DEMOCRATS ONLY: Do you believe Bill Clinton's presidency was a success?

[Mordecai]

Similar to the other thread. Republicans can weigh-in, just don't vote in the poll.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Depends how you define "success". If you assess it based on the long-term consequences of the policies he pursued, then definitely not.

[Ebowed]

Only a success in the sense that he prevented Bush and Dole from being elected.  Thanks, Bill!

[MATTROSE94]

I guess Clinton was a success overall, but some of his policies were indeed misguided, which is no surprise considering that the Congress he had to deal with for most of his term was atrocious.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Yes, but I was too young to vote.  His model of job growth is not ideal, as it involves too much capitalism, but it worked for the time being and he got blown in the Oval Office. 

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Successful in expanding American hegemony abroad and continuing/accelerating the transfer of wealth and power to the upper crust, yes.

[WalterMitty]

yes absolutely.

(i voted for bob dole in 96)

[TNF]

A massive success in turning the Democratic Party into a full-throated servant of international finance capital and doing away with whatever elements of the party preferred social democratic or even left-liberal reformism. Much more effective than Reagan in dismantling the welfare state and busting unions, of course, what with the poor-killing Welfare Reform Act and the passage of NAFTA in '94.

[Flake]

I do, but unfortunately I never got a chance to vote for him because I was still a young child during his presidency.

[TDAS04]

Yes, but was too young to vote.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

NAFTA, DOMA, DADT, Gramm-Leach-Biley, DMCA, Mickey Mouse copyright extension, general deregulation, and so on. Awful President.

[Peter the Lefty]

Passed NAFTA, The "welfare reform" bull$hit bill, and DOMA.  Oh and he gutted Glass-Seagall, too.  @$$hole.

[H. Ross Peron]

Yes on the balance although he wasn't a truly great President unlike what some in the party may think. Clinton, like Eisenhower was blessed with a booming economy which allowed to ride the tide of economic growth. Beyond that, President Clinton did make a valiant effort for universal healthcare along with actually practicing fiscal conservatism, signing NAFTA and intervening against ethnic cleansing in the Balkans and beginning the long campaign against Al-Qaeda in the Middle East. OTOH, he's "welfare reform" and gutting Glass-Steagall were only deplorable in themselves but also served to move the "Overton Window" to the right on economic issues while he passed useless, divisive laws such as the Assault Weapons Ban that only served to hurt the Democratic Party and his failure to intervene to stop the terrible genocide will always remain a stain on American foreign policy.

[morgieb]

I think he was, but it was more like an Eisenhower success rather than a Lincoln success, and some of his policies were pretty awful.

I wasn't even born when he was first elected

[Cryptic]

In some ways, yes, but in other ways, no.  I wish there was a middle ground option for this. 

[opebo]

Only in the sense that he was better than the even more awful alternatives who would have occupied the office had he not 'beaten' them.

[Zioneer]

I think he was, but it was more like an Eisenhower success rather than a Lincoln success, and some of his policies were pretty awful.

I wasn't even born when he was first elected

I was born two weeks before he was first elected.

[PJ]

Had some good policies, had some awful policies. Agree with Cryptic that there should be a neutral option. I voted success, at the time, but the few progressive policies he pursued were dismantled by the next administration.

[TheDeadFlagBlues]

No.

Creating a budget surplus during an economic boom is not that laudable. The evisceration of the welfare state is the Clinton legacy.

Clinton's presidency should not be celebrated by Democrats.

[freefair]

No.

Creating a budget surplus during an economic boom is not that laudable. The evisceration of the welfare state is the Clinton legacy.

Clinton's presidency should not be celebrated by Democrats.

Its Keynesianism 101?

[Mordecai]

Depends how you define "success". If you assess it based on the long-term consequences of the policies he pursued, then definitely not.

Since we judge other Presidents by the long-term consequences, it would be fair to do so with Clinton.

No.

Creating a budget surplus during an economic boom is not that laudable. The evisceration of the welfare state is the Clinton legacy.

Clinton's presidency should not be celebrated by Democrats.

Its Keynesianism 101?

I think he means that it's not a particularly grand accomplishment and could be achieved by any half-competent President.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Depends how you define "success". If you assess it based on the long-term consequences of the policies he pursued, then definitely not.

Since we judge other Presidents by the long-term consequences, it would be fair to do so with Clinton.

No.

Creating a budget surplus during an economic boom is not that laudable. The evisceration of the welfare state is the Clinton legacy.

Clinton's presidency should not be celebrated by Democrats.

Its Keynesianism 101?

I think he means that it's not a particularly grand accomplishment and could be achieved by any half-competent President.

It's been a while since we had a President who was even half competent.

[Paul Kemp]

The only major problems I have with his Presidency are NAFTA and Glas-Steagall.


He was alright other than that.

"Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"

[The Dowager Mod]

Compared to those who were in office immediately before and after him, he was a great success.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

The only major problems I have with his Presidency are NAFTA and Glas-Steagall.


He was alright other than that.

"Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"

I'm going to hell for chuckling at that.