When Bill Clinton was elected in 1992, not only were Democrats rejoicing, but Republicans were seething. This upstart politician, from the backwoods of Arkansas had defeated the President. Demoralized him. Made him look like a weakling and a dolt. Republicans were mad. There was unfinished business for them and 4 years had been stolen from them.
I believe that they began plotting against Bill Clinton right away. They succeeded in wresting the Legislative branch from the Democrats just 2 years later and commenced to investigate the hell out of Clinton. Travelgate, Whitewater, Monica. Bill’s compromises (“don’t ask, don’t tell”, Health insurance, etc.) were never revisited because of this onslaught culminating in impeachment. The last hope for a Clinton Legacy was a Gore victory to provide a new face on the progressive agenda that Bill had set out to complete. But it wasn’t to be.
Instead, we got George W Bush. He had unfinished business to attend to. In his first few days, he had rolled back most of the executive orders that Bill Clinton had attempted to force through. And his neocons got their chance to finish the business when the planes struck on September 11th. W. is like one of those dead people from Stephen King’s Pet Cemetery. Yes, they are the same person, but they seem to have gone horribly wrong once they return. He is the perfect President for his base and an abysmal excuse for a human being for many more. He is almost universally despised across the country and the world due to his need to finish the business that his Father hadn’t been able to.
There is a segment of our society that sees Hillary embody the unfinished business of Bill Clinton. The Democrats are back in control of Congress and look to extend that lead in November. There are a number of programs that were thwarted by the Republicans in the 90’s, which this segment is willing to do anything to achieve.
I am very wary of these frequent diametrically opposed forces swinging the pendulum of national politics so violently back and forth. I am no moderate, but I believe in moderation. If you are supporting Hillary because she will bring back the glory days of Bill, you are wrong. There is no easier or kinder way for me to say it. Hillary will be even more divisive than Bill ever was, and will more likely resemble George W. Bush. The attacks will renew and we will likely squander our lead in Congress at her first mid-term election.
Obama is the voice of moderation. I have played Obama in the past. I am the guy that sees a fight brewing between two drunks and steps in to cool them down and have another beer while I figure out who’s driving them home. We have to have someone step in and be the adult here. Hillary isn’t that person. She is one of the drunk brawlers and this fight has been going on since 1992 (and maybe earlier). We finally have someone that is stepping in to break it up on the side of the Democrats and Hillary sucker-punches him below the belt. Her behavior is to be expected, I guess. She has unfinished business to attend to.