Was Bill Clinton One of the Worst Presidents?
 

Where will historians rank Clinton. I think that he'll go down as one of the worst presidents of all time.

He entered the Whitehouse with a House that was Democratic every single year since 1955, and a Senate that was Democratic for most of that time. Clinton tried to implement a leftist agenda, and couldn't get it through Congress. Clinton was so unpopular, that the Republicans took back both chambers for the first time in 40 years. For the first time in American history, a sitting Speaker of the House lost his reelection bid. The Republicans ran with Newt Gingrich's "Contract with America." Clinton then adopted the Contract with America, and passed it off as his own. The domestic agenda that Clinton implemented was a Republican one.

Economically, the US already started a recovery, and Clinton kicked back while the Internet stock boom happened. he took credit for that too.

On the international scene, Clinton ignored every single genocide, with one exception; Bosnia. Even that one did not involve US involvement until European incompetence went on for one year too many.

Early in the Clinton presidency, New York's World Trade Center was bombed. He did such a great job tracking down those who were responsible, that years later, US embassies were bombed, as was the U.S.S. Cole. Clinton's decisive retaliation was to lob one cruise missle on a tent in Afghanistan, and another in Africa. Clinton's ineffectiveness emboldened Al Qaeda to the point where they executed 9-11.

Bill Clinton: Terrible.

I agree. But you left out the part where he castrated our operations in Ethiopia by promising that no more soldiers would be sent to the theater.

So basically your saying he is the George W Bush of the Democrat party ? ;) :p

It's a joke people, for those that don't get that.

Honestly Clinton will be judged differently depending on people's political leanings. That won't change til probably long after his death. Look what happened when Reagan died. Half the people said he was one of the greatest ever and they other half thought he sucked.

Bill Clinton: good hair, bad president.

Remember the time that Airfoce One was delayed at LAX so that he could get a haircut? LOL

He might be the first president who used a blowdryer.

Nah it's wasn't split 50/50 for Reagan. Reagan definitely got a lot more love when he passed on.

-Rudey

Everyone thought Jimmy Carter was one of the worst Presidents ever. History, on the other hand is beginning to believe that he either was (or to be totally fair, maybe became after his term) on of the best statesmen in our history.

Reagan was called the "Teflon" President because even stuff like Iran-Contra didn't stick -- but at the time he took a lot of flack. Of course now, he's a hero.

I think I'll just wait a while and see how history treats Clinton. In the course of history, the question is premature.

The first attack on the Twin Towers came only a month and a week after President Clinton was inaugurated. It was probably being planned before he was elected.

I'm surprised that you didn't mention the Federal government shutdown. I guess the spin made the Republican Congress look bad. I think that it was a reflection of President Clinton's lack of leadership.

I'd like to see who it is that celebrates Carter. What is it about him that you think has swayed opinions that way?

As for Clinton, this website http://www.opinionduel.com/ will be carrying opinions from both side on whether he was a failure or not.

-Rudey

Considering what happened during his administration to the economy, and how he continually raised taxes, I'd have to agree with "everyone" on that one.

His diplomacy skills in the 80's and 90's are noteworthy, but he was pathetic when he was President. Remember what happened with the Iranian hostages?

IS there any type of objective criteria out there to judge a presidents performance?

His diplomacy brought peace between Israel and Egypt & Jordan...
And Iranian hostage situation was solved by Reagan administration selling weapons to Iran... not a very honorable way to end the situation.

As far as objectivity...one really should wait until after a President dies to truly judge him. Only then are most of his papers, tapes, etc. released, and a larger view of his presidency can be seen.

Clinton will be an interesting case - a lot of impassioned debate on both sides. He is one that really will have to wait to be completely judged.

If you have a chance, check out the opinion duel site Rudey posted...it has some really good stuff and tells both sides of the story on a variety of topics.

Carter has used his post-presidential years to work in areas that greatly help people- from Habitat for Humanity assisting low-income families get a home to his assitance with election over-sight for developing nations.
Of course back before he was president his mother was in the Peace Corp- it's a strong heritage of humbly helping others that his family instilled on him.
According to my staunch republican grandfather he's one of the few presidents that was unwilling to compromise his character and integrity to the politics of Washington.
The fraternity that can call Jimmy Carter their Brother is blessed to have such a man in their ranks.

Jimmy Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 "for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development."

Although I am a Republican and certainly a fiscal conservative, I think Clinton's Presidency, to be fair, is best assessed when it's broken into two parts:

His domestic policies were not the worst. He began reforming some health care issues (although his wife did not get her socialized medicine, thank heavens); he succeeded in driving welfare reform, passing NAFTA, and having the good sense to stay out of the way of a steamrolling economy which was just starting to take off as he came into office. So I give him props on domestics.

On the other hand - his foreign policiies left much to be desired. He and his Administration were not terrific (understatement) in Somalia, Bosnia, and the Middle East. He paid off North Korea, just delaying the inevitable. The Chinese bought influence and were successful in getting lots of technology knowledge handed to them. And then there is Al-Qaeda.
Remember the Buddhists and Algore?

Private life - disaster. Although he sincerely adores his daughter and was a good dad. Props for that.

I never "disliked" Clinton. But I did dislike many of those around him, including his wife.

Carter - different story. NOT a good President, IMO.

I don't think anyone is denying that Jimmy Carter is a wonderful person. He's done a lot of good in the world. That doesn't mean he was a good president.

I do not think anyone is perfect--especially the president. Everyone will agree and disagree with what each has done. So I would not say any president has been the worst--nor will I say any president has been the best.

Someone said to me about Jimmy Carter, "Being a good man can get in the way of being a good President."

That's the real point.

I don't have much of a feeling for Carter, for instance, one way or the other. The fact that later Presidents used him for highly diplomatic missions and sought his advice seems to be what "they" are talking about.

To me, every President I can think of has had his good and really bad points.

I'm not much of a Bush II fan at this point, but think his dad did pretty well -- except that I believe he should have prosecuted the first Mid-East war to it's fullest extent.

Hey, even Nixon did a few good things.

My argument still is that history is the best, and perhaps the only, real judge of a President.

Really? So did Arafat the bloody terrorist.

-Rudey
--Carter does like him now that I think about it.

Honestly you really do live a sheltered existence in Iowa and are among the many who know nothing about a topic other than superficial nonesense. He did not bring peace between Israel and Egypt & Jordan. If you would read, it might suit you better.

-Rudey

I worked with Habitat for Humanity so I guess I'm a great president. As for election monitoring - well Carter does celebrity appearances I suppose.

-Rudey

Camp David Peace Accord...

Make a full sentence so I can chew you out.

-Rudey

Post-presidential years don't rehabilitate poor presidencies. Look at Hoover.

His domestic policies were not the worst, but they weren't his. NAFTA was a Bush initiative. Welfare reform were republin issues, and specifically from the Contract with America.