Associated Press
Just this week, former President Bill Clinton has campaigned for President Obama in Florida, Ohio, Minnesota, Colorado, and Iowa. Today, Clinton will hit the stump for Obama in Wisconsin and again in Ohio. By most measures, the former president has become Obama's most popular and most effective surrogate.
And then there's Clinton's successor.
[George W. Bush] will spend Thursday in the Cayman Islands, delivering the keynote address at the Cayman Alternative Investment Summit. As Romney struggles to convince voters that he understands their economic struggles, having the previous Republican president reminding them of the questions surrounding Romney's financial dealings in the Caymans is beyond unhelpful.
Yes, as we first discussed in September, George W. Bush, with just five days remaining before Election Day, is headed to one of the most politically inconvenient locations possible for Mitt Romney: the Republican will deliver the keynote address this evening at the Cayman Alternative Investment Summit.
In case anyone's forgotten, Romney ran into a little trouble over the summer when we learned he has stashed cash in the Cayman Islands, and played fast and loose with the facts, hoping the public won't realize that Romney is using the Caymans as an apparent tax-avoidance scheme.
Which reminds me -- has anyone asked Romney about his secret tax returns lately?
As for the former presidents, the public roles of both couldn't be more striking. Clinton is one of the nation's most popular figures, and Bush is hiding because Republicans don't want voters to be reminded of the similarities between his and Romney's agendas.
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The fact that Bush has been reduced to shilling pseudo-legal tax shelters while Clinton has become a highly regarded elder statesmen and international advocate for the poor speaks volumes With any luck Bush will decide to be like Nixon and disappear into the ignominious darkness of obscurity...
Well I can dream can't I?
It's truly remarkable that the most popular Democrat in America is an impeached president, perjurer who lost his law license, can't be trusted to be alone with one's wife or daughter, accused of rape, and cheats at golf.
I suppose when one's political base is the dregs of society and the 1% I shouldn't be surprised.
Oh and the Cayman Islands? If Obama wins you'll be seeing a lot of money moved there to escape.
Shooter:
Clinton's approval ratings were at their highest during this kangaroo court 'impeachment', led by serial adulterer Gingrich who was cheating on his cancer stricken, hospital bed ridden wife.
Clinton tours the world and people shower him with flowers.
Bu$h tours the world and has tens of thousands demonstrate against him, and throw shoes as well.
Bill Clinton has more character and integrity in his stool than all of the Bu$h family combined.
Clinton will go down in history as one of the great presidents, Bu$h and his father will go down as two of the worst.
Suck it pal, that's reality.
http://www.geekstir.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/bushshoe.gif
http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=qZy&sa=X&tbo=d&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1920&bih=976&tbm=isch&tbnid=exEnAvnDcybX9M:&imgrefurl=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2010/11/04/GA2010110404559.html&docid=YCAPYVz3loqkPM&imgurl=http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/photo/gallery/101101/GAL-10Nov01-6280/media/PHO-10Nov01-264975.jpg&w=1024&h=714&ei=3Z2SULznLobDyAHR-4HoCg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=336&sig=100651457812131293080&page=1&tbnh=136&tbnw=209&start=0&ndsp=58&ved=1t:429,i:74&tx=121&ty=45
Ladies and gentlemen, I rest my case.
Let us not forget that Bush is also a war criminal for ordering the torture of people held by the US. How can you spin that against the former President Clinton?
That's just it Blankman, you have NO CASE to make. Your side has a poor candidate, is bereft of real ideas, and only wants to further pillage the treasury for the benefit of the 1% - yet you people have the nerve to screech about "morals, sanctity of life, BIG GOVERNMENT" et. al! Right, blindness to hypocrisy, liars, and reality are the GOTP way....
Kevin, did I say anything about Clinton and torture? You're putting up what's called a strawman. Stop it.
But now that you've mentioned it Obama has decided to circumvent that problem by just killing people rather than capturing them. Does that make you feel better? How about that kill list Obama has, or the fact that he's single-handedly repealed Habeas Corpus killing an American citizen without due process? Are you happy about that?
Somehow loud music, sleep deprivation, and waterboarding, seem downright merciful in comparison to death. Yes?
Shooter242: Can you really be so drunk off the GOP KoolAid that you believe everything about the Dems and nothing about the GOP? Its pathetic and uninteresting when citizens are so one dimensional and lack objectivity.
Well Stan, I'll ask exactly the same of you. Do you really think prosperity is around the corner?
Tell me this, what do you think I shouldn't believe about the GOP?
I don't want Bush to disappear into obscurity. That just makes it easier for the GOP to engage in their attempt to re-write history. I want everybody to remember what that man did to this country.
You're shooting blanks, Shooter242.....did you live in Massachusetts during our 4 horrible years of Romneyism? The current GOP and you, for that matter, have not given birth to anything near to what is in the best interest of the middle class. None of the Republicans lately have a "leg" (oops, did I say that?) to stand on. My sincere apologies to the third leg reference for all men supporting our President.
Once again, four times on the free throw line and four misses, basketball boy.
You really do have the persistence of a cockroach. Frank Rich is right about you people.
Actually Billie I don't know how horrible the Romney years were in Mass. Pray tell, what did Romney do independent of the heavily Democrat legislature, that was so bad?
Lord forbid Obama has ordered the killing of terrorist by our military! Horrible, I tell you. That loud music, sleep deprivation, and waterboarding(?), seem downright merciful in comparison to death, when it comes to terrorist. And to think Republicans are suppose to be the only one to know how to deal with terrorist around the wrold? Rigggggth.
What did Romney do as governor? Here's a little summation:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/01/mitt-romney-massachusetts-budget-_n_2051922.html?ref=topbar
Still waiting on those links liberals....
How are you Lupe? Are you a Conservative?
What good are links when people like you don't believe in fact check?
And no I did not vote for Obama in the last elections. So thanks for asking, since it clearly states in my bio what party I am.
Bush did this 6 times and you're just now freaking out about it under Obama? This is why I don't pay attention to people who complain about the NDAA. I otherwise would see that as a legitimate complaint, but since Bush had been doing that since 2003 I no longer want to hear people who act SURPRISED to hear that the US is engaging in this behavior. People fell asleep during the Bush Administration and then woke up when Obama was elected and now are SHOCKED to learn that there's this huge national debt, a Great Recession, and all these horrible international laws that have been put in place. And so, naturally, they put the blame at Obama's feet because they were too busy having their head's up their you-know-what's prior to Obama's election. I'm absolutely disgusted with the American voter, especially ones like Shooter.
For the record shooter you are also an accused rapist so I don't know why you're suddenly pointing the finger at someone else. I also don't know why you would list cheating at golf as somehow an egregious thing. A. nobody cares B. it's golf C. I'm more than sure that this isn't true and is another example of your hyperbolism on steroids, but even if it was D. putting it next to accused of rape tells me you don't believe the drivel that you're spewing.
Lupe....your bio says...you have not filled one out yet....and if you have a fact check that disproves the list of facts that I posted.....I will accept that.....so please post them.
Try to be a real American by leaving good people alone. And try to learn to be a good American by giving up Fox News.
In other words...you have nothing to disprove my list of facts and if you do....please present them and set the record straight.
Facts?! Lol! Those on the right scorn facts!
Entropy....if they are not correct...please post some links that back up your claim....talk is cheap....put up or ...you know.
It is a typical tactic of those on the right to post a lot of hogwash and to demand that their hogwash be taken seriously. Those on the right do tend to be monumentally egotistical.
And those on the left are big on criticizing others posts but are small on backing up their claims....
The troll pouts and feels sorry for itself.
and you try to change the subject and deny that you have nothing to support you re-writes of History.....Just keep the insults coming but it won't change the fact that you cannot back up your claims that my fact list is false.....so insult on .....
Says the troll who tries to re-write history. "...you rewrites"? "History" capitalized?
Just give it up and admit that you have no links...you have no facts to support your claim...you just have insults, dodging and changing the subject.....If you have any self respect....you will either provide something to back up your claims or give it a rest.
Those on the right do tend to have gargantuan egos. That must be what makes them think they can make demands at will.
Well I guess you just answered the self respect question.
I have self-respect, which is why I don't do the bidding of trolls.
Keep telling yourself that.
More excuses and no links.....Yawn.
The troll steps on its lower lip.
Well folks, it has been fun making the troll dance, but it's time to start supper.
It's been fun watching you avoid backing up your claims and making excuses for it......
What's for dinner?.....Let me guess Crow?
Only in your dreams, knuckedragger!
How was the crow? Still no links from you.....Still more insults and dancing....I'm surprised you have been able to dance this long.....you have real stamina.
A video for you.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN-16b2s4Kg&feature=related
You tell me what crow tastes like, you would know. You really need to get over yourself.
And you call me a knuckledragger and a troll....but I'm the one that needs to get over myself......Look in the mirror friend.
You need to get over yourself because you have the all-too-typical egotism of those on the right, typified by the condescending obviously insincere use of the word "friend". You are most definitely not my friend or the friend of any self-respecting non-conservative...quite the opposite.
I am the friend of anyone who wants to be friendly.......Look at your posts and tell me if you were being friendly....I didn't start an attack on you....that was your doing. BTW you can call me a troll, knuckledragger, egomaniac or anything else you like....It doesn't make it so....Just like you saying that my facts are propaganda....even thought you can't produce a shred of evidence to back up your claims and make silly excuses for not doing it........Like ..
I don't accept orders from trolls who spread malicious misinformation.
Dodge, weave, dance and skip all you want.....you just keep proving that you cannot back up your claims and refute my facts list.....
You have become more than a little obsessive over my refusal to play your silly games.
It's not my game....I was interested in a debate and you turned it into a game....and as far as being Obsessive.....your still here as well. I understand that you can't defend your criticzm of my facts....so it does put you in a precarious situation of only one option....continue dodging. It is fun seeing how long you will continue dancing and avoiding.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj7nsD-3ah0
Those on the right are never interested in any realistic sort of debate or discussion. Shouldn't you "Let go and let God"?
Huh????
It actually physically pains me to think almost half of the country thinks Mitt Romney is the right man for president. OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG
That pain you feeling you can go see a Doctor...don't worry Obamacare covers that
Tracy echos what I feel strongly!! How can a living human being who listened in class and can at least fog a mirror NOT see the emptiness in the GOP candidates. Romney and his crew bring new meaning to 'dirty politics'. His staged 'disaster relief' meeting was over the top insulting. Lie-N-Ryan's clean pot washing stunt done to show how earthy they are (OBTW, did you note the surprised look on the ladie's face who was the coordinator of the kitchen when she asked why Lie-N-Ryan was there...ooops I gues it was not scheduled)These two jamokes are total phonies. I have watched from afar, politics over the decades and have seen it get dicey at times but this season it is down right pathetic. The GOP is a worldwide embrassment to America!!! They and their 'operatives' have sunk to new lows (the bigoted comments by Sarah Pee; the billboards in swing states; the poll influencers in Florida these idiots. Just get out and VOTE!!!
I really don't get the feeling it's anything about Mitt that is driving the conservative voting force. Mitt has no authentic popularity or likability or even any sense of connectedness to anyone, even those few who identify with his income bracket.
So, how about this, that almost half the country thinks Republican is the right party for the presidency, bolstered by the incessent 24/7 programming by the conservative propaganda machine that not just Obama, but ANY Democrat is the wrong person for the Presidency.
Those that want Obama out because of his skin color aren't rational anyway and would vote for any alternative on the Republican ticket...even Satan...
and would vote for any alternative on the Republican ticket...even Satan...
Which they're doing.
I would much rather have Obama in office, but I wouldn't be too worried about Mitt if it's Moderate Mitt.
The problem is: is it Moderate Mitt on the ballot, or "Severe Conservative" Mitt from the Republican primaries?
I have a disturbing # of friends who have twisted themselves into pretzels trying to come up with reasons to vote for Mitt instead of Obama and not have it lead back to skin color. Yes, they would vote Republican no matter what color Obama is, but the rationalizations... OMG. I suppose there is some solace that they are literally frazzled over their need to justify that their vote is not about race. I also have many who are not the least bit concerned about the fact that no matter what the Republican says, they are steadfast in their support of him and do not even think about it. Unshakeable. Denial is not just a river in Egypt and apparently has many forms. @Tracey, you have completely captured my sentiment. And now I am also pondering the fact that I seem to have a lot of friends that are as deep and sophisticated as a very shallow puddle of water. ;-)
According to Nate Silver at 538 blog, the odds are nearly 4:1 in Obama's favor, with an estimated 300+ electoral votes and 50%+ popular vote.
Clinton has helped. I think the persuadable voters actually listening to both sides, in the debates and in the media, has been more help. Romney's positions are simply not moderate, no matter what he's trying to sell this week.
Mike, that is good news considering Nate made a big hit in Vegas when he played the odds there.
Just leave out the fact that Vegas gambling is so rigged that no one wins except the casino. I mean really if casinos didn't have the ability to rig gambling in their favor there would be no casinos. Oh yeah thats right you also believe the stock market is a sure bet to invest money why its better then putting money in a bank.
whomitmay -- you should check your history. Silver and his 538 blog has been spot on with his election analysis for some time now. Not surprising that a professional gambler understands the odds better than the agenda driven "pollsters" and their lackeys.
Mike in Michigan, I'm also in Michigan. I sure hope you're right about Obama having a better chance at winning this election. I don't understand how anyone who isn't in the top 1% has any business voting for Romney - He definitely doesn't represent the majority, nore the majority of the ones who are voting for him? This picture of W and Clinton speaks volumes.
People will vote for Willard, against their own interests, because they think they are only a scratch off away from joining the club. Sad thing for them is, even if they do win a scratch off, they will never be allowed in the club.
It is AMAZING to me that Romneys financials have completely disappeared from political/public discussion. How has this happened? It burns me to no end that he's getting away with hiding this vitally important information...information that would tell us more about 'who' he is than most anything else. We certainly can't judge him by his words.
I think Mitt's financials were pushed on for as long and hard as they could be. At some point it becomes old news, and the stonewalling worked. Eventually if you refuse to answer the question it stops getting asked.
That is not to say he "got away with it" because I think the accepted wisdom is indeed that he had "something to hide" in his 2006-2009 returns. Perhaps not illegal but certainly more damaging than him hiding his returns. It is part of the general perception that he is not trustworthy.
ElaineLe, I have asked that question lately BUT took a look and listen and came to the concusion that Romey just being Romney with the help of Lie-N-'Beanie' Ryan exemplify and are ,sometimes, breathing billboards displaying that convaluted, cheating, lying foundation they represent.
The right is so internally corrupted, they've finally boiled down to voting for a candidate on nothing but party affiliation.
Mitt's given conservative voters nothing but lies, violated their most sacred principles, and refused to be transparent to them on his finances, his issues, and his motivations once in office.
But he does have an R on his voter card...though I'm surprised anyone trusts that even.
...and on this note, the trolls get very, very quiet...
And certainly can not ask him any questions. The campaign declared he would NOT answer any questions for the last 3 weeks. Stonewalling the public and the press and media. The emperor's facade was crumbling fast and the only way to HIDE was to seal his mouth. What a CROOK The man has no brain, it was becoming painfully obvious to everyone. If he couldn't speak in soundbites, or scripted , he couldn't be allowed to be in the public media. Oh yes, and how about that FEMA flop yesterday? I was waiting for it, knew it would happen, didn't think it would take close to 72 hours for him to formulate a new stance. OBAMA/BIDEN
The stonewalling by Romney regarding his tax returns worked why? Republicans are still asking for Obama's birth certificate, college transcripts, passport documents, etc., even though he does not address it. I don't understand why Romney's tax returns are not still being discussed. It has been precident for candidates to release several years of tax returns. Hell, didn't Romney have to see 7 years of Ryan's tax returns prior to adding him to the ticket? How is it that the media has just let this one go?
Willard has always demanded records of other people for transparency and yet, at the same time, refused to do so himself. He's always gotten away with it. He protested FOR Viet Nam and hid in France. He's hidden/destroyed records of his time running the Olympics and as governor. He refused to release information about his time at Bain, his connections to Bain in the present, and any proof he supposedly created jobs. He refuses to state exactly how he plans to do anything as president. He hides his money offshore and refuses to show more than two years of taxes like other presidents have done. That tells me all I need to know about Willard.
I heard Harry Reid was hospitalized after an accident. Wonder if it was REALLY an accident???!!! Sorry, just starting another conspiracy theory. It has kept him from getting in Romney's face about his taxes though.
Its one thing to put Paul Ryan (remember him?) in non-swing states but putting Bush in the Cayman Islands just adds to the oddity of how the GOP works...at least for me.
It's almost as if the Bush family doesn't want Mitt to win. Go figure.
Jeb Bush is already running for 2016. Yesterday he talked about Obama:
Someone should advise Jeb not to mention his brother at political events. I understand the brotherly love thing, but he's trying to whitewash Bush's presidency. Bush is responsible for the deaths of THOUSANDS of American military and Iraqi civilians in a war started because of his LIES. Unfortunately, no legal action will be taken against him. To top it off, little brother had the gall to say Obama didn't try to work with Republicans. That's TOTAL BULL$H!T. The shame of it is little brother's lying is just getting started.
NOT. ANOTHER. BUSH. IN. THE. WHITE. HOUSE!
E.VER.
My life, my government, my country has been defined by the Bush Family, and not even remotely for the better.
@NeedMoreCoffee, Just the thought of it makes ill.
Lets not forget little brother Jeb was governor of Florida in 2000, and the FL secretary of state, Catherine Harris, was George Bush's FL campaign co-chair. And what happened prior to the election? Thousands of eligible voters, mostly black and hispanic, were purged from the rolls because their names MAY HAVE BEEN ON A CONVICTED FELONS LIST. Never mind that many of the names were common like "Williams, Smith, Lopez, Hernandez, etc." And never mind that many on this supposed "felons list" had voted during the period they were supposed to be in jail!! How many votes did Bush win by? Oh, thats right. The US Supreme Court said stop counting Florida, Bush wins by 532 votes out of millions cast. Yeah, Jeb has a lot of credibility!! LOL
As far as Bush presidencies go, the first time you are inexperienced, the second time an optimist, the third time an absolute imbecile.
Rachel, your ferver and spot on factual comments are appreciated! Mr. ODonnell referred to Romney as an 'idiot' and I totally agree with him. Lie-N- Beanie Ryan has been off the radar lately............he must be dual campaigning for the congressional seat in Wis, too. What a Thanksgiving gift.........he looses both races!!!
I hope so cause we sure don't want him back. Oh BTW, he was in Janesville trick or treating with his kids. Trying to pretend he's human.
Today's top story should be that George W. Bush is visiting Rmoney's money in the Caymans.
Robme and his campaign are getting the sinking feeling that nobody cares about the tax returns anymore because after Tuesday nobody will remember him!
Typical... :)
sshooter242, where are you getting your infor from, Mars???Clinton was not impeached and the one that nearly was is Nixon. Stop letting your color go to your head. It gets dirty very quick.
Technically, Clinton was impeached, it's just that the impeachment failed. Nixon was not impeached at all, although he should have been.
Beg pardon, but Clinton was impeached. An accusation was made by the House, that's impeachment. He was not found guilty by the Senate. Impeachment is only bringing the charge against the president. The conviction based on those charges is a separate act than the impeachment.
Maggieann and Saxist, Seriously, put down the crack pipe, both ofyou need whatever semblance of a brain you have left...
That was rude. Especially since they were right. Consider yourself ignored.
just an editing note: Bush is not Clinton's predecessor. The other way around.
Bush 41 preceded him and Bush 43 succeeded him. Hard to keep them straight when the only distinguishing thing is the initial H in 41's name.
As many of the posts have said, how can ANYONE with a pulse not see Romoney as a liar and a cheat. He has absolutely no respect for the middle class, or women or the poor or the military. He has promoted war (Vietnam) and then gone off to France to bring people into his religion. He won't let the public see his tax records, he has to be hiding something. The GOP followers are MORONS!!!! If you ask Republicans why they are voting for Romoney, they say they hate President Obama, if you ask them why, they start quoting Faux New "sources.
Plenty of people with a pulse either don't see Romney as a liar and a cheat or don't care. Otherwise the polls wouldn't be that close.
They don't care. They're voting against Obama, not for Romney. Ill-informed fools.
Both 43 and 41 were conspicuously absent from the GOP convention and are not on the campaign trail. That leads me to conclude a)GOP does not want them around, b)Romney does not want them campaigning for him or c)Neither support the Mitten.
I think it has been glaringly obvious the rethug party wants nothing to do with Bush. They have tried to keep him hidden and quiet throughout this 4 years. Everyone KNOWS what a mess/quagmire the Bush 8 yrs left us dealing with. The financial and employment depression , brought on by the rethug policies, took this country to the brink of financial armegeddon. There is no way that the incoming President Obama could have known , let alone aticipated the financial collapse of this country. Not only has President Obama steered the titanic away from the iceburg, but is righting the behemouth ship of state and steering us to renewed properity and safety. OBAMA/BIDEN
And of course, Hurricane Sandy has reminded everyone of Katrina.
Romney is dishonest and dishonorable.He has his eye out only for his personal expedience. His governance of Massachusetts shows that. America is not a corporation, looking at the bottom line and biggest profit. America is the success it is because we work together.
Hopefully after ext week Romney's taxes will be a moot point.
Both Bush and Clinton share the blame for the deregulation that allowed the kind of reckless "financial instruments" that nearly crashed the world economy to exist. Bush more so, AND Mr Bush also embarked on even more reckless overspending that doubled a Federal debt that should have been erased, making it very difficult for the US to spend it's way out of a possible depression.
Then politics took over with the same folks that created our structural debt blaming Mr Obama for creating all of it and blocking almost every program designed to help the economy, all in the name of regaining power. Given that he's had a record number of filibusters, a House determined to impede him and a news channel that declared him a failure 6 weeks into his presidency and runs a 27/7 program to discredit him, Obama has done a great job!
And if Bush was worth a hoot, why isn't he on the trail stumping for Mitt?
The Caymans are among the few places Bush can go in the world without fear of being arrested for war crimes...
One thing's for sure, this campaign has brought out the worst in people. I, for one, will praise God when this divisiveness ends. Perfectly sane, I'm assuming, people have become angry, hostile and punitive. In my 69 years on this earth, I've never seen anything like it. Now, tell me, that most of this division has not been brought about by Tea Party's UNBELIEVABLE and grossly libelous indictment of President Obama. I'm hoping that good Christians are not being swayed by the far right "Christian" rhetoric. It is one thing, with regard to political ideology, to vote for a man due to issues but quite another to vote out of fear, fear mostly because the opponent is of mixed parentage .
which part of Romney/Ryan do people like? their 5 century idealism, or that they're out of touch delusional compulsive liars, or that they want to do away with SS ,Medicare, public Education, firefighters, policemen, healthcare and women’s rights, or is it that they want to re-implement all the failed bush policies, like tax cuts for the rich while taxing the hell out of the rest of us and the failed de-regulation of wall street and big banks, or is just that they’re @!$%#ing white?
Bush's overseas travels are limited to places that will not charge him with war crimes. He can go to the Caymans, but he can't go to Spain or Belgium. And he can forget about anywhere in the Middle East.
BTW -- do you think there's any chance that Bush's trip to the Caymans is a deliberate attempt to kill Willard's candidacy? I wouldn't put it past him.
Impeachment of the President has been used twice in the US history. Both times, it was used for political purposes. Neither time did the Senate convict them. Impeachment, in US law is analogous to an indictment. The Senate trial is what matters. Clinton was not convicted.
As far as the law license is concerned, he has been free to practice law since at least 2006: http://www.nysun.com/national/clinton-eligible-once-again-to-practice-law/25965/
But then again, it is just like the Republicans to not know what they are talking about and be behind the times but be very loud about it.
Always remember boys and girls, Gingrich was doing the same thing while trying to impeach Clinton.
Noot wasn't the only one.