As the Clinton era comes to an end and campaign 2000 kicks into high gear, I pause to reflect on the past 8 years.
How has life been for not just me, but for all of the good citizens of the United States? Has the Clinton administration been a blessing or a curse? Of course, Clinton would like to look back and take credit for all the good things that have happened such as maintaining a strong economy. He's also willing to downplay any negative points of his administration, such as his being a chronic liar.
However, I caution you, the reader, to not buy into his wily rhetoric. Let's look at several key points in order to review his record accurately.
Clinton's biggest ace in the hole is the economy. Though he may have been amongst the poorest of presidents, he just happened to come into power when the economy was booming. It was pure luck that the economy began an upswing.
Certainly, none of his legislation did much to help the economy. In fact, I recall the first two years of his administration. Look through the annals of history, and you'll see that during his first two years as president, Clinton had an all-time low in popularity.
His administration was as bumbling as the Three Stooges. But in the midst of that chaos, Bill Clinton did something that I'm sure most people in the U. S. will forever consider the greatest accomplishment of the century. You see, he did what no one else could do. He convinced a vast majority of the public to oust the democratic leadership in Congress and vote in a Republican majority into both houses.
Yes, this may be the one bright spot on Clinton's otherwise dismal record.
Before the staunch Democrats begin their fussing, let's look more closely at the time line of Clinton's administration. For example, is it not a mystery that while we had a Democrat-controlled congress, Clinton enjoyed the lowest ratings of any president, but as soon as the Republicans took power, Clinton's popularity soared.
Why is that? Simply put, the Republicans wouldn't let any more of Clinton's destructive legislation through. Furthermore, the Republican Congress gave the president a key power that was beneficial to the nation — line-item veto.
The president gets the line-item veto from the Republican congress, and suddenly, we have budget surpluses.
Well, what else can Clinton claim as a bright spot? Certainly, his lack of moral leadership and his constant waffling can't be notable. And let's be honest here, people. The president is about as responsible for a good economy as he is for a large asteroid penetrating the Earth's atmosphere and pounding into the ground with such a force that it sends the planet into another Ice Age. Despite what you may like to believe, deep down you know this to be true.
Quite frankly, the Republican congress is the best thing to happen to this nation since the invention of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I'm looking forward to having a Republican president in conjunction with the Republican congress, and our next president will be a Republican. Why? Because the Democrat race is boring. Seriously, we've got either Bill Bradley or Al Gore.
Excuse me while I go put on my party hat. The democratic races are a national yawnfest. The Republican candidates are overflowing with charisma, while the medics are still trying to find a pulse on Al Gore. It's your choice — charisma or democrat. Choose wisely.
Getting back to my original point, do not believe the rhetoric of the Clinton camp. You may choose to do the research yourself and find that I am right, or you can continue to live in the candy-coated world that the liberals would have you live in.