# Damn, Bill. Can't you take a pill? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 11, 2004, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-bill-cant-you-take-a-pill/249898 "2004-06-11T23:24:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2004, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-bill-cant-you-take-a-pill/249898/101 "2004-06-15T21:08:09Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Who said anything about rewinding? Why don’t you get a fucking brain? Semantical arguments over the mechanics of how you watched the funeral multiple times does not help your cause, **Lib**. ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2004, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-bill-cant-you-take-a-pill/249898/102 "2004-06-15T21:21:46Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Who said anything about rewinding? Why don’t you get a fucking brain? “Rewinding” details aside, the point stands: you watched the scene twice. The question remains: > [@](#): > > What is the fucking deal with the Right’s fucking obsession with Clinton? > > He fucking fell asleep. Boo hoo hoo! So fucking what? > > Let’s make it a national scandal! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![little\_bit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@little\_bit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/little_bit)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2004, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-bill-cant-you-take-a-pill/249898/103 "2004-06-15T21:23:19Z")
We had this discussion at work while watching. Yes, Clinton fell asleep. Inappropriate, but understandable. Three people in my office drinking coffee fell asleep. Hillary Clinton, Betty Ford & Prince Charles also dozed off. Just momentarily. I think Carter was on his way but managed to keep his eyes squinted open. Margaret Thatcher had the right idea. Send a video, wear a big hat & blame it on the strokes. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2004, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-bill-cant-you-take-a-pill/249898/104 "2004-06-15T21:33:38Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Semantical arguments over the mechanics of how you watched the funeral multiple times does not help your cause, **Lib**. Cause? What cause? You and Fred Phelps have causes. All I did was bitch about Bill. > [@Polerius](#): > > “Rewinding” details aside, the point stands: you watched the scene twice. I’ve watched the entire funeral three times, as you would have known had you read the three posts just above yours. > [@](#): > > The question remains: What is the fucking deal with the Right’s fucking obsession with Clinton? The question remains? What is this, the Inquisition? 😃 As should be abundantly clear, I’m not on “the Right”. While you’re advising others to get lives, you might consider getting yourself an education. ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2004, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-bill-cant-you-take-a-pill/249898/105 "2004-06-15T21:53:30Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > As should be abundantly clear, I’m not on “the Right”. While you’re advising others to get lives, you might consider getting yourself an education. AFAIK you’re a libertarian. AFAIK libertarians are on the Right of the political spectrum. In any case, such raving rants against Clinton show that either you are on the Right, or you are a “closet” Right-winger 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2004, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-bill-cant-you-take-a-pill/249898/106 "2004-06-15T21:54:45Z")
Wow. When are you going to change your username to **Petty Jackass**? ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2004, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-bill-cant-you-take-a-pill/249898/107 "2004-06-15T22:26:12Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > AFAIK you’re a libertarian. > AFAIK libertarians are on the Right of the political spectrum. OK, I see what you were referring to > [@](#): > > Libertarians do not identify themselves as either “right-wing” or “left-wing”. Indeed, many reject the one-dimensional left/right political spectrum (from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarianism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarianism)) Nevertheless, as the discussion on [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=256705) shows, most libertarians end up voting for Republicans, and many libertarian posters noted that ideologically they agree much more with the Republicans than the Democrats. So, whether or not libertarians classify themselves as left or right is quite moot. ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2004, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-bill-cant-you-take-a-pill/249898/108 "2004-06-15T22:37:43Z")
_So, **Liberal** here is the “updated” version of my original post, designed to incorporate your nit-picks, so you may actually address the substance._ Why don’t you get a fucking life, instead of making sure Clinton was really asleep during multiple viewings of Reagan’s funeral ? He fucking fell asleep. Boo hoo hoo! So fucking what? Let’s make it a national scandal! :rolleyes: As an aside, what is the fucking deal with the Right’s fucking obsession with Clinton? ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2004, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-bill-cant-you-take-a-pill/249898/109 "2004-06-15T23:06:36Z")
I just hope **Liberal** had some tissues nearby to clean up his mess after he was done watching Clinton’s napping. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2004, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-bill-cant-you-take-a-pill/249898/110 "2004-06-15T23:12:00Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > In any case, such raving rants against Clinton show that either you are on the Right, or you are a “closet” Right-winger I recently opened a thread praising Kerry for taking the high road and saying that Bush should follow his example. I also happen to admire Hillary Clinton. I just think her husband is a jackass hayseed who ought to understand how his actions can affect her career. I do not vote Republican. I advocate open borders, the repeal of all laws of prohibition, federal recognition of gay marriage, an end to American military hegemony, and an end to welfare for corporations. If you think that’s right-wing, then you need a fucking education. The Right has always been obsessed with Bill Clinton, and Hillary as well. What’s weird is your obsession with me and your summary disregard of your own reputable source in favor of your own idiotic prejudices. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2004, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-bill-cant-you-take-a-pill/249898/111 "2004-06-15T23:14:51Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > I just hope **Liberal** had some tissues nearby to clean up his mess after he was done watching Clinton’s napping. How brave of you to pile on, Rjung. I wish I had your moral courage. ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2004, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-bill-cant-you-take-a-pill/249898/112 "2004-06-15T23:39:04Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Well, falling asleep at the funeral is just _rude._ But for real fireworks, he shoulda laid the nearest intern’s head on his lap. That would have been COOL! You disgust me on so many levels, **Biggirl** That is all. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-bill-cant-you-take-a-pill/249898/113 "2004-06-16T00:11:37Z")
It just goes to show that even in death Ronald Reagan was the great uniter. He got Bill and Hillary sleeping together again for the first time in six years. Nyuk. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-bill-cant-you-take-a-pill/249898/114 "2004-06-19T04:14:09Z")
> [@Apos](#): > > And there is a pattern: I still think you grossly misrepresented the Wellstone funeral as well, for what reasons I have no idea since, no, I can’t read your mind, but don’t need the reasons to think the carrying on is unjustified. Who said what about the Wellstone funeral? ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-bill-cant-you-take-a-pill/249898/115 "2004-06-19T07:08:22Z")
The Republican spin-machine used selected clips and twisted quotes to depict Paul Wellstone’s memorial service as if the attending Democrats politicized the whole event. Al Franken devotes an extensive chapter in **Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them** on the subject; it’s the only chapter in the book devoid of jokes or smarmy comments, because Franken and Wellstone were close friends (both are from Minnesota). There’s a short summary [here,](http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0921-07.htm) though IMO it’s worth it to read the entire chapter, just for the sheer depth of detail you get from someone who was in the thick of things. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-bill-cant-you-take-a-pill/249898/116 "2004-06-19T07:46:15Z")
I see. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-bill-cant-you-take-a-pill/249898/117 "2004-06-19T12:38:54Z")
[14 June 2004. Not that it was a matter of principle, of course](http://www.liberaloasis.com): > [@](#): > > Here’s (William) Kristol yesterday on Fox News Sunday: > > KRISTOL: I think [Ronald Reagan] could have an impact if the Bush campaign has the nerve to make it have an impact. John Kerry said at the 1988 Democratic convention, speaking on behalf of his fellow Massachusetts liberal Democrat Michael Dukakis,…that the Reagan presidency was a period of “moral darkness”. > > **Now…no one wants to politicize the death of a recent president. But you know what? The Bush campaign should.** And they should, in my view, they should go up with an ad next week…a very respectful ad about President Reagan and say: > > “We have a disagreement. George W. Bush was a Reaganite. John Kerry thought that the Reagan presidency was a period of ‘moral darkness’.” > > And here’s Kristol on the 10/30/02 edition of Fox News’ On The Record With Greta Van Susteren, debating The Nation’s David Corn: > > KRISTOL: Look, Paul Wellstone was a very political guy, and I suspect he would have liked his own memorial service, if I can put it that way. And the fact it was a little over the top, and some of us maybe found it a little distasteful and a little too partisan. Paul Wellstone was a tough, partisan politician, a man of the left, a proud man of the left. There’s a big tradition on the left of turning funeral services into political rallies. If you go back and look at the early days of the, you know, Socialist Party here, and of course, abroad, as well… > > …It was a somewhat – I mean, I say this in a nice way, I think, but it was a – it was a Wellstone-like memorial service. > > CORN: But you know…if anything had happened to Jesse Helms in the last week, there’d be a service in North Carolina. And people would be calling for Elizabeth Dole, who’s running for his seat, to carry forward the Jesse Helms legacy. There was nothing surprising about that service. > > **KRISTOL: No, no, no! Wait, wait!…When Rick Kahn said, “We can redeem the sacrifice of Paul Wellstone’s life if you help win this election with Walter Mondale,” that’s a little crazy. I mean, you can’t redeem the sacrifice of Paul Wellstone’s life by electing Walter Mondale. So there’s a kind of…politicization of things like death, which is a little weird.** > … > For the left, the personal is political. And I think you did see that in this memorial service. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-bill-cant-you-take-a-pill/249898.md?page=5)