American Experience: Clinton

Last week the PBS American Experience show featured a two part biography of Bill Clinton. The show was well done and while much and most of what we saw was familiar one must realize that we have a complete generation for whom the Clinton presidency is ancient history.

Clinton's intellect and abilities as a natural politician are highlighted. Unfortunately his considerable personal foibles are also. The feeling of a new beginning and the excitement felt by many of us when Clinton was elected were soon mired down in an adminstration that was not prepared for Washington and certainly not prepared for the anger and ire of the Republican party that considered him a usurper to the throne.

Clinton was an incredibly gifted politician who did not do as much as he could have , or should have. After winning reelection easily in 1996 Clinton again failed his mandate as he got caught up in the Lewinsky scandal that led to his impeachment hearings. Clinton recovered well but in the end his Presidency was potential wasted. His election also was the beginning of the problems we face in Washington. The hatred laid on him by the right was then replicated by the left on Bush and that now our current President faces.

For me personally Bill Clinton is the best example of why the term limits for President do not work. Is there anyone, on the right or left, who does not acknowledge that Clinton would be a more effective President now. What does it say about ourselves that we do not trust ourselves to let Democracy work as it should.

The pictures of Clinton and Gore, young and thin. The pictures of Hillary, with her hair style of the week. It all was very interesting. A very well done documentary.