Basking In The Presence of Bill Clinton

A funny thing first; Only Rachel Maddow (rising star on MSNBC) could get away with describing Bill Clinton's endorsement of Barack Obama as "full-throated."

If any male pundit had used such a descriptive phrase there would have been at least one guffaw or "OMG" from the lighting, camera or control booth crew; as they assumed the pundit was making a jab.

Only Rachel Maddow (host of "The Rachel Maddow Show" on Air America Radio) could have used such a loaded descriptor while only delivering the image of a bird singing whole heartedly to the minds of viewers.

Bill Clinton certainly did give a complete, rousing and usable endorsement to Barack Obama's candidacy. There is no doubt about it.

President Clinton not only stated that he was fully committed to helping Barack win the Presidency, he also articulated a position that Barack is Fully Ready to BE President.

It was exactly what was needed.

B. Clinton gave a speech that had us whisping back to those bygone days of decreasing deficits, low unemployment and rising wages that ran across all boards. He had us comparing what was then to what is now and then he pointed our vision towards what can be and what we most hope to make: a more peaceful and prosperous future than what we have had for the past eight years.

I found myself reflecting on what a joy it was to listen to Bill Clinton speak. In terms of communing to the minds of his audiences, Bill Clinton is a quintessential master.

I realize that in just the same fashion, and to just the same extent, that Barack Obama is inspiring, visionary and cathedral in his speech giving, Bill Clinton is perfectly the intelligent compadre who is just kind of telling you stuff and point things out.

He comes across as the kind of wingman every guy wants to have, and every confident that a woman would enjoy. The one in your circle of friends that tries to keep people from doing really stupid and dangerous things by encouraging folks to think a little bit, focus on being the best person they can be, and then launch into action.

He comes across as the kind of guy (or person) that you want around, because they always seem to be watching your back or nurturing your best interest.

And that's what a lot of Americans want: a government that watches their backs and helps them along; not just the backs and interests of their closest friend.

President Bill Clinton gave one of the best political speeches I've listened to in quite a while; and I've been listening to quite a few lately. He did a masterful job of reminding us of where we are, where we were, and how much we want things to be different in the future.

There were lots of great sound bites in the speech; I won't quote them all.

One of the ones that hit me best came about halfway through the speech, when he said that regarding international policy and global standing Barack understands that "People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power."

In my American heart, there is a truth to this statement that fully feeds our national pride; in a healthy, deep and most meaningful way.

Another item from Bill's speech that had me sit up and take notice, was a spot where he seemed to have copied some exact words from a Republican attack ad that I currently see airing against Obama.  The words are: "..in a world troubled by terror; by trafficking in weapons, drugs and people; by human rights abuses; by other threats to our security, our interests, and our values,.."

The Republican ad goes on expectedly to the "not good enough to lead" line, while President Clinton turned the tables right around to say that Barack is fully ready to stand up to, and engage these things.

It was a masterful stroke.

Emotionally, I am now waxing reminiscent after listening to the speech. I sip my late night cup of coffee and stare off into space thinking: "I wish Bill Clinton could be President again."


-- you can Click Here to find a copy of President Bill Clinton's 2008 DNC speech --


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28 August 2008

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Bill's Spirit is an Artist, Writer, Poet, Philosopher currently painting and wordsmithing from a humble studio in small town Ohio.

The works of the man behind Bill's Spirit have been published in small, alternative and amateur presses since 1986. Before that, they just filled notebooks, decorated walls and gathered dust in piles and boxes.

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