Yeah, but did Bill insist on his, er, precondition?
posted at 7:25 am on July 1, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
The Republic has been saved! Barack Obama and Bill Clinton have finally exchanged pleasantries … by phone, at least. The man who insisted that he could meet Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hugo Chavez without preconditions certainly took his time speaking with the former leader of his own party after clinching the nomination. After speaking for a whopping 20 minutes, Clinton’s spokesman said he’s “looking forward” to campaigning for Obama:
“President Clinton had a very good conversation with Senator Obama today. He renewed his offer to do whatever he can to ensure Senator Obama is our next President.
“President Clinton continues to be impressed by Senator Obama and the campaign he has run, and looks forward to campaigning for and with him in the months to come. The President believes that Senator Obama has been a great inspiration for millions of people around the country, and he knows that he will bring the change America needs as our next President.”
It’s probably a little churlish to parse this statement, but with the Clintons, what choice do we have? The part that amuses me most is where Clinton “continues to be impressed” with the campaign Obama has run. Really? I thought the entire reason Obama had to call Clinton and not the other way around was because Bill was so miffed at the way Obama treated the Clintons. “Renewing” his offer also sounds like the status quo ante still exists.
According to the Telegraph report this weekend, Bill wants to be treated like an elder statesman, a sherpa who can guide young Obama through the treacheries of national politics. He also wants his tucchus smooched. Twenty minutes hardly seems satisfactory on either count, but then again, perhaps 20 minutes with the Obamessiah can work miracles even with a Clinton. I’m betting on another round of sulking.
Blowback
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*shudder*
Grafted on July 1, 2008 at 7:39 AM
It will be interesting to see where Bill gets placed in the speaking order at Denver. since his “tunnel walk” back in 2000 at the Staples Center was every bit the Cult of Personality that Obama’s been swathed in this year, and I’m sure he’s going to want something similar, even though his wife supposedly is the more important speaker for this year’s convention as the runner-up to Barack with 50 percent (or more) of the primary votes.
jon1979 on July 1, 2008 at 7:43 AM
How’s Bill’s ass taste, Hussein?
Alden Pyle on July 1, 2008 at 7:45 AM
Was there talk of cigars?
- The Cat
MirCat on July 1, 2008 at 7:55 AM
Which one of these men has a tingle running up his leg?
jeff_from_mpls on July 1, 2008 at 7:57 AM
“looks forward to campaigning for and with him in the months to come.”
read: You wont see Clinton campaigning for months to come.
Stephen Macklin on July 1, 2008 at 7:58 AM
Two of the three stooges.
wepeople on July 1, 2008 at 8:01 AM
If I were Obama, I would be rather circumspect about allowing Bill Clinton to campaign for me. He didn’t help his wife much. And narcissists do not do well when they are not the center of attention.
I just don’t see it working all that well for Obama.
BigD on July 1, 2008 at 8:02 AM
The whole thing is slowly but steadily moving toward the “I told you so” moment for me. I’ve been on the opposite side of this argument from Ed and Rick Moran (among others) when we discussed it in the past, but in the end, the Clintons really are Democrats first. (Their personal ambitions are huge, no doubt, and are a razor edge second, but they are still Democrats first.) Everyone who insisted that the Clintons would not flinch from a bloody warpath all the way to the convention floor were simply not admitting one of their only “redeeming” features. (Depending, of course, upon which side of the aisle you’re watching from.) Both of them wanted Hillary to be president so bad they likely would have set the world on fire to achieve that. But it’s over and they are both smart enough to realize that. And they still want to see a Democrat in the office more than John McCain, even if it’s Obama.
I realize that’s a far more boring and depressing story than “civil war in the Dem leadership” but it was really the only way it was ever going to play out. Bill will be on board for the summer and grudgingly do what he can to push Obama over the finish line.
Jazz Shaw on July 1, 2008 at 8:06 AM
Wonder if Bubba Billy showed up with a mistletoe hanging from his coat tail?
pilamaye on July 1, 2008 at 8:08 AM
Curious why you’re so sure. I’ve often thought too many politicians simply pick one party or the other as a prerequisite for running, but don’t truly care which.
That’s why we get so many incompetents, and technocrats, and mercenaries, instead of visionaries.
JiangxiDad on July 1, 2008 at 8:33 AM
Inevitable follow-up question: boxers or briefs?
MB007 on July 1, 2008 at 8:43 AM
I hope he campaigns for Obama just as hard as he did for Hillary. Defending “misstatements” and policy positions days after they’ve been officially reversed, insulting local party leaders, telling long-winded stories about himself as a stump speech – yeah, this could be fun.
Quisp on July 1, 2008 at 8:49 AM
I wonder if Obama was wearing bright red lipstick? Otherwise he’d leave a purple stain.
abcurtis on July 1, 2008 at 8:53 AM
And so BJ puts the book of Obama “fairy tales” back on the shelf? And America goes back to sleep, lulled by HopenChange?
onlineanalyst on July 1, 2008 at 9:14 AM
Remember Bill, in the words of George Costanza: “It’s not a lie if you believe it.”
someguy on July 1, 2008 at 9:16 AM
Obama is going to have to bring out the four wheel drive bus to throw Bill under.
right2bright on July 1, 2008 at 9:27 AM
One of the many advantages of being a black liberal politician…after servicing Bill, the color blends in…
right2bright on July 1, 2008 at 9:28 AM
Bubba wants to play Yoda to Barry’s Luke Skywalker? Huh.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on July 1, 2008 at 9:47 AM
Why would Obama stand on a stage with such a racist?
roux on July 1, 2008 at 9:53 AM
uncle tom. bubba is the master and barry just does what the master says.
custer on July 1, 2008 at 10:05 AM
The heavens opened up and the celestial choirs are singing.
And Bill Clinton realized–he loved Big Brother Barack.
Steve Z on July 1, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Suddenly, Hussein moved closer to the elder statesman until their lips were only inches apart. He raised his hand and gently stroked BJ’s silvery locks with delicate fingertips unaccustomed to real work. As he gazed tenderly into the inscrutable depths of the twinkling blue eyes, he saw not hope, not change, but passion.
“You’re my hero,” purred Hussein, in a voice trembling with fear and desire.
“Mine too,” said BJ.
whitetop on July 1, 2008 at 10:25 AM
ewwwwwwww…..
Now I have to go wash my eyes out with Clorox.
Nahanni on July 1, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Too good…you are a sick puppy.
right2bright on July 1, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Hmmm. The Clinton Imitator talking to Der Slickmeister himself. What’s the over/under on number of lies told during that 20 minute conversaton?
Did Bill tell Obambi cigarettes can’t hold a candle to a nice cuban?
fogw on July 1, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Wonder how much money that cost Obama.
GarandFan on July 1, 2008 at 11:04 AM
There once was a kid named Bill
He wanted to climb a steep hill
Many a naive resident
Voted him in for president
He turned out a big dope
From a lil’ place called Hope
There once was a kid named Barack
With the big Clintons he wanted to fruck
Many a naive resident
Thought he’d become president
He turned out a big hope
When it came down to it, they said “nope”
Entelechy on July 1, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Firstly, Bill hasn’t actually said anything. It would be much more believable if he had made the statement, instead of sending a suit out there to do it for him.
Secondly, being “impressed” does not necessarily equate to “favorably impressed”. And to be sure, it is ‘impressive’ that Obama was able to upset the Clinton machine.
Thirdly, for Bill doing “whatever he can to ensure Senator Obama is our next President” could just as easily mean keeping his opinions to himself, and keeping his mouth shut. The Obama campaign does have Hillary, after all. (I see this as something of a hostage situation.)
I don’t think it is so much that he is (or that they are) a Democrat first. If Hillary does not go all-out for Obama, she will be the one blamed for his loss. That will seriously hurt her
chancescoronation in 2012.ss396 on July 1, 2008 at 12:39 PM
oh, please. 20 minutes wouldn’t have been enough to cover one of Bill’s buttcheeks.
sulla on July 1, 2008 at 3:08 PM