TNR BLOGS

The Most Telling Part of Palin's Announcement
July 04, 2009 | 6:29 PM
The Biggest Loser in Palin's Exit
July 04, 2009 | 11:58 AM
The Killer Logic of Sarah Palin
July 04, 2009 | 11:32 AM

Check Out Noam Scheiber's New Blog, THE STASH
March 09, 2009 | 5:19 PM
Check Out TNR's New Health Care Blog, THE TREATMENT
March 09, 2009 | 5:16 PM
Farewell to The Stump
January 07, 2009 | 12:20 PM

War All The Time
July 01, 2009 | 10:33 PM
150 Years And Not One Day More
June 30, 2009 | 8:42 AM
Postscript To "He Hit Me..."
June 29, 2009 | 9:09 AM

Bush's Team of Unrivals
July 26, 2008 | 2:24 PM
Obama's Jump Shot for the Ages
July 23, 2008 | 1:55 PM
If Only Tennis Ruled the World...
July 17, 2008 | 3:56 PM

Weekend Reading
July 03, 2009 | 10:13 PM
Harry Reid, Not Very Pugilistic Ex-Boxer
July 02, 2009 | 12:57 PM
Quick Hits: Chestnuts Will Save Us Edition
July 01, 2009 | 7:02 PM
COLUMNISTS
TODAY'S STORIES
Blog Home | Contact |
27.08.2008
The Redemption of Bill Clinton

He may nevert be completely absolved by Obama's core supporters, and his standing will probably never be restored to the Olympian heights of a couple of years ago. But that was full-throated, sincere-sounding, and sophisticated case for his wife's former mortal rival. He didn't even mount a touchy retroactive defense of his record fom the 1990s, which I had somewhat expected. I predict a wave of, "Oh, Bill, how can we stay mad at you?" commentary in the coming days. (Until, of course, some new story leaks and restarts the drama all over again....) 

Update: Exhibit A: Noted Clinton antagonist Jon Chait!

--Michael Crowley

Posted: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 9:19 PM with 9 comment(s)

Comments

You must be logged-in to comment.

Not a subscriber? Click here to get a digital or print and digital subscription to The New Republic!

ChanRobt said:

I missed much of the speech.  But, even the ten minutes or less that I saw was the best major speech of the Convention so far.

And the best argument yet made there for Obama.

Let's see if Obama can do as well for himself.

August 27, 2008 9:49 PM

Wandreycer1 said:

" I predict a wave of, "Oh, Bill, how can we stay mad at you?" commentary in the coming days. (Until, of course, some new story leaks and restarts the drama all over again....)"

Oh, I'm the first one out of the gate on this one.  

August 27, 2008 9:53 PM

Wandreycer1 said:

Superb stuff, brilliant beyond my wildest hopes.  The Clinton drama rises to a resounding, thriling crescendo!

August 27, 2008 9:55 PM

Wandreycer1 said:

Let's not forget about Bill's emotional support of Obama's choice of VP = "His first major decision and he hit it outta the park..."

All the more moving because of Hillary being passed over.

I wouldn't even count Senator C. out yet, I'd bet my next paycheck she'll be in the cabinent.

August 27, 2008 10:04 PM

scrubbyoak said:

Yeah, Chan, that was the best speech so far. He showed why he is still the best politician of our time.

That speech also made me nostalgic of those bygone times when he was kicking Republican ass. Sorry Chan.

August 27, 2008 10:06 PM

sleepyavl said:

Hillary will be in no cabinet. If she has  any brains, she'll stat in the Senate, the only place where she can stay independent and powerful. That is, the only place from where she can try a second time for the presidency.

August 28, 2008 12:49 AM

GSpinks said:

"He may nevert be completely absolved by Obama's core supporters"

Let us not be coy; there is no faithful democrat who does not appreciate what Clinton accomplished while in office. They gave him a 15 minute standing ovation to start off his speech, and it wasn't because they were bored and needed to stretch.

August 28, 2008 1:06 AM

Political Animal said:

THE BIG DOG... Looking back at the contentious Democratic presidential primaries, it's probably fair to say that Bill Clinton didn't emerge from the process as revered and respected as he was going into the process. His standing in party circles...

August 28, 2008 8:15 AM

The Plank said:

Avoiding A Long, Disappointing Fall by John B. Judis Why Political Speechmaking Sounds So Weird by John

August 28, 2008 11:59 AM