Pure Political Genius From Bill Clinton Today, READ:

[Placebo]

From President Clinton's Presidential Library Dedication Speech
November 18, 2004

America has two great dominant strands of political thought; we're represented up here on this stage: conservatism, which at its very best draws lines that should not be crossed; and progressivism, which at its very best breaks down barriers that are no longer needed or should never have been erected in the first place.

It seemed to me that in 1992 we needed to do both to prepare America for the 21st century -- to be more conservative in things like erasing the deficit and paying down the debt, and preventing crime and punishing criminals, and protecting and supporting families, and enforcing things like child support laws, and reforming the military to meet the new challenges of the 21st century; and we needed to be more progressive in creating good jobs, reducing poverty, increasing the quality of public education, opening the doors of college to all, increasing access to health care, investing more in science and technology, and building new alliances with our former adversaries, and working for peace across the world and peace in America, across all the lines that divide us.

Now when I proposed to do both, we said that all of them were consistent with the great American values of opportunity, responsibility and community. We labeled the approach "New Democrat." It then become known as "the Third Way." It was -- as it was embraced by progressive parties across the world.

But I like the slogan we had way back in 1992, "putting people first," because in the end, I always kept score by a simple measure: Were ordinary people better off when I stopped than when I started?

[knowbody0]

1. i especially liked:

you cannot occupy all your enemies

[KeireG]

2. Did ya'll catch the benediction?

The man giving the benediction took several direct potshots at President Bush, here's two quoted to the best of my ability:

We need to be peacemakers, not warmakers.

We need to be wary of those who distort religion and nurture divisiveness.

----
During the prayer they showed a shot of Bush and his mother, and he didn't look happy at all.

[knowbody0]

4. a true diplomat smiles

while he rips the head off his opponent
i predict his speech will live on and on
when the floodgate of fraud opens, we will understand these coded messages

[Andromeda]

3. He knows how to explain things...

with such simple elegance.

Unlike the dummy in the oval office who is just---simple-minded.