Clinton's "My Life"

[McKenzie]

I got the audiobook and have been listening to it in the car. I know the truth is never simple and all that (to paraphrase Oscar Wilde) but Clinton comes over as very human, the sort of person one could have a few beers with. Then again, maybe his honesty about his own shortcomings, as described in the book, is clever rhetoric, maybe not.

Any rhetoric notwithstanding it is difficult not to like the man based upon the way he comes across in the book. I've seen many derogatory comments about him, some here on the DU, but if we think in the context of Wilde's wry comment about the shades of grey that attach to "truth", I reckon he did his best to operate within the parameters of corporate power. Seems that vested interests did their level best to undermine him at every turn. Having read the book I think I now understand a little more about American politics.

[efhmc]

1. Also have it to listen to in the car but have not started it yet. Probably

tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes for me.

[stray cat]

2. I read the whole....book

It was good and educational. I respect him even more after reading it and I understand his philosophy better.

[mustang]

3. Read the book

I thought the book was wonderful. Clinton really came from nothing. I know other politicians say the same thing, but Clinton really is the ultimate American success story. The book covers so much history and depth about issues and America. It was very informative. It wasn't too bitter or harsh towards his enemies, but it made me angry reading what they did to him. Clinton always wanted to change the world, and you know what, he was able to do it. I admire both the Clinton's tremendously.

[ramapo]

4. Quite a life

I read Bill's and Hillary's books back-to-back. They are both amazing people and have led such full and rich lives that I couldn't help but feel somewhat like a loser in comparison.

I found Bill's book fascinating and while portrayed as a story of his life, it actually provides a pretty good history of US politics over the past 40-50 years.

His analysis of the health-insurance proposal debacle was most interesting. Little has been written about how there was initially some thought of a true bipartisan effort to pass a compromise bill. Bill went on to explain how Bob Dole confided that Republicans had decided to scuttle any plan because to pass any significant bill would have provided Democrats a political advantage that Republicans would not be able to counter for many years.

It is maddening, though not surprising, to realize that Americans have been denied a solution to the health insurance dilemma these many years just to protect the Republican status quo.

I think this was one of the most important and illuminating parts of the book. You would think this would've invoked some moral outrage on the part of the media and the public. Instead you just heard how Clinton finessed his way around the Lewinsky situation.

[mustang]

5. The health care issue/enemies

The health care part was very detailed and it was just unbelievable the obstacles that they were up against. It made me so angry, because every single person in Congress has good health insurance, so what did they care if it didn't pass. I wish we would deny the Congress health benefits and then see how fast they would address the health care crisis.

I was also stunned and sickened by what was going on with Ken Starr (etc) and the Republicans with all of the legal attacks and the "independent council" shenanigans. I mean, I followed it of course, but Bill really goes into detail the bizarreness of it all, the absolute shame of what the "establishment" did to derail Bill Clinton and his presidency.

I too would have liked the press to address this when the book came out. It was so apparent there was a witchhunt of the Clintons and their staff. It was all so cruel and the press just won't talk about it.

Yet, Bush can say yesterday that "Oops, there were no WMD" to the press and they don't even question it. If Clinton invaded Iraq, he would have been crucified in the press.

[unibill13]

6. i was a fan

I am in the process of reading the book and am thrilled at the insight it gives. I have always been a Clinton fan and now feel that i understand many of his decisions and shortcomings better. I also read Robert E. Rubin's book recently, In an Uncertain World. It also gives plenty of insight into the Clinton administration. Especially under our current administration its good to read about a president who admits he made mistakes and actually enjoys to read.

I gave a copy of the audio book to my father for Christmas and he even appreciated it, that was a big deal for someone still stuck on the Lewinsky scandal!

[Democrats_win]

7. I love this book.

Amazing how many friends he developed and kept over the years. I never knew that Arkansas was so progressive at one time.

When he came to Denver for a book signing, the newspaper took a picture of 100's of people in the store holding up their books--all with Clinton on the cover. What a sight, and a Republican's worst nightmare.

[McFlyGuy]

8. This book is huge!! literally!

It's so big I dropped it on my dog accidentally and i think i hurt it.

[Yupster]

12. I could just picture you telling Bill Clinton

that story.

I bet he'd give you a wonderful laugh and probably a slap on the shoulder too.

[roguevalley]

9. he's the first pres in a generation to try and speak to race.

[Coexist]

10. Please don't flame me

but I found this to be the most self-serving memoir I have ever read.

I plodded through it, waiting for it to touch me. To be honest I felt like I was being corralled. Sorry.

Don't get me wrong,I loved Bill Clinton as our President. He is, in fact, the last man I ever called my President.

But the rose-colored, schmaltz got a little heavy sometimes, even for a dyed-in-the-wood Democrat, raised by and raising Democrats. Is there anyone out there who feels the same, or am I on my way to being seriously disliked on this board?!

[Damien]

11. I'm reading it right now

It's interesting, but he is very self-serving throughout; I won't disagree with you on that.

[Yupster]

13. Also reading it right now

I'm surprised how fast a read it is.Been reading close to 100 pages a day.

Anyway, I have to agree with you two.

It's fun to remember all the things that happened, important and not so important, but the book was maddeningly self-serving.

The number of times his opponents apparently come up to him later and tell him he was right and they were wrong seems a little tough to believe. How many of us have had opponents fighting us pull us aside and tell us "you know, you're right and I'm wrong, but I have to lie about you anyway?" To Clinton, it seems it happened a lot. I bet his opponents would remember those conversations somewhat differently.

Also, whenever one of his opponents did something he didn't like, he said it was just "unbelievable."

Overall, it's been an okay read, but I'm not as excited now on page 810 than I was when I saw it available on the library shelf.

I read a lot of memoirs, and I'd call this one of the weaker ones. I think historians will eventually treat it pretty harshly.

In a weird juxtaposition, I just barely finished General Longstreet's memoirs before starting WJC's. Longstreet's were much better.

One story from Longstreet's is from the Battle of Chikamagua. Longstreet's staff had stopped in the middle of the battle to wolf down a quick lunch. Just than a cannonball exploded over them, and Longstreet reports seeing one of his chief aids writhing in his apparent death throes. Turns out he was just choking on his lunch, and all the staff had a good laugh at his expense. The choking colonel's name? Payton Manning.