Bill Clinton Ranked #39: A Rebuttal (by Justin Simpson)
By Corey Thompson, filed in Guest Features, Justin Simpson on Jan.13, 2009
***Editor’s Note: Justin Simpson is a Guest Columnist and Liberal Commentator for “The Thirsty Quill.” ‘The Quill’ appreciates Mr. Simpson’s contributions, yet it must be noted that his views and opinions are strictly his own, and the reader should recognize that they contradict the Conservative views, opinions, and positions of “The Thirsty Quill.” Justin is currently a Political Science Major at UNC-Charlotte, and recently worked on the Congressional campaign for Larry Kissell. We value Mr. Simpson’s input, and we look forward to publishing more of his commentaries in the days ahead.***
“Bill Clinton Ranked #39: A Rebuttal”
By: Justin Simpson, Guest Columnist
(The following piece originally appeared as a “Comment” response to Friday’s ranking of President Clinton at #39. Mr. Simpson graciously agreed to allow his comments to be used as a Feature Article at the request of “The Thirsty Quill.” Slight edits have been made for grammatical/reading purposes only, just as they are with any submission.)
The ranking of President Bill Clinton at a paltry #39 on your list is quite perplexing. A military cutback under his leadership as our Commander-in-Chief is definitely not something that allowed the progress of the September 11 terrorist attacks. I would seem to remember a certain President George W. Bush receiving intelligence reports warning of such an attack, however no proactive steps were taken. The current problem with Iraq is a mixture of failed diplomatic/political strategies, as well as the failed First Gulf War to quell the original problem. Nuclear weapons have yet to be located, the current Iraqi government does not have the legitimacy (nor the proper training) to stand on its own, and Al-Qaeda is now calling some parts of Iraq “home.” We went into this second war under false pretenses. Need I remind everyone that, despite popular belief, Iraq was in no way a part of the attacks of September 11. The man that perpetrated these horrific events is still at large in the Middle East. President Clinton accomplished more in his administration than he is being given credit for in this ranking.
Under the leadership of President Clinton, the economy saw gains throughout most of his administration. It was good to see him given some credit in this area. Will I sit back and say that all gains in the economy were a direct result of the former President’s economic platform? No, the birth of the technology industry that we know today definitely had a hand in the boom of the 1990’s, but it was not the single determining factor in it. During the first two years of his Presidency, the United States averaged creating nearly 250,000 new jobs a month. By the end of 1994, the economy had the lowest combined ratio of unemployment to inflation than it had in the previous twenty-five years. Clinton also presided over what could possibly be the biggest deficit reduction plan in the history of our country. If only we could control our spending now!
Let us not be so quick to say that President Bill Clinton was not at work on foreign affairs either. Have we forgotten the genocide in Kosovo? President Clinton oversaw the use of military force to end this genocide and stabilize the region. He was also proactive on the issue of Iraq. He warned of Iraq’s nuclear capability, and put into policy a regime change for Iraq that allowed for bombing on separate occasions. The President’s only failure in the matter was removing the dictator from power. The problem with the current war is that it was unnecessary, and has now lacked the diplomatic strength to lift the Iraqi government to a successful stance of governing its own sovereign state. President Clinton expanded the Non-Proliferation Treaty, helped oversee a cease-fire in Northern Ireland, and restored a democratically elected Haitian President to power. Not the “push over” foreign policy you would expect from someone ranked at #39.
President Clinton got to work on a problem that we have yet to rectify. Healthcare. President Clinton may not have had the best plan for a healthcare system that would be affordable and available for all, but he definitely got the ball rolling for debate on the issue (something we have not seen over that past eight years). President Clinton and Secretary of State Designate Hillary Clinton presented a huge overhaul of our current system. The bill was eventually defeated, but at least someone was willing to be proactive for a change in Washington. He introduced the Family Medical Leave Act, as well as a Children’s Health Insurance Program, the Adoption and Safe Families Act, as well as the Foster Care Independence Act. All of these bills helped to expand coverage to more and more Americans. Hopefully the new Administration and Secretary of Health and Human Service Designate Tom Daschle can get to work quickly to expand what President Clinton laid the ground work for so many years ago.
There is always so much to talk about when you mention the name, William Jefferson Clinton. Whether it be talks of economic booms or that of sexual misconduct, rest assured there is never a dull moment. Clinton once said that “by lifting the weakest and poorest among us, we lift the rest of us as well.” I think he governed in that same way. Through the creation of twenty-two million new jobs, NAFTA, healthcare reform, and increases in the minimum wage, President Clinton did try to lift the “poorest and weakest” among us. Wherever President Clinton ranks on your list, always know that everyone, and I mean everyone, has a differing opinion of our 42nd President.
I have never posted on this site, but thought I could offer a little food for thought. I was just trying to offer a differing opinion and I would love to know what you think. I am not usually one to jump to Clinton’s defense all of the time, but thought it was needed here.
***Editor’s Note: Justin Simpson is a Guest Columnist and Liberal Commentator for “The Thirsty Quill.” ‘The Quill’ appreciates Mr. Simpson’s contributions, yet it must be noted that his views and opinions are strictly his own, and the reader should recognize that they contradict the Conservative views, opinions, and positions of “The Thirsty Quill.” Justin is currently a Political Science Major at UNC-Charlotte, and recently worked on the Congressional campaign for Larry Kissell. We value Mr. Simpson’s input, and we look forward to publishing more of his commentaries in the days ahead.***
January 13th, 2009 on 2:02 pm
Rebuttal to Justin Simpson.
Justin,
After reading your commentary, I felt the need to correct several innaccuracies. While a paltry #39, President Clinton’s administration did in fact fail to neutralize Usama Bin Laden when several decisive opportunities existed. The original attacks on the WTC that merely scathed the building were in fact indicative of more to come, the cancer that developed during the Clinton years.
“The current problem with Iraq is a mixture of failed diplomatic/political strategies, as well as the failed First Gulf War to quell the original problem.”
The current problem with Iraq is the Sunni and Shiite insurgency and the Iraqi military/polices’innability to combat it. When you are working on your Masters, you should look into insurgencies in Southwest Asia and Central America. See how long it takes to quell an insurgency.
“Nuclear weapons have yet to be located,”
The United States overthrew the Hussein Regime unter the pretense that there were Weapons of Mass Destruction controlled/produced by the the Iraqi Regime. While no nuclear weapons were ever located, nor unclassified intelligence to report their probable existence, there were in fact biological and chemical weapons found there. WMD’s are by definition non-descriminating. Therefore YOUR perception and the American public’s misunderstanding of the actual situation makes you think youwere deceived when you were/are actually uneducated on the matter.
“the current Iraqi government does not have the legitimacy”
Yes it is a legitimate government.
“We went into this second war under false pretenses. Need I remind everyone that, despite popular belief, Iraq was in no way a part of the attacks of September 11. The man that perpetrated these horrific events is still at large in the Middle East.”
The Second Iraqi War was to topple Saddam Hussien’s Regime. The insurgency and spread of Al-Qaida into Iraq is a SEPARATE conflict related only by the cause and effect relationship of the toppling of the regime.
I would like to hear your position on Nancy Pelosi’s success in her first 100 days as Speaker of the House.