Livingston: The Deficit is All Clinton’s Fault
Livingston: The Deficit is All Clinton’s Fault
Forget the trillions in tax cuts, $200 billion for the war in Iraq and pork-laden spending bills. America’s budget problems are all President Clinton’s fault. Former Rep. Bob Livingston explains:
Watch in Quick Time Streaming.
Livingston makes a couple of points, both of which are completely ridiculous:
[U]nfortunately, you know, we had a tremendous amount of burden that was handed to us by the Clinton administration with the growth of the government scandals…
I’m not familiar with the “growth of government scandals.” I do know that under Clinton the federal workforce was cut by 377,000 to it’s lowest level since 1960. During the Clinton years, government grew slower than any time since the Eisenhower Administration. The size of government actually shrank relative to the size of the economy.
On to point #2:
[T]hen we got hit by 9/11, terrorist action which was due to the growth of the very radical Muslim element and led by Osama Bin Laden which we could have taken out in the last decade.
Interesting point Congressman. So when Clinton attacked al-Qaeda terrorist sites in Afghanistan in an effort to kill Bin Laden you must have been all for it, right? Here’s Livingston on those efforts in the Associated Press on 9/20/98:
To invert a phrase, life often imitates art and ‘”Wag the Dog” was a popular movie six months ago.
The “blame Clinton” defense appears to be in its last throes.
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Mr. Living in a dream. Lets blame god for letting clinton do it?…ooooooooooooo. What a head in the sand idiot this guy is.
September 19th, 2005 at 2:08 pmFull attack mode brought on by fear of losing power. But do they really need to fear losing power with our current crop of Democratic leaders? Just asking.
September 19th, 2005 at 2:09 pmPlease list the phone number for this jackasses office so we can all call him and give him a piece of our minds.
September 19th, 2005 at 2:14 pmAs long as they can lie with no consequences whatsoever why shouldn’t they just say what is convenient instead of what is true?
It’s all to their benefit to say anything that will give their supporters an explanation that blames someone else even if it makes no sense whatsoever.
September 19th, 2005 at 2:23 pmThat looked like an MSNBC logo. I would have thought that this kind of assassination attempt would come from Phaux News. I guess they put theirs on a 1/2 hour special report….
September 19th, 2005 at 2:24 pmThe dog ate his homework, so he has no clue. If you wear a nice suit, then you are credible.
I would give him an extra retirement check next month just for making an appearance on tv.
Might as well appropriate another 500 billion dollars for Iraq right now, because that is what it is going to cost anyway.
Give every member of Congress a ten thousand dollar raise, too. What the heck, they are going to need it.
September 19th, 2005 at 2:24 pmClinton, Clinton, Clinton, Clinton, Clinton, Clinton, Clinton, Clinton, Clinton, Clinton, Clinton, Clinton, Clinton, Clinton, Clinton, Clinton, Clinton, Clinton, Clinton, Clinton.
They all have terminal Clintonitis.
September 19th, 2005 at 2:25 pmDidn’t Livingston cut and run from office to “spend more time with his family”?
So why is he bothering us, then? Who cares what he thinks?
September 19th, 2005 at 2:29 pmBob Livingston + Keith Olbermann = separated at birth?
September 19th, 2005 at 2:31 pmPlease keep in mind, it’s those jokers over at GE-owned MSNBC that invited him on camera, knowing full well in advance what position he would be taking. They let him spout that nonsense; did they challenge him on any of it?
September 19th, 2005 at 2:33 pmHey, Bobby -
Remember me? Last time you got uppity, I almost ruined your life. One more stupid crack out of you and, well, you know what will happen…
–
September 19th, 2005 at 2:35 pm“…the growth of the government scandals…
I think Livingston has a growth.
It was a witch hunt over a blow job.
September 19th, 2005 at 2:36 pmI can’t help but laugh at these idiotic Republicans who are playing CYA (you know what that stands for). Clearly, this Republican majority was handed a budget surplus. They can blame Clinton, but it only notes a party in damage control. What a weak and cowardly media not to call him on his spin attempt.
September 19th, 2005 at 2:37 pmWe will be blaming Bush for insect bites until 2100!
September 19th, 2005 at 2:39 pmIsn’t Livingston the jackass who had to resign from Congress (just as he was expected to become the next Speaker) because he couldn’t keep his dick in his pants?
Oh yeah. He was.
September 19th, 2005 at 2:42 pmBig Dog Lovers – the surplus was a projection – we never did have it in our pockets!!
September 19th, 2005 at 2:44 pmThis is truly pathetic. So, where did the surplus go? Where is the money? Scandal ridden or not – where’s the money he left in the bank?
This is the largest government in history. But, alas, that damn Clinton made them do it. Next, the dog ate the budget.
September 19th, 2005 at 2:44 pm“The “blame Clinton†defense appears to be in its last throes.”
If by “in its last throes” you mean “cranking up to unimagined heights”, then I agree.
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September 19th, 2005 at 2:44 pmJeff Immelt of GE publicly wishes his MSNBC could be a clone of FNC. Also, more than half of Iraq’s power grid is GE technology. No wonder he’s fine with airing his personal slaves like Livingston …
September 19th, 2005 at 2:48 pmWait, didn’t Bob Livingston’s Career end when he got caught being a hypocrite by having an affair? With four different women? (Look it up on Google)
Amazing. Still a profesional Liar…
September 19th, 2005 at 2:49 pmI googled “why does the national debt matter?” and got this website that has a very telling graphic as to whose fault the national deficit is…
http://www.cedarcomm.com/~stevelm1/usdebt.htm
Perhaps we should send this to Mr. Livingston…
September 19th, 2005 at 2:50 pmHere we go:
September 19th, 2005 at 2:51 pmhttp://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/12/19/livingston.quits/
Bob Livingston: once a dick, always a dick. Why does anyone put this guy in front of a microphone?
Well, he hasn’t had to come up with any new ideas in the intervening years. “Blame Clinton” seems to be a perpetual source of talking points, even if it has no basis in objective reality as measurable by the senses or scientific instrumentation.
September 19th, 2005 at 2:51 pmahhhhhhhhhhh Larry.
You’re the first person I thought of when I saw Livingston’s mug. Keep those polaroids handy, we’re going to need them.
September 19th, 2005 at 2:52 pmHahaha!
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Immigration_memo_intended_for_Rove_arrives_on_Demo_0919.html
September 19th, 2005 at 2:54 pmMA,
I’ll take your “projection” over the current, PROVABLE DEFICIT any day, or is this current DEFICIT just a liberal projection as well?
When you become an economist I’ll take your opinion more seriously, though I really think you are highly unqualified for the job due to your inabilility to pull your own head out of your ass.
September 19th, 2005 at 2:54 pmThe blind lead the blind; the pastor preaches to the choir; they all go around the merry-go-round; all the while just blowing smoke up their common collective receptacle. Who believes this crap? The blind, the choir, the horses on the merry-go-round, and the puffers. Anybody with a brain will only laugh. Now, for the sake of argument, assuming all of this is true, what difference does it make? The shrub was elected (?) on the basis he was going to change things and he covered his ass by saying that it would take two years to get rid of the Clinton influence. He has been there essentially five years so all of Clinton’s dirty deeds were cleaned up three years ago. The true laughing point is that while asses like Livingston are bad mouthing Clinton DUHbya calls Clinton in to save his (DUHbya’s) ass. Just laugh and wave Bye Bye to them as thay fade off into Kansas.
September 19th, 2005 at 2:56 pmLivingston is astonishing in his denial of reality. Unfortunately many will believe him, the shills on Fox will all have him as a guest.
September 19th, 2005 at 2:56 pmThis is part of the game to deflect negativity against Bush (poll numbers, public dissatisfaction, poor performance) and turn the focus once again to Clinton, who has spoken out against Bush this weekend. It will have some effect, I am sure, but I think the majority of people can recognize insanity when they see it.
P.S. Isn’t he the one who had to resign from his candidacy for House Speaker because his own marital infidelities had shown the hypocrisy of his condemnation of Clinton?
All of those “government scandals”….like Filegate, Travelgate, Whitewater, and Bimbogate(s). All the really important stuff. While Clinton was busy developing a budget surplus of $400BB and giving us the longest era of peace and prosperity, those Republicans just couldn’t stand it. Had to spend $70MM of taxpayer money conducting an 8 year CLinton Inquisition.
Funny how they can’t seem to find anything to investigate in this administration.
Livingston, just another front man hypocrite for the Republican Syndicate.
September 19th, 2005 at 2:58 pmI’m Sorry, Karl. I left out all you pansies in your daisy chain.
September 19th, 2005 at 2:59 pmNotice, this is FORMER Congressman. That should read, has-been with irrelevent comments. It’s always easy to hail insults when you’re not part of the game. When they need leadership though, who do the call, Bill Clinton. Why doesn’t Chimpus stump for contributions? All he would need is a tin cup and an organ grinder.
September 19th, 2005 at 3:00 pm#31
He has an organ grinder–his name is Turdblossom!
September 19th, 2005 at 3:02 pmIt’s Bill Clinton’s fault the we are in Iraq. It’s Bill Clinton’s fault that we have these high Gas prices too. I got a headache and it’s Bill Clinton’s fault. My check bounced and it’s Bill Clinton’s fault that I didn’t have enough money in the bank.
Bill Clinton is to blame for 9-11 too. If there is a problem just blame Bill Clinton for it. These are all Republican talking points. I don’t recall President Carter saying the Gerald Ford was at fault for his mistakes in Iran. These guys have no shame at all. Great job guys. Keep up the good work. The sad part is that idiots like those in Ohio actually believe it’s Bill Clinton’s fault. http://WWW.Plainnews.blogspot.com
September 19th, 2005 at 3:04 pmmighty aphrodite – nice try, but no cigar. From 1998 to 2000 our government ran a surplus ranging from 69.2 billion up to 236.2 billion according to the CBO It is true that combining Clinton’s 8 years in office leaves a net budget deficit, but at the time he left office there was a budget susplus.
September 19th, 2005 at 3:04 pmEasy for Livingston to dump that crap on tv. Not like he has to run again in 2006. Not like he needs to jump off the sinking ship.
September 19th, 2005 at 3:05 pmThe deficit is Clinton’s fault. If he hadn’t of left that surplus around in the first place that band of well groomed forked tongue inept swine wouldn’t of wasted it appeasing their corporate pimps and college roomies.
September 19th, 2005 at 3:06 pmHe was thrown off the ship when it was still afloat.
September 19th, 2005 at 3:06 pmWarning: trolls lie a lot. Just like that ‘mighty fraud-ite’. Pointless to argue with a liar.
September 19th, 2005 at 3:09 pmDidn’t Livingston cut and run from office to “spend more time with his family�
Why, yes, yes he did:
…The Irish Times has learned that Mr Livingston became aware that Mr Flynt had in his possession audiotapes of sexually explicit telephone conversations between Mr Livingston and a woman. It was the nature of the sexual talk that was so disturbing, said this source. It was clearly a sexual relationship of a sado-masochistic or dominant-submissive nature.
At one point in the conversation, Mr Livingston asks the woman a question to the effect, can’t I be the victim next time? (The precise wording of the question could not be confirmed.) What was clear was that Mr Livingston was clearly interested in playing a sexually submissive role.
Mr Flynt, for the record, did not wish to disclose the specific nature of the evidence he has against Mr Livingston. “It was much more than he said in his initial statement. He knew our investigation was under way.”
With a sly smile, Mr Flynt looked into the camera at CNN and said: “Let’s say I understand why he resigned. I’m happy if our efforts had anything to do with it.”…
See, Livingston was supposed to be Newt’s replacement as House Speaker when Newt was made to take the fall for the GOP’s badly-backfired obsession with Clinton’s genitals in 1998. But it turned out that Livingston, just like pretty much every other prominent GOP Clinton attacker, had a personal life that made Bill’s look like that of a Trappist monk.
September 19th, 2005 at 3:11 pmThe trolls are always inventing phony poll numbers and bogus stats. They can read 150 different stat sheets from 100 different reputable sources but all they need is one (usually from an untrustworthy source, like Limbo the pillhead druggie), that will give them a differing opinion and they are set. It is so sad.
September 19th, 2005 at 3:13 pmJust think, if he’d held onto that information and released once he had become Speaker, think of the damage THAT would have wrought! But, Flynt doesn’t really work that way, else he WOULD have. It just goes to show that you really shouldn’t judge a person by what they do behind closed doors. . .that’s for their spouses to decide.
September 19th, 2005 at 3:15 pm2+2=whatever, The reduction in the number of government employees was due to retirement and attrition – of course no reduction in the size, scope or intrusion of government.
September 19th, 2005 at 3:16 pmMatt, Clinton did leave a surplus – BUT not the size touted by you lefties – which is the number they constantly portray as the total when Bush took office.
[...] and simultaneously hitting the bottom of the barrel. Livingston said, on live TV that was broadcast and indelibly printed into the subconscious of millions of as-yet-unborn bacteria: U]nfortunately, you know, we had a tremendous amount of burden that was handed to us by the Clinton administration with the growth of the government scandals…[T]hen we got hit by 9/11, terrorist action which was due to the growth of the very radical Muslim element and led by Osama Bin Laden which we could have taken out in the last decade. [...]
September 19th, 2005 at 3:21 pmThis is just a feeble attempt by the right to discredit Clinton after what he said about the deficit and tax cuts over the weekend:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/09/19/katrina.clinton/index.html
Why? Because they know if the former President with the highest job approval of any president gets into the mix, they can’t win:
http://english.people.com.cn/english/200101/09/eng20010109_59937.html
September 19th, 2005 at 3:24 pmPresident Bush’s plan for Katrina? A little bit of everything from the conservative wish list and awful lot from Karl Rove’s playbook.
For the full story, see:
“Poison Pill: The Bush Prescription for Katrina.”
September 19th, 2005 at 3:25 pmYes, there is more intrusion – Patriot Act. Much much more intrusion of government. AND – this is the largest government in history with the largest deficit in history with the largest tax breaks for the richest in history. HEY DUMBASS – What happened to the repub mantra of less government and fiscal responsibility? How on earth do the trolls rectify this in their minds? I suppose its Clinton’s fault or, maybe Chappaquidick was the start of it all. Yeah, that’s the ticket, if it weren’t for Chappaquidick, then there would be no more wars or poverty.
Nice reply – “whatever.” That’s using your quick wit.
September 19th, 2005 at 3:25 pmYou’d think that after his being on the loose 4 years after killing thousands on Bush’s watch that Republicans when mentioning OBL would lose the Clinton talking point, but I guess not.
September 19th, 2005 at 3:26 pmThe Fed budget is $2.5 trillion or so, and we merely owe $8 trillion already. These numbers are perfectly analogous to any growing business. No problem.
And of course in the routine news story or discussion, there is no need to put the deficit of this year into something I call ‘context’, in this case the pre-existing debt.
I spoke to a banker. He said no one cares how much you already owe– we just want to loan you more.
(I’m being sarcastic: if any financial entity had one-tenth this debt level, everyone involved would ordinarily be arrested– but who can arrest the big gorilla?)
I must admit– all this seems strange to me– I generally use standard arithmetic for calculations.
(See the U.S. Dept of Public debt web site– do the calculus, and explain the rate of change vs. presidential leadership over the last 25 years)
My explanation, in terms of presidential terms, is the following:
R1: Lies; R2: More lies; B1: Still More Lies; C1, C2: Honesty, Integrity and Responsibility; B2: Pedal to the Metal, Irreversible Damage.
Why don’t people recognize the enormous mistake the republicans have imposed on us? We have been ‘borrowing’, in bad faith, for 25 years, and ONLY Clinton/Gore showed any sign whatsoever of honesty!
September 19th, 2005 at 3:28 pmRepublicans always create depressions and blame democrats. They cry a good game about personal accountability, except when it applies to them. There’s a reason bush bankrupted 3 companies, when you reduce your revenues, and increase your expenses and debt, eventually your financial health suffers. It’s basic money management – but then when your daddy is rich and he and his friends always bail you out, how the heck are you supposed to even learn how money works? It’s clear he didn’t pay attention in his university business classes, so his dopiness doesn’t actually understand fundamental economic theory… Let alone personal money management – other than to follow the strategy of the LeoStrauss NeoCons to ‘bankrupt the country and throw the baby out with the bathwater to prevent future generations of liberals from being able to institute federal social programs’ – I believe that’s the correct quote…
September 19th, 2005 at 3:31 pm“Big Dog Lovers – the surplus was a projection – we never did have it in our pockets!!”
Actually we did in the form of ever decreasing federal debt – that is until his nitwittedness (your hero) got into office and threw us into a depression. Republicans inherently are bad with money, because they have a fear based relationship to it. You can’t give money to the wealthy, and make the monetary policy so porous that they can readily take that money and put it into china. The policy is just economic suicide – and yet you and your party always commit economic suicide from ill informed and nonsensical policies based on religious and pseudo religious ideologies that have repeatedly been disproven… Stupid is as stupid does – and you bring a lot of stupid to the party!
September 19th, 2005 at 3:35 pmRepublicans always get the best Acid–Looks like Livingston gulped down at least a 4-way tab.
Maybe even two!!
When yer trippin’, 2+2=13,
except when it’s somethin’ else.
The GOP is so Groooovy!!!!!!
September 19th, 2005 at 3:57 pmIt gets better and better every day. I hope these idiots keep talking about how bad Clinton was for our country, how good it would be to take away our Social Security, how GREAT it is going in Iraq and of course how it is essential to our country’s economic future to give massive tax cuts to multi-millionaires and continue to borrow money from the ever helpful Chineese. Keep it up guys, his approval rating will be 20% before you know it.
September 19th, 2005 at 3:58 pmThese slimeballs. OK, I’m ready to get off my ass and start working the campaigns for the next election now. I’ve had it with the Republicans. They’ve REALLY pissed me off this time.
September 19th, 2005 at 4:09 pmAnother billion ‘missing’ in Iraq due to the mismanagement of this administration. Anyone wonder how much of the katrina money will go missing?
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/091905J.shtml
September 19th, 2005 at 4:14 pmI like how he says we “could have taken Bin Laden out” Right. Smoke him out, thats all you gotta do…
September 19th, 2005 at 4:33 pm#48, Ryan, I firmly believe Bush intends to bankrupt the country just as he bankrupted his former companies. A bankrupt country will have few or no programs and the only ones with any power will be the rich bastards like Bush himself. They will then be able to write their own ticket on everything. They are the barons and the rest are the serfs.
September 19th, 2005 at 5:12 pmIt caused a revolution in France.
The lost $1 billion in Iraq reported today — what did Senator Dirksen once say, I will paraphrase ” a billion here, nine billion there, pretty soon you’re talking about some real money.”
September 19th, 2005 at 5:15 pmThe CPA can’t find 8.8 billion, the new govt. lost 1 billion — Crooks, crooks and more crooks. They freely multiply when the real criminals are at the top.
Marie,
It’s a publically stated agenda of the NeoCon manifesto… They believe that if they rack up the debt, the government won’t be able to afford a social safety net anymore…
September 19th, 2005 at 5:18 pmYou know things are getting bad for the wingnuts when they drag out the “it’s all Clinton’s fault” rheortic..
September 19th, 2005 at 5:21 pmCan’t wait for all to blow up in their evil faces….and it will. Just watch.
When you run every branch of government and you’re still a miserable failure – the only thing left to do is to blame the guy who was there before you. It doesn’t matter that it’s been 5 years… Lets forget about the fact that you’ve basically had carte blanche with everything, and it all still goes to hell in a handbasket. Just blame the previous guy, and hope that at least your base is stupid enough to believe it… And what’s sad is that the base IS stupid enough to believe it, even if most of america seems to disagree…
September 19th, 2005 at 5:25 pmI think that is the main point, Ryan. Every other administration has been able to blame either the Congress or Senate or both for not letting them get their agenda realized.
This time there is no way, other than the ridiculous notion of it being Clinton’s fault, to focus blame onto anyone else. This is his baby – he has been able to run rough shod. He vetoed nothing, the Congress/Senate gave him everything he asked for – Carte Blanche indeed. He has no excuse. The US was his to screw with any way he wanted and look, just look at what he has accomplished – JACK. And I don’t mean Abramoff.
No administration has ever seen such power and done so little with it. Totally embarrassing – for them and us.
September 19th, 2005 at 5:47 pmSomeone’s tickling his Clintoris!!
September 19th, 2005 at 6:17 pm#31 – Bush grinds his own organ.
September 19th, 2005 at 6:22 pmBill Clinton was living large on a phenomenon known as “Peace Dividens” that were created with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the end of the Cold War and the end of the First Gulf War.
He didn’t magically end the budget deficit singlehandedly — but he was able to take credit for some economic gains that were created by Regan and Bush.
The president that takes over after the war in Iraq will also have an economy that is driven by a Peace Dividend.
September 19th, 2005 at 6:40 pmAlready the trolls are after Hilary. When #63 can claim in advance that the Economic recovery under the next Democratic President will be due to DUHbya’s valuable foresight in starting the Iraq farce. When the Repugs are asked why they continually hit themselves in the head with a hammer, their answer if “Because it feels so good when we quit!” When they are finally stopped from using their metaphorical hammer on this Country can say it feels so good with them in jail. That’s got to be the best one yet! DUHbya starting the Iraq war to make Hilary look as good as Bill! Thanks, fool!
September 19th, 2005 at 6:55 pmSince 2001, with the GOP in control, govt spending has gone from $1.86 trillion to $2.48 trillion, a 33% increase. For the first time in history, household (or median income) has not risen for 5 straight years. When Bush took office the poverty rate was an all time low of 11.3%. Bush changed that to 12.7% currently. 800,000 to a million people have been added to the roles of the uninsured every year of Bush’s reign. It is Clinton’s fault. If he hadn’t run the economy so well, Bush wouldn’t like the complete incompetent he is.
September 19th, 2005 at 7:15 pm“Bill Clinton was living large on a phenomenon known as “Peace Dividens†that were created with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the end of the Cold War and the end of the First Gulf War.”
And yet he managed to recognize this and not squander it. Compare this to bush who believes tax cuts to the rich stimulate the economy – when in fact any economist worth his salt know this is the opposite of what happens!
“He didn’t magically end the budget deficit singlehandedly — but he was able to take credit for some economic gains that were created by Regan and Bush.”
No, that’s true. The democratically controlled congress in the first 2 years also assisted. They allowed him to increase taxes on the wealthy, and cut spending to create a balanced budget. Compare that to the current nitwit who increased spending and cut taxes on the rich. Duh… It isn’t magic, it’s MATH.
“The president that takes over after the war in Iraq will also have an economy that is driven by a Peace Dividend. ”
Bullcrap. The housing bubble is about to burst, and whoever gets to takeover after this inept boob will inherit a bloody mess! I don’t care if they’re republican or democrat! This is like Coolidge who so mismanged the greatest boom in american history, that he left an economy that was sputtering to its death and did nothing. Hoover was an inept goon as well, but between them they demonstrated just how incompetent republicans are at managing the economy, and here we are again repeating these lessons…
September 19th, 2005 at 7:30 pmOf course, fixing Clinton’s economic mistakes was never part of the presidential campaign in 2000. It was all about genitals and illegitimate black children born to respected republican candidates. Guess they expected to coast on Clinton’s work and milk the country in the process. It didn’t work. Nothing they do ever works.
September 19th, 2005 at 8:19 pmThe reduction in federal workforce was in military manpower and not civilian workers. Go to the site you linked and see that the headnote said civilian but actual quote does not
September 19th, 2005 at 8:28 pmFunny how the Clinton-bashing has really gone into high gear now that he’s speaking up! Wish I was a fly in the wall in all the discussions that have brought him out of the woodwork (pardon the mixed metaphors). We can only hope he’s not the only Democrat with a point of view.
September 19th, 2005 at 9:00 pmAnd that chart of deficits is very enlightening!
For years I’ve wondered what it was that Larry Flint had on Livingston that ran him out of towns so quickly. Nobody goes as fast as he did unless it’s really gross. Please, Larry, lay it out for us.
September 19th, 2005 at 9:37 pmWhere did this freak come from? Is he living in a vacuum? Anyone with half a brain knows the economy hasn’t been as strong as it was when Clinton was in office. I am 41 and I don’t ever remember jobs being so plentiful, money accessable and people actually filling the parkinglots at the malls. It was a grave yard during Ray-gun and Dumbya-the-smarter’s time.
The only people that will believe his tripe is ignorant, hard core REPUGnicans.
Let’s report on something useful.
September 20th, 2005 at 12:49 amI think if this jackass livingston wants to spout something on TV it SHOULD be that dumbya should follow his example and resign.
September 20th, 2005 at 12:54 am[...] …according to a highly informal survey of (two) Beijing cab drivers. And I didn’t even bring up the topic. I wasn’t able to pin down exactly why anti-Bush sentiment and pro-Clinton sentiment runs high among this demographic. Will work on that. It probably didn’t have much to do with these observations, from Clinton’s interview on ABC’s “This Week” with George Stephanopolous, courtesy of Salon’s War Room, but still. It’s refreshing to hear the concept of cause-and-effect reflected in political analysis. (Would that Republicans grasped this, but some seem willfully unable to.) Anyway, check out this logic, and square it with how the current administration has fed tax cuts, economic growth and the Iraq War to the public (italics are mine): [...]
September 20th, 2005 at 2:24 am‘…we got through those problems in the past because he [Bush]cut taxes’. Cutting taxes elimnates government scandals, gets rid of Osama bin laden AND improves the economy. WOW..what will it do next? Cure impotence? (perhaps that’s why Livingston is so ‘energetic’ in endorsing more tax cuts).
Sadly, it hasn’t done any of these (sorry Bob, guess you’ll have to get your Viagra just like Dole does.)
September 20th, 2005 at 2:55 amRight wing wackiness: former Congressional Rep. blames Clinton for deficit
Livingston was the Republican Speaker of the House in 1998 who presided over Clinton’s impeachment until his own infidelity was revealed. Federal budget documents are here, for anyone with no memory of the fact that Clinton left surpluses.Think Progress
September 20th, 2005 at 7:51 amHe didn’t magically end the budget deficit singlehandedly — but he was able to take credit for some economic gains that were created by Regan and Bush.
No, it isn’t magic like supply-side voodoo. It’s called prudent fiscal management. It’s done by matching your revenues and expenses with a little left over after the bills are paid. There’s nothng magic about it. It’s basically just being responsible.
G.W. Bush is Lyndon Johnson without the good record on civil rights and poverty.
September 20th, 2005 at 9:19 amI think this is a joke. Clinton hasn’t been in office for five years but the Repubs still blame him. I can not stop laughing. The Repubs need to get a life right out of offce.
September 20th, 2005 at 11:00 amWhat a moron this Livingston is. But you know what? The idiots who believe his crap are even dumber than he is. Talk about dumb and dumber…
September 20th, 2005 at 11:36 amGood catch, Judd.
Five years into the Clnton Presidency -
“I would like to note that the current economic expansion is now entering its seventh year. That makes it already a long upswing by historical standards. And yet, looking ahead, the prospects for sustaining the expansion are quite favorable.”
- Alan Greenspan, March 20, 1997
Those were the days, my friends.
September 20th, 2005 at 11:47 amSo, Bob “Zippy the Pinhead” Livingston wants us now to forget about the surplus we had post-Clinton–remember Al Gore saying “lockbox” every ten seconds in debates till you wanted to duck-tape his mouth? I mean, I was for him and it annoyed me. But that was a great Big Surplus, Bob. Money, Bob. Clinton actually reduced the size of the government, Bob…unlike Reagan and Bush, both of whom ran on grandiose promises to reduce it. Bush Baby has overseen the largest growth of government in history, and yet somehow has managed to make that elephantine government into the most inept, hollow, incapable thing in history, too. Where has all our money gone, Bob? You wouldn’t know that, would you, you bloviating hyena?
September 20th, 2005 at 12:32 pmI do find it interesting that Clinton is appearing with regularity in the MSM. It seems as if he is trying to get us all used to seeing him and hearing his voice again. I read some time ago that there was some speculation that to save face (and for the sake of the American people whom he loves so very much, of course), Bush would resign this Fall and Clinton would fill in until the 2006 election. This sounds good to me, as long as he stays out of trouble until Hillary is in charge.
September 20th, 2005 at 12:32 pmRe: “Last throes” in the original post and comment 18: Yes, “last throes” if you define the phrase as does Rummie with regard to the insurgency.
September 20th, 2005 at 12:44 pm“growth of the government scandals”??? Wouldn’t he be referring to the Bush Administration?
September 20th, 2005 at 1:11 pmThere’s a reason that conservative Repubs hate Clinton so much – HE PROVED THEM WRONG! He proved that we could have an activist government that takes care of its citizens and afford it. He proved the anti-tax crowd wrong – when the tax increases in 1993 passed all the conservatives were saying it would be the end of the world – that they would drag the economy down into ruin. What we got instead was the largest and longest economic expansion in our history. Some people just can’t stand heresy, even when it is the truth.
September 20th, 2005 at 1:29 pm… Bravo , Dave ! I couldn’t agree more – even now , when I see Pres. Clinton on the t.v. , I wish we could exchange him for the guy who’s in the White House at the moment ! Then we MIGHT stand a snowballs chance in H*** of getting out of this fiscal NIGHTMARE !!! … ;)
September 20th, 2005 at 4:41 pmIn the Beginning…it was ABC, i.e. Anything But Clinton, in the Bush White House. So…they ignored Clinton’s NSC advice regarding terrorism. 9 months into his “Presidency”, the country was attacked by fanatics using airplanes. On Limbaugh, et al, the wing nuts were saying “Clinton has this blood on his hands”. Bill could’ve done more; in fact he tried and the Congress was stingy regarding anti terrorism funing. But I don’t recall Clinton blaming George I for the 1993 WTC bombing, which occurred two months into the Clinton Presidency.
September 21st, 2005 at 10:36 amI’m not an economist, so I don’t know from projected surpluses to real surpluses(given that both parties have legally raided Social Security to cover up the actual deficit and debt, all numbers are suspect), but there was optimism that we were on the right economic tract during Clinton’s tenure. Even if one credits Reagan (I don’t) and George I (who raised taxes), Bill Clinton managed both the mess and the momentum that was left to him. I can’t help but sense that George II has only mismanaged things, from Islamist terrorism to the havoc wrought by Katrina.
Anyway…the supposed party of personal responsibility needs to do the one thing about which they can legitimately criticize Clinton: admit that they did fuck that woman, America, every which way but loose.
Of course this Clinton blame is coming from a guy that accepted hookers from lobbyists…how short a memory does this country have? Nano-seconds for sure
September 21st, 2005 at 12:59 pmUnbelievably, we had to put up with this jackass for so many years as our representative in Washington. This hypocrite is playing by the tired-old Republican playbook of “blame Clinton,” which proves that the Republicans running the show (the neocons) have not an original thought.
September 21st, 2005 at 2:56 pmI am elated to see that another site is attacking Bob Livingston. I have been writing about him for some time because of his egregious record of defending Turkey. Bob is a Turkish apologist who has received over 9 million dollars from the Turkish lobby to prevent common sense human rights legislation about the Armenian genocide to reach the House floor. He is a national disgrace.
September 23rd, 2005 at 1:31 amYou want to make sure that the Republican’s lose control of Congress next year? Start a grass roots organization to return to the South and register the poor and disenfranchised to vote. Let the Freedom Riders ride again. The awakening of your country to how bad poverty is a good way to get this started. After last year’s election, WaPo had an article showing how it was mostly the poor states that voted RED. Stats like 90% of NJ students graduate from High School, 83% in Iowa, compared to 54% in Georgia and 49% in S.C. Children in poverty broke down like this- 7% NH, 10% MINN compared to 27%in WV, Arkansas, and NM. The 3million plus votes difference that decided the presidential election could be offset if the poor and disenfanchised in these states were actually allowed to vote, and assisted in registering, especially in Georgia with its’ new photo id requirements. So, how about it, get out and do something about the situation instead of sitting at your comp bitching. I agree you all have something to bitch about, your Government is a joke, so do something constructive. Just some observations from a friendly Canuck.
September 23rd, 2005 at 10:05 amCreating surpluses by cuts in defense and intelligence are irresponsible and shortsighted. If you ignore necessary maintenance of your home or property you will enjoy the benefits of the added cash flow. However, there will be a day of reckoning. Carter did it and Clinton repeated it. There is no doubt that the Clinton cuts in these important areas left America and her allies more at risk. Now we are paying the price, again.
September 23rd, 2005 at 12:05 pmDuring the Clinton years, government grew slower than any time since the Eisenhower Administration
So Clinton did in fact GROW it…
September 24th, 2005 at 3:55 pmYes, you’re right, Bob Livingston was the one who was having an affair. He did the honorable thing and resigned. Meanwhile, Bill Clinton stained another blue dress and sold out his country to China by providing missile technology to them in return for contributions to his 1996 election campaign. (Wonder what the odds are that this will see the light of day on this site.)
September 28th, 2005 at 7:28 pm(Wow, it’s been there for 3 minutes without getting yanked! Amazing! I guess they’re all stoned.)
September 28th, 2005 at 7:29 pmActually, the truth is, from an eyewitness account, the military had actually triangulated Bin Laden’s location in about 1998 or so and were ready to send cruise missiles to blow Bin Laden’s location to heck. However, during this time, the president was mysteriously “unavailable” which was odd, as a military aide should have been with him at ALL times (as the military aide should hold the nuclear ‘football’). When they DID get to Clinton, he procrastinated, saying “we need to discuss this” and things like that. Eventually, the mission was scrapped because Bin Laden had already left. So what Livingston said in the second point is actually true to a point. The first point, I agree is not valid, but the second one is. Also, the plants that Clinton bombed in Afghanistan had no confirmation that they were terrorist locations, as its rumored that he needed to bomb something to make it seem like he was fighting terrorism.
October 23rd, 2005 at 2:39 ammobic
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December 9th, 2005 at 2:46 pmPres Clinton was handed binladen and did nothing…this mess is definitely his fault….he procrastinated and never detered people away from this mess…after the first attack of the world trade center he should have done something and he didnt …..after the uss.cole ,he should have done something and he didnt…he is useless and I hope people realize this….
April 5th, 2006 at 4:43 pm