 30, 1993.
Enacted the Assault Weapons Ban as part of the Crime Bill.
Put 100,000 new police on the street -- nearly 31,000 more officers have been funded.
Signed the Violence Against Women Act as part of the Crime Bill.
Signed the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Act, October 20, 1994.
Issued Presidential Directive enforcing a "Zero Tolerance" gun policy in schools, October 22, 1994
Submitted and fought for the most comprehensive Drug Control budget ever.
Already cut the Federal Workforce by over 200,000 -- on the way to lowest level in 30 years.
Abolishing 16,000 pages of obsolete regulations and rewriting 31,000 more pages.
$58 billion in savings are already in the bank. $46 billion in savings are still to come.
Over 180 new recommendations will save $70 billion. Eliminated 284 federal advisory committees.
Developed government-wide Customer Service Standards for the first time.
Appointed the most diverse Cabinet and Administration in history.
Signed the most important federal procurement act ever to streamline government purchasing.
Reformed Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation to protect 8.5 million pensions.
Signed the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, March 22, 1995.
Created nine Economic Empowerment Zones and 95 Enterprise Communities.
Signed the Community Development Banking Financial Institutions Act, Sept. 23, 1994.
Signed the Interstate Banking Bill, September 29, 1994.
Instituted the Defense Reinvestment and Conversion Initiative.
Reformed the Community Reinvestment Act to focus on performance rather than paperwork.
Made the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and Mortgage Revenue Bond Program permanent.
Issued a new executive order to require polluters to disclose information to the public and expanded the public's right-to-know about toxic releases.
Launched "reinventing environmental regulation" to cut red tape and better protect public health.
Issued a new standard to cut pollution from chemical plants 90% by 1997.
Signed executive orders to increase recycling and cut pollution in federal buildings.
Signed the California Desert Protection Act, October 31, 1994.
Issued a new standard to cut pollution from incinerators 95%.
Introduced comprehensive Safe Drinking Water and Superfund reforms.
Developed a plan to restore Florida's Everglades.
Ended decades of conflict over the allocation of California Bay-Delta water.
Passed the Family and Medical Leave Act, February 5, 1993.
Signed a comprehensive Child Immunization Plan.
Revoked the Reagan/Bush restrictions on abortion counseling ("the gag rule"), abortions in military hospitals, "Mexico City" policy and RU-486 imports.
Increased Ryan White CARE Act funding for outpatient AIDS care over 100% in first 3 budgets.
Put the Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) on a full-funding path.
Increased funding 65% for breast cancer research.
As part of the balanced budget plan, introduced health care reform initiative which strengthens Medicare and expands coverage.
Proposed a $1.3 billion increase in veterans' benefits -- of which $1 billion will be directed to the VA health system to provide treatment for 43,000 more veterans.
Expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit providing tax relief for 15 million working families.
Introduced the Work and Responsibility Act - comprehensive welfare reform.
Passed the Family Support and Preservation Program.
Passed major funding increases for homeless programs in both Houses.
Approved 35 waivers to states permitting comprehensive welfare reform demonstrations.
Collected a record $10 billion in child support through enforcement in 1994.
Signed the Social Security Independent Agency Act.
Increased adoption and foster care funds by almost $600 million from 1994-1995.
Signed the National Voter Registration Act (Motor-Voter), May 20, 1993.
Eliminated the tax deduction for lobbying expenses.
Imposed strictest Administration ethics guidelines in history.
Barred top officials from becoming foreign lobbyists after leaving government.
Signed the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 -- the first overhaul of lobbying rules in 50 years.
Fought for passage of and signed into law the Congressional Accountability Act, January 22, 1995.
Fought for passage of line-item veto and campaign finance.
Signed NAFTA into law, December 8, 1993, which will create hundreds of thousands of US jobs.
Signed GATT into law, December 8, 1994, the largest trade agreement in history.
Secured free-trade commitments from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders.
Hosted Summit of the Americas and agreed to negotiate a Free Trade Area of the Americas by 2005
Developed National Export Strategy, eliminating outdated export controls on $35 billion in exports.
Opened 15 different market sectors in Japan ranging from telecommunications procurement to rice.
Reached historic agreement with Japan on opening its automotive market to billions of dollars worth of American cars and parts.
Reached agreement with China to provide intellectual property rights protection for billions of dollars worth of U.S. exports.
Helped Israel and Jordan achieve an historic peace treaty and Israel and the Palestinians fulfill their historic accord.
Contributed to an historic cease-fire in Northern Ireland.
Restored democratically elected Haitian President Aristide to power; will continue to stop the flow of refugees to Florida.
Undertook, with NATO allies and UN, military and diplomatic actions to alleviate the suffering and lead the effort to broker a comprehensive peace agreement in Bosnia.
Russian nuclear missiles are no longer pointed at our cities.
Persuaded Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan to give up the nuclear weapons left on their land when the Soviet Union collapsed.
Agreed to framework with North Korea that freezes and leads to the eventual elimination of North Korea s dangerous nuclear program.
Led the international effort to secure the indefinite and unconditional extension of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) further reducing the danger of nuclear proliferation around the world.
Working to prevent nuclear weapons from ending up in the hands of terrorists or international criminals.
Air-lifted more than half a ton of vulnerable, highly enriched uranium, enough to make dozens of nuclear bombs, from Kazakhstan to safe storage.
Assisted South Africa's transition to democracy, providing support for elections and development.
Bringing the nations of Europe closer:
-- Modernizing NATO;
-- Working with Russia;
-- Reforming the former Soviet Union economies
Waging a tough counter-terrorism campaign with stronger laws and more training for law enforcement.
Maintaining strong sanctions against states that sponsor terrorism and defy the rule of rule, such as Iran, Iraq, Libya and Sudan.
Sent our planes, ships and troops to turn back a new Iraqi threat to the Persian Gulf.
His stand on NAFTA, free trade, and his signing of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 are things I'm not terribly proud of, and his "don't ask, don't tell" policy with the military doesn't solve discrimination against homosexuals, and let's not get into the situation with Rwanda. I give him credit where credit is due though such as helping to balance the federal budget and his failed push for universal health care before Congress was lost in 1994.
The 1990s were better, but in the grand scheme of things, they were far from what we should find acceptable as conscientious human beings. To be fair, it wasn't Clinton who generated the millions of jobs. It was ordinary working people. 2/3rds of the economy is still run by small business owners, not corporations.
In addition to the achievements noted in the above post (Family Leave Act, WIC funding, funding for breast cancer research, Violence Against Women Act, ru486, etc.) Clinton was the first President to create a department dedicated to women's policy issues (The White House Women's Outreach Dept.). After Baby Bush stole the office, he immediately eliminated this department. As we all know, Baby Bush would rather see women barefoot, breeding, and slaving over a hot stove for all of eternity.
thanks to bill
one of clinton's first priorities was to get a grip on the deficit so that interest rates WOULD go down. it was not an accident. it was hard fought and smart economic policy. remember that next time some con says that presidents don't create jobs.
funny how the words peace and prosperity seem to always go together, idnit?
The president only can be given credit for fiscal and tax policy, but the Federal Reserve has as big a part to play as well by controlling the money supply through open market operations (buying and selling Treasury bonds), setting the reserve ratio, and setting the discount rate. The discount rate was already being lowered when Clinton got into office, which is then passed on to the banks and ultimately the people, and several factors affect interest rates, not just fiscal policy. In order for the Fed to prime the economy for a recovery, it must increase the money supply by buying gov't bonds, lowering the reserve ratio, and dropping the discount rate charged to banks, and those banks, in turn, drop their rates on their clients who take out loans.
This is not to say that I don't support good fiscal policy because I do, but I look at it more as a dance between the Fed, the White House, Congress, and the people. Clinton gets credit where credit is due, but others should be noted as well.
For all the faults
Clinton had, I too miss him.
It wasn't as much the pieces of legislation he signed, it was the legislation he VETOED. I really miss his veto. One of the things he vetoed was the bankruptcy bill that was passed by the senate recently, over the support of several in the party like Biden, who tried shoving that shit in a budget bill.
Funny how the people here who don't like Clinton concentrate on things he didn't accomplish, like universal health care. I read it here all the time - Clinton was bad because he didn't give us universal health care.
Guess what?
He didn't cure cancer.
He didn't invent an alternate fuel source.
He didn't reinvent the wheel.
Did he want to give us universal health care? All indications are that he did. You hold it against him that he couldn't do it? Should we go back and point out everything every president tried to do but couldn't deliver on?
You say he gave us NAFTA? Actually it was signed into law during Bush I's term. It was altered and refined during Clinton's tenure and like many things, it looked good on paper. Hind site is 20/20, folks. Many Democrats we hold in high regard supported NAFTA, including Howard Dean.
Welfare reform? You bet! The idea was very popular with the American people at the time. Why? Because the public and the rightwing were intent on it. It was going to get done so thank whatever god you pray to Clinton was the president when it happened and GHW Bush wasn't. Clinton turned back several worse congressional versions before settling on a more moderate one.
By the way, JFK and LBJ both supported various forms of welfare reform and FDR once said, ""The lessons of history, confirmed by the evidence immediately before me, show conclusively that continued dependence upon relief induces a spiritual and moral disintegration fundamentally destructive to the national fiber. To dole out relief in this way is to administer a narcotic, a subtle destroyer of the human spirit. It is inimical to the dictates of sound policy. It is in violation of the traditions of America. Work must be found for able-bodied but destitute workers. The federal government must and shall quit this business of relief."
Media deregulation? Leftover from Bush I and Reagan.
We often criticize the rightwing for "revising" history. It seems some on the LEFT hated Clinton so much they ignore his vast accomplishments, sometimes denying they even happened. Could it be that, just like the right, they can't stand that someone who isn't one of them could be so damn successful?
The Strongest Economy in a Generation. Longest Economic Expansion in U.S. History. In February 2000, the United States entered the 107th consecutive month of economic expansion -- the longest economic expansion in history.
21.2 million new jobs were created since 1993, the most jobs ever created under a single Administration -- and more new jobs than Presidents Reagan and Bush created during their three terms. 92 percent (19.4 million) of the new jobs were created in the private sector, the highest percentage in 50 years.
Fastest and Longest Real Wage Growth in Over Three Decades. In the last 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased 3.7 percent -- faster than the rate of inflation. The United States has had five consecutive years of real wage growth -- the longest consecutive increase since the 1960s. Since 1993, real wages are up 6.8 percent, after declining 4.3 percent during the Reagan and Bush years.
Unemployment was the lowest Nearly the Lowest in Three Decades.
Highest Homeownership Rate in History.
Lowest Poverty Rate in Two Decades. The poverty rate has fallen from 15.1 percent in 1993 to 12.7 percent in 1998. That's the lowest poverty rate since 1979 and the largest five-year drop in poverty in nearly 30 years (1965-1970). The African-American poverty rate has dropped from 33.1 percent in 1993 to 26.1 percent in 1998 -- the lowest level ever recorded and the largest five-year drop in African-American poverty in more than a quarter century (1967-1972). The poverty rate for Hispanics is at the lowest level since 1979, and dropped to 25.6 percent in 1998.
Largest Five-Year Drop in Child Poverty Rate Since the ‘60s. Under President Clinton and Vice President Gore, child poverty has declined from 22.7 percent in 1993 to 18.9 percent in 1998 -- the biggest five-year drop in nearly 30 years. The poverty rate for African-American children has fallen from 46.1 percent in 1993 to 36.7 percent in 1998 -- a level that is still too high, but is the lowest level in 20 years and the biggest five-year drop on record. The rate also fell for Hispanic children, from 36.8 percent to 34.4 percent - and is now 6.5 percentage points lower than it was in 1993.
Improved Access to Affordable, Quality Child Care and Early Childhood Programs.
Increased the Minimum Wage.
Enacted Single Largest Investment in Health Care for Children since 1965.
Extended Strong, Enforceable Patient Protections for Millions of Americans.
An environmental budget that included a record $1.4 billion for Lands Legacy -- a 93 percent increase and the largest one-year investment ever requested for conserving America’s lands.
So much more on the environment, families, the economy, education, crime, etc.
Was Bill Clinton the perfect president? No. Will we ever have one? No. Is pining away for some idealistic Utopian liberal leader that will please everyone on the left a waste of time? Yes.
I have a quote - for the younger readers of bartcop.com
It's real possible you've never heard it before, because the press won't tell you anything about Clinton except which direction his cock leans.
Just before he was elected in 1992, our economy was pure-D shit. Reagan and Bush got their huge tax cuts for the super rich, they got us in wars and they dumped us into recessions not seen since the 1930's
You kids may not believe this - ask your parents - just 8-10 years ago, the economy was such shit, you couldn't get a job no matter what. If you didn't have a specific skill, they'd just laugh at you.
If you had a degree or advanced training, they'd say, "We can't hire you, because if the economy ever comes back, you'll leave us in a heartbeat."
It was hell, unless you were from old money or your daddy ran the CIA.
I forget who, maybe someone will remember, but some reporter stuck a camera in Clinton's face and said, "If we trust you with our vote, what can you do to save our economy?"
"I am going to focus on this economy like a laser beam. I will work non-stop to turn this
mess around and create new jobs and lower the deficit and fix the things that are wrong."
The Republicans, in unison, hooted like drunken hyenas and ridiculed Bill Clinton.
( I have the exact quotes buried somewhere in a back issue, but who has the time to look?)
"The banks will fail. Clinton's plans will only worsen the recession."
-- Armey the foul-mouthed Dick, Degree in Economics
"Clinton's pie-in-the-sky fantasies will crash our economy."
-- Phil Gramm, pornographer, Degree in Economics
"A guaranteed disaster, without a doubt."
-- Newt Gingrich, scumbag, thief, History professor
But, as always, their predictioons were dead wrong.
This is what happened...
(There's a graph here, but I don't know how to post it--see link below, maybe it's there)
And when it did, every lying son of a bitch Republican changed their tune.
"This is Reagan's recovery!"
-- Armey, the foul-mouthed Dick
"Reagan laid the groundwork, but Bill Clinton is trying to claim all the credit."
-- Phil Gramm, financial backer of "The Hitcher."
"Bill Clinton did not contribute anything to this recovery."
-- Newt the scumbag
"Name one thing that Clinton did to help the economy."
-- The vulgar Pigboy
That's right. After guaranteeing Clinton would ruin the country, they switched 180 degrees and said,
"We knew all along Reagan's genius would save us."
And the reason you younger kids are reading this story for the first damn time is the American whore press will only talk about Clinton's mistakes.
Look at the chart, one more time:
Look at that massive plunge we took in 1981, when Reagan was elected. Look at the plunge!
Then look what happened in 1993, when Bill's "laser beam" got focused on fixing the Reagan Error. Bill Clinton saved this damn country.
And how did America repay this multi-trillion-dollar gift Clinton gave us? We tried to fuck him. Oh, yes we did! What other man, besides Bill Clinton, could have survived that impeachment fraud?
That was a horseshit set-up from the start.
You say Clinton has his flaws? Yeah, he does. We know all about Clinton's weaknesses, because we all got a good look. We've never looked at another man so close in all of history. Elvis, JFK, the Beatles and Jesus Christ combined never had so many scurrilous, untrue, shit-for-brains lies told about them with as little proof or provocation as Bill Clinton:
- Nine years of the never-ending GOP hate machine and their outrageous lies.
- Drudge and the Internet, sending the wildest, unverified rumors around the globe in seconds,
and the American whore press gleefully printing every slur that Drudge's "secret sources" send him.
Some, like the New York Whore Times, right on the front page.
- The non-stop, 24/7 cable TV talk shows.
And when they didn't have a story, they just made shit up.
- Dateline, 20/20, Dateline again, Nightline, 20/20 Downtown, Dateline again, 60 Minutes,
the Today Show, Dateline again, Good Morning America, Fox News and on and on.
- The Sunday shows, starring Tim Russert and his Clinton's cock obsession.
(Read the conclusion here:
http://www.bartcop.com/kissmyass.htm )
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