“I just love that rug.” That’s what former President Bill Clinton said to President Bush, as he looked down at the pale gold rug with sunbeam design at the President’s luncheon this week.
Is it just me or should Bill Clinton NOT talk about loving the rugs in the Oval Office? Is it me or does it bring up so much of what was wrong about his Presidency?
It made me wonder, is Clinton so insulated that he doesn’t get it? Is it possible that he doesn’t know that his name is used more frequently as a punchline than as a serious reference.
His performance in the last election cycle would certainly lead me to believe that he doesn’t recognize his place in history as of yet.
I think that says something about the insulation our leaders have about them.
You look at George W. Bush. While his numbers were cratering was he hearing only the assuring whispers of sycophants?
Insulation leads to a disconnect. And when We the People aren’t heard, leaders will only compound their mistakes.
I don’t know. Something to watch for with Obama though, I think. He certainly seems susceptible to the lure of sycophantic hosannas as much as any other leader in modern memory. Let’s pray that he is not. And pray that he surprises us all.
January 9, 2009 at 5:36 am
thank you for saying that you hope obama surprises us. i don’t like him at all, and there’s a part of me that just wants him to fall flat on his face to let the world see what he’s really all about. but i really want him to surprise me. i really long to be surprised. some people don’t get this– thank you for being one of those that do.
and p.s. by this, i don’t mean i want all his policies to go through and us to be in liberal hell…i want him to make good choices for the country and for us as a people…ones that will actually benefit us. i want him to surprise me.
January 9, 2009 at 2:39 pm
I would like for Obama to surprise us too, but after listening to his economic speach yesterday, I know he will not. I also believe that he will be even more susceptible to sycophants than most. He has spent his entire political career not being able to make up his mind. He will spend his presidency letting others do it for him.
As for Billy Boy, I think he’s knows and is still proud of himself.
January 9, 2009 at 2:53 pm
That would be even sadder than ignorance.
January 9, 2009 at 7:17 pm
You have to remember that there are two nations in this country. To one, Clinton is a joke. To the other, he is a hero. I share your perspective, but remember that his sidekick was given a Nobel prize. There are many who think Clinton was a great president.
Just so you are not confused, I am most certainly not one of them.
January 10, 2009 at 6:18 am
I honestly don’t see the harm in a former president commenting on a particular appointment, in a location where he spent several of the best years of his life. There are actually several variations of the “presidential rug,” and the new incumbent gets to pick out which one he wants, right alongside the many china patterns, even a new coat of paint for the walls. Maybe this one was his favorite. Maybe he was torn between the one he ended up picking out and this one.
I dunno. I wasn’t there. It’s a pretty exclusive club, these ex-presidents.