# Because I'm feeling snarky, Bill Clinton's WH bio for your perusal. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 16, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978 "2003-09-16T18:58:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978/21 "2003-09-16T21:17:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Airman Doors, USAF \* > Watergate…was really just a minor, insignificant breaking-and-entering. First of all, Presidents usually don’t do B&E jobs, even through their subordinates. So that alone makes it significant. Second, as **Elvis** notes, “Watergate” was a complex of crimes, misdemeanors, and abuses of power, including _two_ known break-ins (the other was of Daniel Ellsberg’s (of Pentagon Papers fame) psychiatrist’s office, in September 1971, IIRC), various and sundry “dirty tricks” played on Democratic candidates during the 1972 primary season, with the goal of choosing a weak opponent for Nixon (one of these tricks, the infamous “Canuck Letter”, hit paydirt, drawing a reaction from Muskie that effectively ended his Presidential aspirations, clearing the way for McGovern), and some merely paranoiac opposition research, in which Howard Hunt was calling local suburban libraries to try to check out books on Ted Kennedy and Chappaquiddick. (A close friend of mine at the time was the recipient of some of those calls.) > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by A Monkey With a Gun \* > What did it say in Reagan’s bio about Iran Contra? Hmm, there isn’t even a single sentrence about the worst abuse of Executive Power in the later half og the twentieth Century. People actually got convicted for what happened there. I bet that when Bush’s bio is in there, it won’t say a word about his repeatedly lying to the nation in order to justify the invasion of another country. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by A Monkey With a Gun \* > half og Half an Og smash better than none! ---
**Author:** ![RTA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@RTA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTA)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978/22 "2003-09-16T21:36:39Z")
It’s just easier for some people to act angry about Clinton than admit that their guy is a dud. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978/23 "2003-09-16T21:45:46Z")
Lessee… Is breaking and entering (with the intent to influence erections – err, strike that, _elections_) followed by a criminal investigation into a crime similar to a blow jobs and lying about an affair? News to me. I must be getting my blow jobs from the wrong sort. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978/24 "2003-09-16T21:54:02Z")
This just in: Airman Doors doesn’t like Clinton and Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead. ---
**Author:** ![Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muldoon_s_Squishiness)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978/25 "2003-09-16T23:01:43Z")
I bet Nixon would have gotten away with it all if he’d only had access to some **1920’s Style Death Rays!!!** ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978/26 "2003-09-16T23:11:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ElvisL1ves \* > \*\*Airman, you really need to brush up on the full extent of “Watergate” before you embarrass yourself any further. There are many good books on the subject. Watergate also included the official White House enemies list, and ordering the FBI and IRS to harass its members, along with a range other lesser abuses of power that were _not_ known to the public until after the 1972 election. You might also note the rock-bottom approval ratings Nixon had by the time he recognized that he had lost “the consent of the governed”. Certainly his failure to end US involvement in Vietnam, as promised back in 1968, played a factor in that. > > It was the only time the process has been used against a President for the reason it exists - to protect the nation from an official whose continued presence in office presents a danger to the state that is so great that the next election cannot be waited for. The cross-party unity on that point in the Nixon hearings was remarkable. It is not a special criminal court for defendants who happen to be federal officials, although that brand of spin is necessary to keep the Clinton impeachment from being laughed at. > > You might also acknowledge, when you get over your snarkiness, that the Clinton impeachment wasn’t really about a manufactured perjury charge _or_ a blowjob, but about simple political vengeance, just like the voted-down Andrew Jackson impeachment effort, which you might also have listed. The Clinton bio you listed did not note, for instance, that the House vote was strictly partisan, in a lame-duck session, without a functioning Speaker, including by members who had already been voted out by an electorate who was specifically telling them not to do it, and hurried to get it done before they had to leave. Any chance that future historians will see any of that as legitimate? None. Get a grip. \*\* Thanks for saving me the trouble. I didn’t think there was still anyone in the U.S (who is politically aware) who is that ignorant of the extent of Nixon’s crimes against the American people. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978/27 "2003-09-16T23:12:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Airman Doors, USAF \* > \*\*Really, **Rocketeer**? Allow me to quote myself: > > Clinton. Johnson. One. Two. > > I think you lost count somewhere between one and two. > > **El\_Kabong** , I would agree with you that Watergate was a big deal, even though it was just as politically motivated as Clinton’s impeachment. Doubt me? Nixon won in 1972 with 60.8% of the vote (or so, I’m going from memory). He didn’t even have to try to throw the election, he won it big. As a result, it was really just a minor, insignificant breaking-and-entering. The real big deal was the coverup, and if the Democrats hadn’t smelled blood and started circling the White House, it wouldn’t have gone as far as it did. Same circumstances (those being politically motivated attacks on the President), yet Nixon’s expose was far more lurid, compared to Clinton’s. \*\* “The Watergate scandal was politically motivated”? Would you be so kind as to explain that to the many decent Republicans who were scandalized by a President using his office to subvert the election? Oh, and the House Judiciary Committee voted to recommend the impeachment of Nixon, who resigned before the House of Representatives could vote on the recommendation. So: Second impeachment trail. Second actual impeachment. Third impeachment process – which was the phrase you used. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978/28 "2003-09-16T23:15:35Z")
In other breaking news: Every single person at this message board is sick to fucking death of the Death Ray joke. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978/29 "2003-09-16T23:22:40Z")
_“I would agree with you that Watergate was a big deal, even though it was just as politically motivated as Clinton’s impeachment.”_ This is an astounding claim, given the length and breadth of criminal activity during the Nixon Administration. In addition to what’s already been mentioned here, go googling on “ITT” and “milk fund scandal” in relation to Tricky Dicky. [An overview.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/herblock/essay3.htm) So Clinton’s official blurb got sanitized. They apparently used oceans of Clorox on Nixon. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978/30 "2003-09-16T23:23:22Z")
Nixon was also the only president who ever resigned. He was never put on trial. Clinton was, and found not guilty, or the charges were dismissed. Nixon was pardoned before anything could happen. If you ask me, he got off pretty damn easy. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978/31 "2003-09-16T23:24:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jack Batty \* > \*\*In other breaking news: Every single person at this message board is sick to fucking death of the Death Ray joke. \*\* _and the clouds opened up, a great light appeared, and a chorus of Angels appeared with lutes, singing “that’s the fact, Jack!”_ ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978/32 "2003-09-16T23:55:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jack Batty \* > \*\*In other breaking news: Every single person at this message board is sick to fucking death of the Death Ray joke. \*\* DEATH RAY! Bwa-hahahahahaha ---
**Author:** ![TVAA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@TVAA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVAA)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978/33 "2003-09-17T00:03:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jack Batty \* > \*\*In other breaking news: Every single person at this message board is sick to fucking death of the Death Ray joke. \*\* [wiggles imaginary cigar] “But all the married ones love it!” [drum roll] ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978/34 "2003-09-17T00:29:50Z")
What about **1920s Style Death Ray**? What does HE have to say about this? ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978/35 "2003-09-17T01:20:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jackmannii \* > \*\*_“I would agree with you that Watergate was a big deal, even though it was just as politically motivated as Clinton’s impeachment.”_ > > This is an astounding claim, given the length and breadth of criminal activity during the Nixon Administration. In addition to what’s already been mentioned here, go googling on “ITT” and “milk fund scandal” in relation to Tricky Dicky.\*\* OK. Upon review, I rescind the previous statement. I did some reading, and I was flat wrong. I’m man enough to admit it. Oh, and now you can Google “Lincoln Bedroom”, “China”, and “Nukes”. As if Clinton never sold out or anything. Bush is not my guy, BTW. Either you haven’t been paying attention since May, or you’re just being willfully ignorant, but I stated for the record that in 2004 my vote goes to the Democrats a long time ago. And may God have mercy on my soul for that. **RT** , until the coverup was revealed, the break-in didn’t even show up on radar. The Washington Post article from [Election Day 1972](http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A53217-2002Jun3¬Found=true) makes absolutely no reference to Watergate, which I find interesting considering they were the ones that nailed him to the wall for it. It was at that point a minor crime, and if he had only told the truth he almost certainly could have survived, especially since there is ZERO evidence that he ordered the break-in. His crime was covering up what his minions were doing. Whereas we have videotape evidence that Clinton committed a crime from the get-go. But, of course, a question about sexual history in a sexual harassment suit is irrelevant, so he should be forgiven for committing perjury, right? :rolleyes: And to think this whole great big mess started because I was simply looking for Bill Clinton’s age. As whitewashed as his bio is, that’s about all I discovered. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978/36 "2003-09-17T01:24:19Z")
And as usual, I forgot to log Robin out, so the above post was from me. Not that she would agree with anything I say, either. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RTA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@RTA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTA)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978/37 "2003-09-17T01:31:49Z")
I think the OP says it best: > [@](#): > > Man, what a blowjob. Compare that to **Nixon** ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978/38 "2003-09-17T01:37:06Z")
> [@](#): > > It’s just easier for some people to act angry about Clinton than admit that their guy is a dud. Some of us just say that both of 'em were/are duds, and leave it at that. Clinton just had the virtue of being pitiable (“Ah am _so sorry_… please… don’t tell Hillary… she’ll kill me…”) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978/39 "2003-09-17T01:42:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MsRobyn \* > **OK. Upon review, I rescind the previous statement. I did some reading, and I was flat wrong. I’m man enough to admit it.** Good show.\*\* > [@](#): > > Oh, and now you can Google “Lincoln Bedroom”, “China”, and “Nukes”. As if Clinton never sold out or anything. > > Bush is not my guy, BTW. Either you haven’t been paying attention since May, or you’re just being willfully ignorant, but I stated for the record that in 2004 my vote goes to the Democrats a long time ago. And may God have mercy on my soul for that. > \*\* I’ll assume you are partly addressing **RT** , since I said nothing about you and Bush. And I’ll happily agree that Clinton committed sleaze, some of which was considerably more disturbing than the lying he was impeached for. He just can’t compare to Nixon when it comes to criminal conspiracy and abuse of power. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978/40 "2003-09-17T02:07:08Z")
One of my mentors in college was Dr. Milton Eisenhower, Dwight’s brother. Dr. E. served every president from Coolidge to Ford in some capacity or other, including secretary of agriculture, and special ambassador to Latin America. He got to know Nixon personally and professionally over many years. I won’t type here exactly what Dr. E. said about Nixon to us as he kept most of that out of his personal memoirs. Suffice it to say that the good doctor did not hold our former veep and president in high esteem at all. Ethics, or their lack, was the issue. Of course, Uncle Miltie never got to view or comment on Clinton’s shenanigans. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/because-im-feeling-snarky-bill-clintons-wh-bio-for-your-perusal/201978.md?page=3)