September 13, 2001

10:07 PM

Clinton was here. And then, as if by magic he got here. How did he do it?
posted by szg8 (43 comments total)

He said in a television interview that he rode aboard a military aircraft.

I would assume that the US Government wanted him back on US soil to avoid any untoward events in light of the attacks.

Killing any President, even and ex-President is a very dramatic action so I assume Clinton was a target as well.
posted by dewelch at 10:18 PM on September 13, 2001

Clinton is still guarded by Secret Service, and will be for the rest of his life. You can't seriously think he travels commercial do you?

That fat fuck is toated around by military/gov't planes when overseas.
posted by BrownEyeWink at 10:19 PM on September 13, 2001

...
posted by rmannion at 10:21 PM on September 13, 2001

That fat fuck is toated around by military/gov't planes when overseas.

Actually, it looks like he's lost some weight. And I'm sure the bid ole military planes can handle the load, anyway.
posted by kirkaracha at 10:21 PM on September 13, 2001

fat fuck?
i disagree totally with that statement.
im a canadian, and i think he is the best president you guys have had in a long time.
so what if he cheated on his wife? lots of guys sleep around.
lots of american heroes did...joltin joe, jfk, etc...

no, i think this man stands for a lot.
i know it was a form video clip on cnn, but watching him hug and emphasize with the friends of the victims moved me; hes a very compassionate man.

so please, show some respect for you exonerrated(sp) "fat fuck"
posted by JackthaStripper at 10:23 PM on September 13, 2001

"guy" would have worked just as well
posted by kevspace at 10:27 PM on September 13, 2001

So you qualify a persons effect and honor by their physical health?

You damn canadians piss me off. That man destroyed our military power and shamed me (and many others) as an American with his adultery.

Still, back to the original topic... He's got back to the US via military flights, count on it!
posted by BrownEyeWink at 10:28 PM on September 13, 2001

it's nice to see that clinton is taken care of so well. thesecret service does a great job. i can't imagine doing a job where i am expected to take a bullet for my boss, but they do it.

i'm sure they wanted clinton in the u.s.
posted by mich9139 at 10:29 PM on September 13, 2001

i lked the way giulianni handled his ordeal. upfront, with out all of the semantics.
posted by mich9139 at 10:30 PM on September 13, 2001

[ So you qualify a persons effect and honor by their physical health? ]

um, i didnt qualify for anything due to his phys health, i qualified him for his dedication to people.

destroyed military power? hmm, i didnt realize that that was the backbone of your national pride.

and shamed you? my dad cheated on my mom... deal with it! it happens, people are not perfect!
your current president condemns gays and abortion (free choice)! please tell me that that is worse than a little hanky panky.
posted by JackthaStripper at 10:32 PM on September 13, 2001

You dad cheated on your mom? Disrespcting fucker, ought to be hanged.
posted by BrownEyeWink at 10:33 PM on September 13, 2001

I'm sorry that the tragic events have lead to such anger and if people are reassured by Bill Clinton' presense in NYC, then I believe it is good for Americans that he is around to offer his support.
posted by ericrolph at 10:39 PM on September 13, 2001

presence
posted by ericrolph at 10:40 PM on September 13, 2001

Shut up Grammer/Spelling Nazi
posted by BrownEyeWink at 10:41 PM on September 13, 2001

browneye,

If you are lobbying to be banned, looks like you are going about it in the right way.

Congrats!
posted by Kafkaesque at 10:45 PM on September 13, 2001

Television pretty much ruined the presidency.

What makes the British governing body very efficient is that all the scandals concentrate on the Royals while the House of Commons and House of Lords and the Prime Minister carry on with the business of running a country.

Same thing back in the day... but now we need the telegenic president. The man who can satisfy some odd need to have a father surrogate.

Clinton was one of the most successful presidents in the history of this nation. He was also a master of the media. His 1992 campaign is an excellent example of getting the vote. And yes, he had his faults just like any other human being.

Like him, dislike him -- you'll never take that away from him.

Alleged adulterous presidents in 20th Century American history:
Woodrow Wilson
Warren G. Harding
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Dwight D. Eisenhower
John F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
Bill Clinton
posted by linux at 10:50 PM on September 13, 2001

eh...sorry. i too support clinton, as i do with any past president we've had.

i believe clinton/gore has completed some great work.

i tend to seperate a persons person life with their work performance...especially, since you usually only see one side. Sometimes tho, a persons personal life may mirror a persons professional life...dunno.
posted by roger-unknown at 10:51 PM on September 13, 2001

I can't agree more

One's personal and professional life are driven by the same soul/beliefs/character.

What you do in either reflects and is paralled by the other.
posted by Return of BE at 10:55 PM on September 13, 2001

Don't feed the trolls.
posted by owillis at 10:58 PM on September 13, 2001

He's gone
posted by Kafkaesque at 10:58 PM on September 13, 2001

Trolls?

Differing opinions don't equal calling one a troll.
posted by Return of BE at 10:59 PM on September 13, 2001

Actually Clinton's strong point in 92 was a short Texan by the name of Ross Perot. Clinton won the Presidency with considerably less than 50% of the vote (slightly over 43%).

In any case it looks like the secret service is doing a pretty good job of getting the man swiftly back to the US.
posted by clevershark at 11:00 PM on September 13, 2001

What? He is still around!!!
posted by Fenix at 11:03 PM on September 13, 2001

Ex-presidents still get tons of presidential perks, and as noted above, can still be useful; if it made anyone feel better to have Clinton at the site, then good. Also, Clinton and all the other exes are entitled to daily intelligence briefings. All living exes have been invited to one of the National Day of Mourning Events Friday, so perhaps they can all have a little brainstorming session.
posted by aaron at 11:03 PM on September 13, 2001

Why do our Ex-presidents get intelligence briefing other than who is stalking them? What's the point?
posted by Return of BE at 11:05 PM on September 13, 2001

Personally, I thought Clinton made an excellent President. He is an extremely adept diplomat and a very capable leader. It's unfortunate that so many people are offended that he's human and has human failings.
posted by Kikkoman at 11:14 PM on September 13, 2001

Look, let's get one thing straight: Clinton's screwing around sexually is not the reason so many people disliked his Administration. It's his screwing around everywhere else that was the problem.
posted by aaron at 11:22 PM on September 13, 2001

amazing that after all this, it still somehow magically comes back to clinton's sex life. I didn't care about it then and I sure as hell don't care about it NOW.
posted by kevspace at 11:27 PM on September 13, 2001

Note that it wasn't a Clinton-basher who first brought up his personal life. There is much more to dislike about him than his adultery.
posted by gyc at 11:58 PM on September 13, 2001

No one has pointed out the funniest thing in that CNN article: "Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, meanwhile, was stranded in Austria...Gore was in Vienna, where he had been scheduled to speak to the Internet Service Providers Austria on the future of the Internet."

Poor Gore was stranded while Clinton strolled around NYC! That guy can't get a break anywhere...
posted by gluechunk at 12:14 AM on September 14, 2001

szg8 : i thought i might put you out of your misery, since no one else is interested in helping you out with your question.

australia is 18 hours infront of ny, and its about 20 hours flight back to the states.

do the maths.

theres nothing miraculous about it

= D
posted by parameswara at 1:22 AM on September 14, 2001

Gore was in Vienna, where he had been scheduled to speak to the Internet Service Providers Austria on the future of the Internet

Maybe the folks in Austria will buy the whole "I started the internet-let me lead you to it's Future" story.
posted by nwduffer at 1:31 AM on September 14, 2001

Hillary Clinton said explicitly on CNN last night that "the President sent a plane for him, and is ensuring the safety of all former Presidents."
posted by holgate at 3:26 AM on September 14, 2001

aaron said "Look, let's get one thing straight: Clinton's screwing around sexually is not the reason so many people disliked his Administration. It's his screwing around everywhere else that was the problem"

Amen.
posted by pixelate at 4:03 AM on September 14, 2001

Clinton is still guarded by Secret Service, and will be for the rest of his life. You can't seriously think he travels commercial do you?
He usually does, sorry to disappoint you. Gore flies commercial, too. They fly first class, of course, American carriers only (like diplomats)
They usually fly around the globe to give speeches and stuff, so they pay their own way (I suppose the government picks up the check for the Secret Service guys of course)
They do fly military planes in a case of emergency, or when they travel for State reasons (like to attend funerals abroad and stuff, former presidents do that)
posted by matteo at 4:05 AM on September 14, 2001

Civil Service protection is given to former Presidents and First Ladies for 10 years. Children of former Presidents receive Civil Service protection until the age of 16.
posted by Led at 5:08 AM on September 14, 2001

I didn't care who Clinton boinked then, and I don't care now. He was an excellent President and far preferable to Bush in every way imaginable. I was glad to see him in NY... just by walking around and hugging a bunch of chicks he makes things better. Just like Elvis.
posted by spilon at 7:40 AM on September 14, 2001

I didn't care who Clinton boinked then, and I don't care now. He was an excellent President and far preferable to Bush in every way imaginable. I was glad to see him in NY... just by walking around and hugging a bunch of chicks he makes things better. Just like Elvis.
posted by spilon at 7:40 AM on September 14, 2001

bill clinton. like him or don't like him. it doesn't matter now, as he isn't up for election to any office. yes, he gets to ride on military aircraft instead of delta airlines, and he still enjoys the dubious presence of secret service when he plays golf or goes to walmart. he is a former president, and as such, he is protected not only as a human being, but moreso as a symbol. a living icon.

but here is the thing. i am watching television last night, closed captioned above the bar at a local pub, and there he is, walking the streets of new york city. no suit, no tie. just this man. people are coming up to him with the pictures of their missing loved ones, and he is holding them, talking to them, trying to reassure them as a fellow mourner.

and where is george? he's heading to carnegie hall today. and i know the impracticality of placing a standing president on the street, but some kind of gesture needs to be made. something that shows that not only does he understand our frustrations, but that he is willing to walk among our walking wounded, willing to listen, willing to help.
posted by grabbingsand at 8:02 AM on September 14, 2001

Personally, I don't want to see that President in New York. Not because I don't like him but because I'd rather know that he's, unfortunately, too busy with the process of finding out who did this and "killing 'em deader than hell". Clinton did, I think, have a better more personable presence than W, at least on TV, and is more suitable for such things as letting people know "I feel your pain". The luxury of being an ex-President is that the current one has to deal with everything while Clinton can concentrate on comforting the people if he chooses.

Also... FDR was a suspected adulterer? Really? The guy had polio right?
posted by srw12 at 8:46 AM on September 14, 2001

Also... FDR was a suspected adulterer? Really? The guy had polio right?

Pertinent excerpt from A (Brief) History of Sex and the Presidency: "His physical handicap was no obstacle to having at least one mistress. Yet his extra-marital affair was never reported by the press. Though it is now commonly known he committed adultery, FDR is considered by many as one of the most dynamic, strong and ablest presidents ever to sit in the Oval Office. Has the revelation of his affair tarnished Roosevelt's reputation? On the contrary, it apparently put a polish on it."
posted by linux at 10:56 AM on September 14, 2001

Quite frankly, Ijust thought it was pretty interesting that a former President could be in Australia on the day of the bombing and manage to be at the site of the wreckage by Thursday.

And as someone else pointed out, Al is stuck in Europe.
posted by szg8 at 11:19 AM on September 14, 2001