The Lineup
Carl M. Cannon
June 3, 2008, 01:18 PM Bill Clinton and a Baker's Dozen By Carl M. Cannon

Bill Clinton’s outburst against Vanity Fair reporter Todd Purdum yesterday raises some interesting questions, some old, some new.
 

  1. Was Bill Clinton always this way, or did his heart surgery utterly alter his personality?
  2. Could Bill Clinton ever have been elected president in the world of 2.0 technology?
  3. Does he lose his temper because he wants his wife to win so badly—or because subconsciously he wants her to lose?
  4. If Bill wants Hillary to be vice president, why keep poking Barack Obama in the eye?
  5. Why does Bill Clinton exaggerate the facts so often while criticizing Obama?
  6. After a primary season in which the ravings of Obama’s pastor, his wife’s public pronouncements, his flag lapel (or lack thereof), his sparse experience in government have all been grist for the media mill, which news stories, exactly, does Bill Clinton  think have gone under-reported?
  7. How can a man who did what Clinton admitted to doing—in the Oval Office, no less—think it’s appropriate, or even reasonable, to call Todd Purdum, a journalist known to be sober and circumspect, “slimy” or “sleazy” or “a scumbag”?
  8. Does HRC share her husband’s sentiments about the media—and about Obama?
  9. If not, what can she do about her husband’s temper?
  10. How would she handle Bill if she were president?
  11. How would Obama handle Bill if she were vice president?
  12. Does Clinton’s habit for blowing his fuse make it easier for Democratic Party super-delegates to endorse Obama?
  13. Has any former president of the United States ever before spoken this way in public?
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By Malaka, 06/04/2008, 9:29 AM EDT
Carl, looks like we have an old fashioned standoff between the "media" and the Clintons. The media is defensive when Bill criticizes their coverage of the campaign, in particular, their favoritism to Obama. But the media responds in kind with their continued coverage and criticism of his weekly "freak outs." Since we have Bill's antics on tape, is there any truth to Bill's indictment of the press? In your experience, are people in your profession favoring an Obama run for the presidency?
By oljoe49, 06/04/2008, 8:23 AM EDT
WILL HILARY RUN WITH OBAMA? THANKS, JOE
By tunaboat, 06/03/2008, 7:35 PM EDT
Never would have guessed that what I viewed as one of her biggest positives a year ago -- her husband's measured counsel and judgment during times of stress and crisis would turn out to be one of her biggest negatives. That - and a certain pollster/strategist from NY.
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