Is Bill Clinton a closet Romney supporter?

[tpfkaw]

I wouldn't have thought so, but first he talks about Romney's "sterling" business record, then calls for all the Bush tax cuts to be extended, then this.  He's not exactly known for being a gaffe machine, so it sort of seems like a passive-aggressive effort to hurt Obama.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Of course he's not.  And he made multiple gaffes in 2008, so this isn't exactly shocking.

[tpfkaw]

Of course he's not.  And he made multiple gaffes in 2008, so this isn't exactly shocking.

His "gaffes" in '08 were all nasty things directed at Obama...

[RogueBeaver]

No, he's trying to send Obama signals on policy and tactics. Combine this with Rendell's "executive experience" remark and there's too much stuff from Clintonworld, too close together, to be coincidental.

[bore]

More anti Obama than pro Romney.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

No, he's just a little bitter about not getting to be First Gentleman.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

More anti Obama than pro Romney.

^^This.

He's going to go around half-cocked (pun intended) making Obummer's life miserable right through November.

His spokesman will need a raise in the next 5 months

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Or he's positioning for a Hillary run in 2016.

If Obama loses to Romney, Bill figures Hillary will have an easier shot at beating a Republican incumbent. But if Obama wins re-election, a Democrat could have a tough time winning in '16.

On the flip side, even if Obama does win re-election, the Clintons will have distanced themselves enough from Obama to be considered "fresh" in 2016. Hillary won't continue as Secretary of State so she'll be less associated with Obama. And in 2016, Bill will be able to say "I told ya so."

[Napoleon]

Of course he's not.  And he made multiple gaffes in 2008, so this isn't exactly shocking.

Bill Clinton doesn't make gaffes.

No he is not a Romney supporter but he doesn't support Obama either.

[President von Cat]

The sad reality is that Bill Clinton is a jerk. Never liked him.

[Oakvale]

No, he's just kind of an asshole. Remember his embarassing and shameful behaviour leading up to the South Carolina primary last time? Yeah.

[Phony Moderate]

The sad reality is that Bill Clinton is a jerk. Never liked him.

Agree with the first sentence, not so much the second.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Does it matter?

[President von Cat]

The sad reality is that Bill Clinton is a jerk. Never liked him.

Agree with the first sentence, not so much the second.

Meh, I never did. Always saw him as a selfish, conceited philanderer who got really lucky that his second term coincided with the 90s tech boom. Unfortunately his deep character flaws hobbled the Democrats from capitalizing on a good economy.

[anvi]

Sounds consistent with the call for the Bush tax cuts to be extended.  It wouldn't make sense for him to want the rates for the top 2.5% to stay the same and those for everyone else to rise.  I don't think this particular statement is inconsistent with anything Obama says either; Obama doesn't want taxes raised on those below the top 2.5%.  And Clinton often praises political opposition when he thinks they have certain pluses; he did that when he was POTUS too, and not long ago he warned people not to underestimate Palin and complimented Newt's policy insights.

All that said, I think Bill Clinton has made his policy differences with Obama fairly clear, and not infrequently.  He did an interview late last year or earlier this year where he said rather forthrightly that he thought the volume of regulations that were imposed on banks and private businesses in the midst of the recession was unwise.  He doesn't exactly suppress very well.  But I don't believe he supports Romney.

Sure, he is an a.h.  But, as POTUS, I miss the a.h.

[Napoleon]

This country wouldn't be so ed up right now if we had Bill in charge.

[DrScholl]

No.

[Eraserhead]

By default, since he clearly hates Obama as a person.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

This country wouldn't be so ed up right now if we had Bill in charge.

Glass-Steagall. I have said enough.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

This country wouldn't be so ed up right now if we had Bill in charge.

How so? He spent most of his time in office asleep at the wheel. You want that now?

[NHI]

I think he's trying to to undercut Obama, hoping he'll be defeated in 2012, and set up Hillary for 2016.