Sharpton on "Requiem"...Clinton just stood there while Barbara insulted..

[madfloridian]

He really was powerful. Good for Al Sharpton. Bill Clinton was standing right beside Barbara Bush when she made this statement.

"What I'm hearing, which is sort of scary, is they all want to stay in Texas," Barbara Bush said in an interview on Monday with the radio program "Marketplace." "Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality."

"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway," she said, "so this is working very well for them.

Bill Clinton stood right beside her with George HWB not far away. He let her insult all the good people who had suffered so greatly from Katrina, and he remained silent. He just stood there.

I am having to watch Spike Lee's Requiem in portions, because it is just too hard to take in one sitting.

I was glad Al Sharpton said that is the president's momma, and if he listens to her you can see why he is not doing anything to help people in New Orleans.

Here is the NYT link I got the quote from.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/07/national/nationalspecial/07barbara.html?ex=1283745600&en=6e278697c408abe7&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

They played the statement in the video with the text shown, but I wanted to be sure I got it right.

And to those who think I should not have expected Clinton to speak up....well, he should have most certainly. He owed to the people she insulted.

[thereismore]

1. So what was Clinton supposed to do? Choke the harpy? nt

[LisaM]

2. LOL - thanks for the mental image!

No, Bill is too polite.

[EST]

10. Da dawg, long noted for rapid strategic political thinking,

could have pulled a "bush" and vomited on her shoes! Probably would have gotten away with it, too.

[tsuki]

23. Big Dawg never gets away with anything.

[madfloridian]

25. Why should he not be criticized ever?

I don't go around doing that, but this hit me hard. Everyone else gets criticized here all the time. He is not immune from criticism.

[Greyhound]

92. Haven't read many of my posts.

He and the Senator are among the most often criticized for their consistent support of corporations over people.

Just Re:pukes in Democratic costumes, IMO.

[Benhurst]

3. He could have spoken up and said he disagreed with what she was saying.

But then it's not nice to contradict your "adopted mom" in public.

Bill has done some good things, but his relationship with The Bush Crime Family is sick.

[madfloridian]

8. Thank you. He needed to speak up for the people she insulted.

When he is with the Bush family he changes.

[Individualist]

73. could have and should have

Silence implies agreement.

[acmejack]

87. Nafta was a good thing, just not for the American working class

It was great for the People like the BFEE though...

[savemefromdumbya]

51. Yes, of course

[earth mom]

94. Anyone who doesn't speak up in protest about Katrina, 9/11, Iraq, Lebanon,

has blood on their hands. Simple as that!

[EST]

4. Sometimes it seems the only redeeming value

that can be teased out of this continuing train wreck, if I may be forgiven for metaphor mixing, is that people of good will will, ultimately, willie-nillie, end up at the same place.
We all take the road less traveled.

I no longer drink but I do feel the need.

[napi21]

5. Really, what did you want BC to do?

I didn't see the interview,but it sure would be inapropriate for a president to slap another one OR his wife!

I wish I could see the entire script and see if each of them had some time at the mic, BC didn't remain totally silent!

[madfloridian]

6. It was in the Spike Lee Katrina series.

He stood there from what I could see.

[Eric J in MN]

120. She's an old woman who doesn't hold a public office.

Barbara Bush made herself look bad with her tacky remark.

If Bill Clinton had spoken out against Barbara Bush in front of her right after she said that, he would have looked bad.

[Catherine Vincent]

7. I remember the video, I could have sworn Bush I was sitting next to her.

[Skidmore]

9. It's kinda hard to criticize your newly "adopted" mom.

He's gotta maintain his position in that family now.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. As much as I'd have loved to see him clock the bitch...

I'm not going to hold it against him.

This is Monday Morning Wit of the Staircase.

[madfloridian]

12. I did not expect him to be violent. Just speak out.

Sharpton was right. He called him on it.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. No, Sharpton was wrong.

espirit d'escalier

[madfloridian]

15. Yes, too late now to make it right.

Yes, it is too late now. But Sharpton was right in what he said in Requiem. There should have been no hesitation on the part of the former president, it should have been a natural thing to speak in the face of such an extreme remark.

"The French call it l'esprit d'escalier, "the wit of the staircase," those biting ripostes that are thought of just seconds too late, on the way out of the room—or even, to tell the truth, days later. It's happened to you: you've suddenly thought of just what would put your foe in his or her place, but past the time when the arrow could sting its victim. You've stewed in your own juice ever since, and the chance for singeing repartee is gone forever."

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

18. madfloridian...

it's the natural thing not to able to think of something to say when something like that happens.

Hence the phrase "l'espirit d'escalier"

[madfloridian]

20. I know the phrase.

I used to teach such things. I am aware of what you are saying. It does not change my feeling in seeing him just stand there. It broke my heart. I don't always care for Al Sharpton, but he was right on this one.

And yes, I sometimes like Clinton a whole lot...but I reserve the right to criticize when I see something like that when a city was drowning.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

27. Are you telling me you'd have done better yourself?

[madfloridian]

28. I was not a two-term president...

in the midst of people who had lost everything. I think it was his responsibility not to have let her said that with impunity. He converses with world leaders, I don't.

It is a straw man argument.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

30. Ha ha

Strawman argument.

[Libby2]

79. No Sharpton is not right.

I doubt he would have said anything,if he had been there.

[Stardust]

118. Mr. Sharpton doesn't have a whole lot of room to criticize. Take a look.

[elehhhhna]

114. I'd have at least RAISED AN EYEBROW.

just saying

[pnwmom]

116. You'd have had to hear her first. Clinton has poor hearing.

He's had hearing loss for decades.

[elehhhhna]

119. Point taken. Didn't know that!

[pnwmom]

121. He finally got hearing aids when he was about 50, but

they only do so much. And they don't prevent further deterioration, so his hearing is probably even worse now.

[elehhhhna]

123. I get ya. Hubs has idiopathic hearing loss in 1 ear. Even w/ his

hearing aid it's challenging, to say the least.

[pnwmom]

14. He did EXACTLY the right thing.He left her nasty words hanging in the air,

for everyone to hear . . . and absorb.

If he had opened his mouth and disputed her, then the focus would have been on him, and her words wouldn't have had nearly the same shocking impact.

We might have all felt a little better, but soon everyone would have forgotten about the whole thing, because Clinton would have already answered for us. And whatever he said, some people would have thought he was being unkind.

Instead, he let her words echo in the air . . . and her soul reveal itself in all its nastiness.

[madfloridian]

17. Then maybe we should do that whenever they attack us.

People here at DU are always saying that our Democrats don't fight enough. So maybe you are right...we should just let the outrageous words of Rumsfeld and Bush and Bartlett this week just echo in the air.

[Rosemary2205]

29. There is a difference

between a nasty woman shooting her stupid mouth off and a government official trying to destroy the country.

Harpies like Babs, Coulter, Hannity, O'Reilly etc deserve only to be given enough rope to hang themselves. They are unworthy of our efforts, IMHO. It's when the filth comes from lawmakers and Admin officials that it requires action - because those people DO have the power to F up our lives.

[madfloridian]

35. I feel if he is going to hang out with them, he needs to be careful.

She hurt so many people with those remarks. People do take her seriously, very seriously. He is choosing to ally himself with them, so he needs to either say when he thinks they are wrong, or disassociate himself.

[Rosemary2205]

36. The people who take Babs seriously

are morans. No one with more than 2 braincells listens to anything that harpie utters.

[pnwmom]

88. The difference is . . .

she would have portrayed herself as a well-meaning victim. The media would have covered it as a Clinton-bashes-old-lady-Barbara event.

For once, the media "got" it, and they put it out there for the world to hear. What she said was awful, and it didn't get diluted by Clinton opening his mouth afterwards.

That doesn't mean he couldn't have addressed the issue later -- if he didn't, I wish he had.

[stanwyck]

22. Agree. He let her hang herself with her own

smug, privileged air of superiority.
Plus, I saw the clip in Spike's documentary and I can't say for sure that Clinton actually heard what Mrs. Bush was saying. There were so many people. The situation was very chaotic.
I'm doubtful that either Clinton or George H. Bush heard what Barbara was babbling about as she strode through the crowd.
The woman has the same odd disconnect her son has. It's like a form of social autism. They genuinely lack empathy. They try to say the right things at the right times. But they can't. Like W. rambling about getting drunk on "hurricanes" and rebuilding Trent Lott's house when he finally visited Louisiana after Katrina.
There are pieces missing with mother and son.

[pnwmom]

91. That's one of the hallmarks of a narcissist -- complete lack of empathy.

He and his mother have all the signs. Another one is an inability to tolerate criticism.

A narcissist doesn't have normal emotions, and so he only guesses at other people's. That's why Bush seems so "off" so much of the time. A narcissist can seem charming -- as long as you are providing him with the adoration he needs. Otherwise, you are -- at best -- just a cipher to him (just a mirror, reflecting back at him). At worst, you are an enemy.

Bush is the center of his own universe, and unfortunately his position as President supports him in his delusion.

[cyclezealot]

32. The joint efforts with BUsh I over the tsunami are long gone.

Why the hell would he want to be near that wacko family. If he stays this course, he might be having Christmas with Dubya in three years. Would you enjoy sharing the dinner table with a broad as crazed as 'Babs.'
they say you know a person by the company one keeps. Hope it does not apply here.

[fortyfeetunder]

90. Yes, he did the right thing.

In addition to pnwmom's thoughts, Clinton would have "just one more thing" added to his numerous sins. How dare he talk back to a senior First Lady?

[guinivere]

125. Agreed.

Why should he validate her nasty asshat opinion with a reply.

[last1standing]

16. This is asinine.

There are certain protocols of polite society and one of them is you don't don't correct someone in public, you wait till you're alone if you feel the need to take someone to task. Besides that, it isn't Clinton's responsibility to play nanny for barbara bush or anyone else since Chelsea's grown up. This is just another example of Sharpton demagoguing in order to make himself sound better.

If you want to criticize BC there are plenty of good reasons such as the disaster of welfare regression, but pulling out something as petty as him being near someone who said something tasteless is scraping the barrel.

[madfloridian]

19. I doubt the Katrina evacuees who heard her felt that way.

I stand by what I said. If I had been in that place when she spoke, huddled on cots, cramped up in close quarters, I would have appreciated someone saying that New Orleans was their home.

Sorry I offended, but there should not even be a question at such a time in our history.

[last1standing]

31. You didn't offend me but your expectations are way too high.

You need to understand that most people in a position of Clinton's nature understand there's a time and a place for everything. If you don't share his belief in manners, that's fine, but he's where he is for a reason and part of that in his sense of timing.

If I had been in his place, I would have done the same thing he did. It just wasn't his place to say anything. Why do you resent him for saying nothing but not the reporter who filmed it or the crew or the secret service or anyone else of the dozens who must have heard her say it? It can't be because Clinton was president because you've already intimated that fact doesn't make a difference. Could you maybe just be looking to beat up on someone who's political views aren't the same as yours? :shrug:

[madfloridian]

39. Your statement tells me all I need to know.

It implies you know my views, you don't.

It takes responsibility off him for not standing for people in a crisis, that is wrong.

It implies that his lack of speaking was because he had good manners....and to that I say bullshit.

It says don't beat up on big dog. Gotcha.

Never once do you even see that the people Barbara Bush hurt needed a spokesman right then...she was saying they were better off for losing their homes.

It was a sad statement you made. I am better than that.

[last1standing]

41. Six strawmen, one post. Not bad, but I've seen you do better.

Try using something called rational debate and see if that works better for you. I won't try to respond to the equivalent of "How hard do you hit your wife?"

[madfloridian]

43. The defenses here are not good.

It indicates other reasons behind it.

Anyone defending a former president who is with someone like her, and she says people are better off losing their homes....has a hard issue to defend.

Call me whatever, I stand by my post. Come on, gang, hit me.

[last1standing]

48. Ah! So now this is a personal attack on you!

I didn't realize you were so involved with this issue.

EVERYBODY STOP DISAGREEING WITH MADFLORIDIAN! IT'S PERSONAL!

Is that better? If not then please tell us what we need to do to make you happy. Maybe you could get your own forum and use it to tell us how to think with every issue? That way you wouldn't have to waste your time here with all these people who disagree with you for obviously sinister motives.

Or you could just accept that most people here think you're way off base on this. Your choice.

Oh! And that makes seven strawmen. Care to go for eight?

[pnwmom]

96. How do you know he even heard her? She's a short woman and

he's tall, and they were in the middle of a loud, crowded, place. If I were HIM, and I were anywhere near her, I would never be paying attention to what she was saying. But you, and Sharpton, are assuming he's hanging on every word.

[durrrty libby]

21. I agree

I can't imagine how Bill could have responded to her comments.
She is a very old ex first lady, not a political equal

This is silly

:freak:

[cyclezealot]

89. A good point.

But, BC has so many contacts, why would he be comfortable being around the likes of Babs, so much.He has better places to slum God, look what prodogy she gave to the world.

[madfloridian]

24. I am thinking some strange thoughts right now.

My son worked as a Red Cross volunteer in one of the centers in Texas. He was amazed at the courage of the people who had lost everything in the floods and been treated in less than dignified ways.

He was amazed at their kindness to each other, and their stoic attitudes in the face of so much loss.

I am amazed that what I posted has been blasted so. It saddens me, and I think maybe some need to watch Requeium.

There are times when something needs to be said right then. Sharpton was right.

[last1standing]

40. So we should hate Clinton because of the heroes of Katrina?

Stop trying to twist yet another debate with bullshit emotionalism. Yes, the victims of Katrina have suffered, but that isn't a reason or even an excuse to castigate Clinton. All you're doing here is using a sad reference to try and win points when logic won't work for you.

Are you going to call Clinton Hitler next?

[madfloridian]

26. To say there is to be no criticism of a leader....

oh, never mind. I guess "big dog" is immune.

[Rosemary2205]

33. Excuse you.

I've read this whole thread and not one person has said BC can't be criticized EVER. We are simply disagreeing with you that he deserves criticism for THIS.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

34. Criticise the guy all you want.

Just don't come up with bullshit criticisms.

On edit: Oh, and that by the way WAS a strawman.

[last1standing]

37. And yet you criticize others for strawman arguments?

You know the nature of this debate so stop trying to twist it around. Maybe if you could just accept the fact that you're not always right and that sometimes you get to emotionally wound up in your arguments, you wouldn't have to resort to these methods.

[KingFlorez]

38. What could he have done?

She's was the one who acted improperly, in a situation like that you can't do much without making yourself look bad and something important becoming a spectacle.

[madfloridian]

42. Barbara Bush said they were better off for losing their homes...

she said it with the former president standing beside her.

He did not say a word.

And I should not have criticized him unfairly. :shrug:

They were not better off losing their homes. That is just heartbreaking.

And if Bill Clinton is afraid to speak up when she says something idiotic like that...then he best not hang around with fools.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

44. You're right.

I can't believe that jerk Bill Clinton said that they were better off losing their homes.

Wait a minute... who said it again?

What else is Clinton's fault? Blowing game six of the 1986 world series?

[pnwmom]

97. You apparently have forgotten that President Clinton has diagnosed

hearing loss.

I have a much shorter mother-in-law, and I can't tell you how many times I haven't heard what she's said, especially in a crowd.

And I have good hearing. But in a crowd, when someone isn't facing you, and is much shorter than you (and BB's almost a foot shorter than Clinton) it is very hard to hear.

Al Sharpton was just grandstanding.

[buddhamama]

45. Barbara is a vile woman

there is no humanity to be found in that woman at all.

props to Sharpton for speaking up. someone needs to. :thumbsup:

[LoZoccolo]

46. Sharpton also accused Dean of having an "anti-black agenda".

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A31895-2003Oct28?language=printer

Why do you give him any of your attention? He allowed himself to be used as a Republican tool!

[madfloridian]

50. Because Sharpton cared enough to speak up for the victims of Katrina..

Yeh, we all know what he did during the primaries...remember Roger Stone funding him?

But I believe in selective criticism, and you would think the world was falling apart because I posted this.

This is ridiculous overreaction to a sensible post.

[LoZoccolo]

52. So did a lot of other people.

Sharpton arranges funding through a Republican operative, then goes on to trash a Democrat.

Then a few years later he's trashing another Democrat...hmmmm.

[madfloridian]

61. And Clinton lets Barbara trash Katrina victims while standing beside her.

Which is worse.

Maybe he is fearful of the Bush family, they are pretty powerful. Maybe he thinks it will help Hillary's chances in 08, I am still trying to figure out the attraction.

[LoZoccolo]

65. There is no way that's worse.

Not immediately trashing a Republican (and letting them dig their own hole) is in no way worse than actively trashing Democrats and generally acting as a pest throughout election season such that all our primary candidates have to walk on eggshells lest the powerful race-baiting demagogic finger of the jogging-suited one points at them!

We need to get rid of this guy! OK then, have fun when this bull-in-a-china-shop trashes another of your favorite candidates.

[madfloridian]

85. Do you blame Spike Lee as well?

I don't. I think Sharpton is like most people, right sometimes. I don't think we should get rid of him.

[LoZoccolo]

86. Sure.

Sharpton is proof that the media is more concerned about fomenting and presenting heated conflicts than about covering issues surrounding civil rights in this country. There are plenty of people doing the work of freedom and equality, but you'll never hear about it because the news would rather give time to Sharpton's brand of incredible demagoguery, including his disingenuous attack on Dean for having no African-American cabinet members.

[last1standing]

53. Everytime someone doesn't agree with you the world is falling apart.

If you say something unpopular or illogical expect to be rebuffed. Maybe if you would stop making it all personal things would be better.

[madfloridian]

72. I said something true. It is the drama surrounding it.

The outrage is too overwhelming for what I posted.

[last1standing]

74. With all sincerity and no malice I'm saying this:

You've been here a long time and I've read as well as been involved in many of your threads. You do have a habit of quickly becoming very upset when people disagree with you. When that happens you over-dramatize things such as constantly using the specter of Katrina victims today. It makes for very poor discussion when a disagreement in politics turns into being told you support hurting people.

This really isn't meant as an attack on you but it is meant as a heartfelt and sincere criticism in the hopes that you listen and take some value from it. There's so much that everyone here agrees with you on and so much you have to offer with your passion for the issues that I find it a shame when you present your arguments in this way. Anyway, take from this post what you will and leave the rest behind.

[madfloridian]

75. I am not upset at all.

What makes you think I am? I don't mind sincere and heartfelt criticism at all.

[last1standing]

77. Okay, then lets end this debate with the understanding...

that we disagree but don't think that the other is cruel or insensitive to the pain of Katrina victims. No hard feelings and no curt remarks from either. Deal?

[madfloridian]

47. My husband had the same reaction to the video...he was alarmed

that the moment passed and no one said anything.

He is reading this thread now and laughing. He said he guessed I learned who to criticize and who not to criticize.

Bring it on, folks. I stand by my post.

Hope everyone feels better venting.

[last1standing]

49. Now that's unbiased support if ever I heard it.

And I hope you feel better ranting.

cough {strawman} cough.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

54. Poor Mr. Floridian.

Cheers, mate.

:beer:

[madfloridian]

56. That's Mrs. Floridian, please.

.

My hubby loves me, and he agrees with me that Clinton needs to keep better company.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

57. I was talking about your husband.

But my wife told me to say that.

[madfloridian]

59. My husband is even worse than I am.

We are really bad people, real Democrats who think that a former president should be able to tell a former first lady that what she said is just wrong.

[last1standing]

60. So the rest of us aren't real Democrats!

I guess I'll have to turn in my registration card now. When real Democrats like you and your husband have the party all to yourselves things will run much better. Maybe you can have your convention in the family room and have it catered by Dominoes.

The rest of us fake Democrats will try to carry on with our new party as best we can.

[madfloridian]

63. Now you are just getting funny.

Real Democrats demand their leaders speak up when something is said that disses hundreds of thousands of people. If you do that, then you can call yourself real.
Actually I can call myself anything.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

66. Do real democrats stick their feet in their mouths?

[last1standing]

67. Thanks. I was trying to put some humor in there.

It's called sarcasm and is often much funnier than my little post. I wish I could believe that your posts were examples of sarcasm as well, but sadly, I just don't think they are.

As for your decision to be the arbiter of who is a "real" Democrat and who isn't, I can only suggest you take a step back and count to ten before your next post. Some of your comments in this thread are getting pretty wild. While you're at it, you might think about the emotional hijacking you're trying to pull with all your comments about "hundreds of thousands of people". You criticize it when bush* does it, why follow his lead?

[madfloridian]

55. Ok, then, Clinton was right. He needed to keep his powder dry.

And not insult the Bushes. I guess that is one way to look at this.

This is getting odd. I stand by my post, just looking at it other ways. That is one powerful Bush family, need to be careful. He could be right, maybe all of you are right.

I will think about it.

[ikojo]

58. I agree Clinton should have spoken up...

once again he demonstrates his real priorities...sucking up to the ruling class. Kanye West thought Bush didn't care about black people, well neither does the DLC and the Clintons are PURE DLC.

Any person of true conscience should have spoken up when a very privileged woman disparages people as did Babs Bush. He should have at least distanced himself from the comments.

Silence=acceptance.

[Neecy]

62. My question

While it's possible that Clinton didn't hear her, and assuming that if he had he wasn't going to have a public debate with her at that time, in that place --- my question is, did he comment on her remarks after they were extremely well-publicized? Or did he remain silent?

[pnwmom]

117. The Republican spin was that her remarks were taken out of context.

I don't think getting in a hissing contest with that feline would have been worth it.

[madfloridian]

64. Ok, then. He should have kept quiet.

You have all convinced me that he had to be polite.

[LoZoccolo]

68. Are you for real this time?

You appear to have changed your mind and then changed it back again, and then changed it once more.

[madfloridian]

71. That is for you to decide.

I am presenting the other side of the argument, which seems to excuse him because it would not have been proper.

What do you think?

[DURHAM D]

80. There is absolutely no reason to believe that Clinton even

heard what Babs said - the only evidence we have that he might of heard it is the way that Spike "edited" the footage.

As for Sharpton - weren't his 15 minutes of fame up about 25 years ago ?

[LoZoccolo]

82. I think not, because your credibility is shot.

You can only pretend so many times.

[madfloridian]

84. What credibility?

I don't think I ever had any here. That's what people always tell me, that I have no credibility.

Thanks for reminding.

[last1standing]

69. I, for one, am willing to take you at your word.

I'll even say it takes a big person to admit error. You have my respect for that.

[WinkyDink]

70. Bill stood silent, because HE WAS SHAMED by her words:

"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway,..."

Doesn't say much for HIS Administration, does it? And don't think Bar didn't know exactly how she was zinging him....and her old man.

[pnwmom]

98. Since it was 5 years since HIS administration, and the two Bushes

had had a combined 9 years, I don't think that was the point.

Barbara wasn't zinging anybody. She has NO sympathy for the poor.

[orpupilofnature57]

76. God only knows what they have on Bill ,The greatest Manager of our country

William Jefferson Clinton!! He's being a good husband maybe?

[Libby2]

78. Oh brother

This is all we have to worry about.

[DURHAM D]

81. Mad - all I can say is:

I would not want to serve on a committee with you.

[madfloridian]

83. Because I question why people do things?

Hey, that's ok, I served on so many committees before I retired that I would avoid that also.

I continue to be amazed.

[pnwmom]

99. LOL! n/t

[madfloridian]

106. LOL

I am laughing to by now.

[Greyhound]

93. I swear to Dog! If Bill Clinton had actually strangled a grandmother in

her wheelchair, on a live TV broadcast, some of you here would make an excuse for why it was the only thing he could have done to avert the social security crisis.

:puke: :mad: :puke: :grr: :puke: :mad: :puke: :grr: :puke: :mad: :puke: :grr: :puke: :mad: :puke: :grr:

[paulk]

95. what I don't understand is why you think Bill Clinton owes

something to the people Barbara Bush insulted...

[madfloridian]

101. You think much differently than I do. And you know what else I think?

I think we all owe it to those people who were insulted to speak up for them when they have lost everything and are helpless.

And the more I am reading of the Murdoch/Hillary stuff, and the more I see Bill with the Bushes, the more I wonder what there is in common.

Hey, I think I will just say it out loud. I am being attacked here far more than Barbara Bush has been. Because I questioned that a former president should have corrected.

What could Hill, Blll, and Rupert possibly have in common? Do you know? Have you thought about it?

If more keep adding attacks on me here, I may as well have my say.

Why are the Clintons hanging around with the Bushes and the Murdochs?

[paulk]

109. what does any of this have to do with your OP?

and disagreeing with you is an attack?

[RB TexLa]

100. Bill would probably say the same thing I would have said if I had been

there and someone asked me why I didn't stand up against what she said.

That being ---- "Oh, she was talking?"

[pnwmom]

102. Bill Clinton has had hearing loss for decades.

And hearing-aids are only partial solutions -- I know relatives with them who still have problems hearing, especially in crowds. And the hearing aids don't prevent further decline, they only work with the hearing that is there.

http://www.abelard.org/hear/hear.htm#question

October 3, 1997: NY Times

Midlife is catching up with Bill Clinton: Doctors fitted the baby-boom president with hearing aids on Friday. Clinton, who turned 51 in August, has complained for years about hearing loss, listing it as a problem in his annual physicals since his days as Arkansas’ governor.

He found it had worsened this year and reported having trouble hearing people in crowded receptions. Presidential press secretary McCurry said “ indeed, he often can’t make out what hecklers occasionally shout at him while he is making speeches...”

For what doctors termed a high-frequency hearing loss in both ears, Clinton was fitted for the type of hearing aid that can be easily placed fully inside his hearing canal, hardly noticeable to other people.

The president’s problem, a moderate difficulty hearing high-frequency sounds, is typical of hearing loss due to ageing and exposure to loud noise

[DavidDvorkin]

107. I certainly sympathize with that

I have the same problem, and wrote about it here.

One of the habits people with that kind of hearing loss develop, often without being entirely consciously aware of it, is acting as though they had heard and understood what's being said around them or to them. We display the facial expressions and body language of someone with normal hearing. Or try to, anyway.

[HuffleClaw]

103. what utter bullshit

[madfloridian]

104. No, not really.

I posted this above, because I am so under attack in this thread.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I think we all owe it to those people who were insulted to speak up for them when they have lost everything and are helpless.

And the more I am reading of the Murdoch/Hillary stuff, and the more I see Bill with the Bushes, the more I wonder what there is in common.

Hey, I think I will just say it out loud. I am being attacked here far more than Barbara Bush has been. Because I questioned that a former president should have corrected.

What could Hill, Blll, and Rupert possibly have in common? Do you know? Have you thought about it?

If more keep adding attacks on me here, I may as well have my say.

Why are the Clintons hanging around with the Bushes and the Murdochs?

[pnwmom]

110. "Why are the Clintons hanging around with the Bushes and the Murdochs"

might have been the better question to start a thread with. Because that's really the issue, isn't it?

The problem with the OP, I think, is that many of us have been on the other side -- we all know how hard it is to hear things in a crowd, and we all have elderly relatives that say off-the-wall/awful things (and we know there's no point in arguing).

Plus, we got tired of hearing Clinton dumped on during his 8 years in office, and we've seen Al Sharpton act as a Republican foil one too many times. So most of us will probably defend Clinton against this sort of criticism.

But your real, underlying question is a good one. Maybe you should start another thread about that.

:hi:

[madfloridian]

113. Perhaps you don't know that I don't trash any Democrats.

I never have. When I post something I keep it fair. I don't go overboard on it. I think the Clintons have been good for this country, but I think DU reacts too violently when they are criticized.

I saw the Requiem documentary, that part hit me really hard. My husband also was stunned.

I don't intend to post anymore about them. It is not worth the effort. Thanks for acknowledging it is a good question. Murdoch has trashed Democrats through Fox and nearly destroyed the media here. They should not be having anything to do with him.

[pnwmom]

115. I don't think it would be trashing Clinton to ask that question.

It's a good question that a lot of us are wondering.

[madfloridian]

105. Everybody having fun yet?

I am surprised. I was just questioning because I felt such anger after viewing "Requiem."

I see people at DU trash every Democrat, then they stand righteously and tell folks to be strong and take the attacks. Clinton was a good president. Hillary is a lovely lady.

They are not above being questioned. No one is.

[pnwmom]

108. How does Sharpton or anyone else even know that Clinton HEARD what

BB was saying? It was a noisy, crowded place. He's got rotten hearing, and he's almost a foot taller.

Sharpton has made his reputation as a grandstander. The only one he speaks out for is Al Sharpton.

Also, the woman is 82 years old. How many people do you know that would get into a public fight with an elderly former first lady?

[madfloridian]

111. Hey, I got the message.

Don't say things critical of Big Dog, though I really wasn't that critical.

This place is always way too reactive, and I did not deserve the vitriol directed toward me in this thread.

They are good people, but why are two of main Democratic leaders hanging with the Bushes and the Murdochs? That's another question.
It is ok to ask questions. I see other politicians get totally hammered here, and I never do that. I never will.

BUT I will question. From now on I will question and wonder.

[CollegeDUer]

112. Did you expect any different from Clinton?

He's "one of the club"; he's not out their to boldly challenge other establishment figures.

[LaPera]

122. Hey, you'll never know the wealth & power of getting a seat with the

Carlyle Group!

[Beelzebud]

124. He's got a point. Why was Clinton there with the Bush's at all?

Lately we've seen Clinton spending more free time with the Bush Crime Family, than with any Democrats.

Am I the only one that is a bit perplexed by this?