Bill Clinton @BillClinton
If there was ever a time to protect this beautiful experiment we call a Democracy, it’s now. 2:23 PM · Aug 15, 2020
And:
Bill Clinton @BillClinton
We expect our elected officials to protect the right to vote and to ensure every vote is counted. This attack on the Postal Service —an institution as old as the Republic itself and depended upon, and trusted by, millions of Americans— is designed to ensure that neither is done. 2:23 PM · Aug 15, 2020
You all know what to do. Call. Call your members of Congress. All of them. Two senators and your representative. In Washington and their local offices. Jam the lines with your outrage.
Yesterday President Bill Clinton spoke on behalf of Hillary Clinton at a noon event in Kansas City and an afternoon event in Springfield. The Springfield event took place at the Teamsters Local 245 hall. The venue was packed.
Bill Clinton in Springfield, Missouri – March 11, 2016.
At the back of the hall.
President Bill Clinton:….I’m glad to be back in the Ozarks. A lot of you know that, that, a, Hillary and I were married in Fayetteville and that we taught in the law school there and I felt right at home when I saw the Democrats and the protesters out there together. [laughter]….
….One of the things I like about being a Democrat in this election season is at least our side is debating the issues. [cheers, applause]. Both of our candidates agree that income inequality is way too great and we need to do something about it. And both agree that we need to get affordable health care for everybody. And both agree that everybody ought to be able to go to college and get out without debt. They have differences about how to do it. And some differences about how the economy works and how best to maintain it. And they’re very important. But at least it’s real. You can listen to this debate and figure out who you agree with….
….It’s are very well to blame somebody for the fix we’re in….but I can tell you this, I’ve had that job. You take the oath of office and whatever blaming you did in the campaign, it lasts about fifteen seconds, then you gotta stand and deliver. You own it. And when you quit people are either better off than they were when you started or they’re not. Children and young people have brighter future, or not. We’re coming together or still being torn apart, or not….
….If you want shared prosperity and everybody rising again, if you want a society where we’re coming together again we have to have a politics for the president who will, number one, stand her grand where it’s important, and number two, never ever, ever close the door to finding common ground. Now there’s a big difference of opinion about this….And you have to decide who you agree with. But I like her campaign. I like the fact that she holds it up to here’s how we can get more and better jobs, here’s how we can live together, and here’s how I’m gonna pay for it, don’t forget arithmetic.[laughter] People ask me all the time, how’d we create all those jobs and have three balanced budgets and surpluses? What great new idea did you bring to Washington? And I always say, arithmetic. [laughter, applause]. But, look, there’s so much anxiety here in spite of the fact that we had fourteen million jobs in five years, we’re growing faster than any other big country [inaudible], that’s the largest job growth we’ve had since that other Democrat, whatever his name was, was president. [laughter]. [inaudible] For the first time in our history as a nation we have over ninety percent of our people with health insurance. And [applause, cheers] … and we’re in better condition for the future because we’ve got a younger, more diverse workforce, because we rank first or second in the world according to all scientific surveys and our crowd still believes in science. [applause, laughter] And the ability to generate electricity from the sun and the wind, three of our states, Minnesota, Iowa, and Texas, already get more than a third of their electricity from wind. Iowa has the cheapest power costs in the United States….
….So, basically we got all this anxiety because most people still haven’t gotten a raise. ‘Cause you got all these young people who can’t move out of their parents’ house, ‘cause they can’t pay rent and pay their college debt. Because too many of the jobs that have been created pay lower than average wages. And what we’ve got to do is rise together again. And what I want to say first of all that we are in a position to rise together again because the jobs are coming back, because were outperforming the rest of the world. But it won’t happen by accident. We’ve gotta build ladders of opportunity and tear down barriers that keep everybody from climbing the ladders. [applause] Hillary is running for president because she wants us to all rise together. [applause, cheers]….
[….]
So, we are in a race. And I need your help and Hillary needs your help. And this is the last thing I want to say. I want you to vote for her…It’d be a good thing to have someone on day one that understood the national security issues as well as the domestic issues. [applause] Most importantly, is that she’s the best change maker that I ever met. And you want somebody that actually gets something done. Let me, she graduated from law school. She could have gone into any law firm, she went to work for the Children’s Defense Fund. She went to South Carolina to see why African-American teenagers were being jailed with adults for years and having their lives ruined. And they had juvenile justice reform because of the work she and the Children’s Defense Fund did. She went to Alabama where there were desegregated academies pretending to be eligible for federal tax credits. Which they weren’t. She posed as a housewife that just moved to town trying to find a school for her son. And they had all this little polite conversation. She looked at this guy, said, look, just give me a straight answer. [inaudible] Is my She came to Arkansas with me and in the Ozarks established our first ever legal aid clinic. And poor people in the mountains got access to the justice system for the first time. [applause] She started…a preschool program in the mountain and in the Mississippi delta ‘cause we had six of the poorest counties in America. You had all these people starting school, there was no preschool back then, there was no kindergarten, and she said, Bill, these kids don’t have a chance. Their parents can’t read, write, and count….
….Go out and talk to your friends and neighbors, bring home the vote. We need you. We need you. And she will be there for you. For places like Springfield and all the counties in between the cities as well as the people who live in the cities. We can all rise together….
Sometimes television reporting is like a selfie, except with more expensive equipment:
A television reporter doing a standup in front of the main press riser while Bill Clinton is speaking.
On the rope line.
There was a handful of protesters outside the event. They need to work on their graphic design skills.
Protesters on the street outside the campaign rally. The individual in the background is holding a sign “Hitlary for Prison 2016″.” The flyer in the back pocket of the individual leaning over – “Is it a Rising or Setting Sun over America?”
We the undersigned ask the President of the United States to exercise his authority to investigate the egregious violations of Massachusetts election law that Bill Clinton carried out during the recent Democratic primary in Massachusetts. These include but are not limited to:
Entering a polling place for no legal purpose as defined by the statutes.
Electioneering within the 150 foot restricted zone outside a polling place.
Inhibiting voters ability to enter their polling place due to his presence requiring Secret Service personnel to shut off access.
We encourage you to use the power vested in your office to direct that an investigation take place forthwith to determine whether these violations are prosecutable offenses.
Published Date: Mar 02, 2016
Issues: Civil Rights and Liberties
Signatures needed by April 01, 2016 to reach goal of 100,000 85,949
Total signatures on this petition 14,051
[emphasis added]
Well, correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t it the job of local law enforcement to deal with alleged violations of local election law?
Interestingly, after a very cursory look, it appears that a majority of the signatures don’t come from Massachusetts.
Over 14,000 people signed this? Freakin’ amateurs, wasting their time on useless gestures instead of volunteering to work at a phone bank or go door to door for their chosen candidate. No wonder they lose.
We drove the two hundred fifty miles to the balloon field in Indianola, Iowa for the 37th (and final) Harkin Steak Fry, one of the signature Midwest political events for Democrats, leaving at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday morning so that we could arrive for the media preset and claim main riser space. We did and we did.
The Ready for Hillary PAC (not affiliated with any candidate) had a formidable presence at the steak fry.
Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton were the featured speakers, so there was a significant amount of national and international media present. The steak fry folks ran out of printed press credentials.
While we waited for the press entry with about two hundred other media types we ran into the great Charles P. Pierce (Esquire – Politics Blog). He’s an approachable and friendly person. And he tells very funny stories. We introduced ourselves and explained our connections – especially the Vicky Hartzler “the Chinese are spying on us through our toasters” meme.
The media scrum, waiting for entry into the steak grilling photo op – for about an hour and a half.
A crowd of steak fry civilians gathered from across the balloon field as the media waited for the press only steak grilling photo op. At the point that the gates were opened and almost everyone ran for position you could hear those observers laughing at the media.
Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and Tom Harkin at the steak grilling photo op – Harkin Steak Fry, Indianola, Iowa – September 14, 2014.
AFSCME members at the steak fry.
Listening to Tom Harkin.
The crowd.
We’re not certain, but our Show Me Progress road trip group came up with a consensus estimate of seven thousand people in attendance.
Not everyone who attended was from Iowa. If you asked those in our party who were in and around the crowd about its reaction to Hillary Clinton’s speech they would tell you it was way more than enthusiastic. They’re ready and armed for bear. To quote a commenter at Charles P. Pierce’s place:
Do you talk to women who are not very political? They ones I have are really, really excited about Clinton running. There are a lot of people who don’t see her as a retread.
“I’m back.”
The Texts from Hillary photo as a public service announcement on the back of the Ready for Hillary PAC bus.
Oh, if you’re curious about what six or so inches of rain a few days before the event and seven thousand pairs of feet will do to a balloon field in Iowa on a sunny Sunday afternoon – there was mud.
We just received our confirmations for a press credentials for the 37th annual Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa on September 14th. I was issued my first press credential ever as a representative of Show Me Progress for the 2007 event.
The line of Hillary supporters watching their candidate at the steak grilling photo op
at the Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa – September 16, 2007 [file photo].
That September afternoon 18,000 people gathered at the balloon field to listen to the large number of Democratic Party presidential candidates. The weather was fantastic.
And taking advantage of the access granted by the credential I took a grand total of ninety stills. Experience over the years has disabused me of that illusion of productivity (In September 2013 I took over two thousand stills of President Obama at a presidential event in Kansas City).
The photos in this post were taken in 2007 amidst the vast media scrums (or not) around the candidates. It’s a brutal environment for someone who is trying to get a clean line of sight and who also has the handicap of politeness.
In the years since we’ve returned annually (only skipping 2008). On off years the crowd is somewhat smaller and the off year venue at the fairgrounds is much more intimate. Some of the regular volunteers know us by sight and name.
The speakers for this (and the final) Harkin Steak Fry are Hillary and Bill Clinton.
This year will not be an off year. By virtue of the speakers this event will be a magnet for national and international media. We might have to elbow our way in for riser space and we’re definitely going to have to brave media scrums. That’ll be half the fun. As a result, the chances are good we’ll have a meta post or two up at Show Me Progress describing the zoo like atmosphere.
And that’s if it doesn’t rain. If it rains it’ll be even more fun. We highly recommend the experience.
Then Senator Hillary Clinton working the “rope line” at the Harkin Steak Fry
in Indianola, Iowa – September 16, 2007 [file photo].
Then Senator Joe Biden, with his son, Hunter, about to give an interview at the Harkin Steak Fry
in Indianola, Iowa – September 16, 2007. Dr. Jill Biden is in red (background, left). [file photo].
Former Senator John Edwards speaking with the media
at the Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa – September 16, 2007 [file photo].
Then Senator Barack Obama speaking with a volunteer at the steak grilling photo op
at the Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa – September 16, 2007 [file photo].
Thank God for Bill Clinton. At last – somebody willing to tell it like it is when it comes to the piece of performance art that Mitt Romney delivered last week:
I do have to admit that I was probably just as horrified by Romney’s jumpy, overly aggressive style as I was by his flip-flops and fibs. Not only have I actually been playing attention for the past year, I’ve also been following Steve Benen’s regular Friday feature at the Maddow Blog where he’s been collecting Mighty Mitt’s prevarications under the title “Mitt’s Mendacity” (here’s the 37th and latest installment) for months now. (It helps to have lists.) As a consequence, I knew better than to expect an honest debate. But you’ve got to hand it to Bill Clinton – lots of folks have pointed out that Romney was lying himself silly (and offering proof of same), but it takes Clinton to get to the heart of the issue and present it to us in a way that makes Romney’s deceitful campaign game so obvious.
And while we’re going on about Moderate Mitt, Ed Kilgore offered an analysis that perfectly gets at Clinton’s point:
… if Democrats can’t mine the vast record of extremism compiled by the GOP and its ticket over the last two years, and show that it’s a more shocking and uncompromising version of what the party stood for prior to 2008, then they really can’t expect to win. So they should place a lot less emphasis going forward on style points and “energy levels” and all the other superficial jazz the pundits love so much and concentrate on what is actually endangering Obama’s re-election (other than deeply ingrained perceptions of his performance): the repositioning of Romney and Ryan as thoughtful leaders who just want to fix the economy and “reform” the more excessive features of government. If these birds get away with that, it’s going to take one hell of a GOTV effort to get the incumbents over the hump.
Former President Bill Clinton (D) will be speaking at graduate commencement at the University of Central Missouri on May 6th. The university’s press release from earlier this month:
UCM Names President Bill Clinton Recipient of Honorary Doctorate
Photo – Ralph Alswang
WARRENSBURG, MO (April 4, 2011) – Recognized not only for his service to the nation as 42nd President of the United States but also for his commitment to education and philanthropy, William J. Clinton has been named recipient of the honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters. Although more specific details about the award ceremony will be released at a later date, the honorary degree will be presented by the University of Central Missouri during 2011 Graduate Commencement exercises Friday, May 6.
The honorary doctorate is bestowed by the authority of the university’s Board of Governors upon individuals who have distinguished themselves through outstanding service and exemplary achievements within their fields of endeavor. By their actions they have been an inspiration to others.
William Jefferson Clinton was the first Democratic president in six decades to be elected twice – first in 1992 and then in 1996. Under his leadership, the country enjoyed the strongest economy in a generation and the longest economic expansion in U.S. history, including the creation of more than 22 million jobs.
After leaving the White House, President Clinton established the William J. Clinton Foundation with the mission to strengthen the capacity of people in the United States and throughout the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence. Today the Foundation has staff and volunteers around the world working to improve lives through several initiatives, including the Clinton Health Access Initiative (formerly the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative) which is helping 4 million people living with HIV/AIDS access lifesaving drugs. Other initiatives — including the Clinton Climate Initiative, the Clinton Development Initiative, and the Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative — are applying a business-oriented approach worldwide to fight climate change and develop sustainable economic growth in Africa and Latin America. As a project of the Foundation, the Clinton Global Initiative brings together global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues. In the U.S., the Foundation is working to combat the alarming rise in childhood obesity through the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, and is helping individuals and families succeed and small businesses grow. In addition to his Foundation work, President Clinton has joined with former President George H.W. Bush three times – after the 2004 tsunami in South Asia, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and Hurricane Ike in 2008 – to help raise money for recovery efforts and served as the U.N. Envoy for Tsunami Recovery.
Building on his longstanding commitment to Haiti as President and through his Foundation, President Clinton was named U.N. Special Envoy for Haiti in 2009 to assist the government and the people of Haiti as they “build back better” after a series of hurricanes battered the country in 2008. Following this year’s devastating earthquake, President Clinton dedicated Clinton Foundation resources to help with immediate and long-term relief and assistance, and at the request of President Obama, joined with President George W. Bush to establish the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, which supports highly effective organizations on the ground in long-term rebuilding efforts. Additionally, President Clinton serves as co-chair of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission with Prime Minister Bellerive.
In 2008, UCM first became aligned with the Clinton Climate Initiative through the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) which worked with CCI to develop and implement large-scale energy efficiency retrofit projects. CCI assisted UCM in designing the university’s $36.1 million energy management project with a goal to save the institution at least 31 percent of its annually energy costs while significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions. As a result of such assistance, UCM undertook the largest energy retrofit project on a college or university campus.
Bill Clinton is coming to town. Let’s see, we can expect event tickets, instructions about what cannot be
carried into the venue, and a self righteous pearl clutching letter to the editor. Check, check, and check.
A letter to the editor criticizing the selection of Bill Clinton as a commencement speaker was published in the April 21st edition of the Muleskinner, the student newspaper:
Clinton doesn’t deserve honorary doctorate
….President Clinton’s service was no doubt tarnished by his actions as president – namely having sexual relations with an intern….
….Surely, as the nation’s highest executive leader, obligated under the Constitution to uphold the nation’s laws, his actions in the Oval Office would prevent him from receiving such an honor.
I am disappointed that the University has chosen to bestow this honor on a man who, for more than a year brought such disgrace to his office and our nation….
Well, yes, George W. Bush (r) has some answering to do. Oh, wait. Sorry. The letter writer isn’t concerned about crimes against humanity. He’s concerned about personal behavior between consenting adults. Well, yes, Newt Gingrich (r) has some answering to do. Oh, wait. Sorry. *IOKIYAR.
Oh, my, what will the children think?
Meanwhile, the campus community lines up for tickets.
Faculty and staff wait in line to pick up tickets for graduate commencement.
WARRENSBURG, MO (April 4, 2011) – Recognized not only for his service to the nation as 42nd President of the United States but also for his commitment to education and philanthropy, William J. Clinton has been named recipient of the honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters. Although more specific details about the award ceremony will be released at a later date, the honorary degree will be presented by the University of Central Missouri during 2011 Graduate Commencement exercises Friday, May 6.
