MyDD :: New York Times Can't Keep Its Hands Off of the Clintons

New York Times Can't Keep Its Hands Off of the Clintons

by Matt Stoller, Tue May 23, 2006 at 12:00:08 AM EST

If you want something slightly less classy than Atrios's post, here's my little addition to stories that won't be in the papers tomorrow about Republican candidates for 2008.

Jeb Bush, who is widely seen as the heir to the Bush legacy after positive comments from both his brother and father, has his own problems, with widely circulated rumors about affairs in Tallahasee with none other than then-Secretary of State Katherine Harris. It's an open question whether the conservative Republican base will tolerate his tumultuous family life - his wife Columba was caught in 1999 smuggling clothing and jewelry from France into the US without paying customs duty, and his daughter has been in rehab for cocaine addiction.

Jeb Bush is banking on a tendency towards forgiveness when it comes to the Bush clan. Social conservatives did not penalize George W. Bush for past drug and alcohol use, though a DUI conviction that came to light in the final days of the 2000 election reportedly led to a somewhat depressed conservative vote. George H. W. Bush also paid no political penalty for extra-marital affairs while in office, with a picturesque relationship between him and Barbara holding the American public's imagination until the end of his one term.

It seems Jeb is hoping the trend holds for him as well.

The New York Times has decided to peer into the Clinton's bedroom window once again. Get ready for a slimefest.

Tags: media (all tags)

Permalink :: 19 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: NYT Can't Keep Its Hands Off of the Clintons (3.00 / 1)

Y'know what, I'll be the first to say this. Everyone vilified her (and for political reasons I did too) but from what I've heard, Katherine Harris is a very warm, down to earth gal.

Fact is the press piled on with the crappiest photos of her they could find, when as everyone knows, a gal looking crappy in makeup is usually a gal who doesn't want to wear that crap but feels obliged, but not enough so to pay one of those TV-make-up folks to do it like Hillary or Nancy does. In real life, up close, she's actually pretty hot. Definitely would hit that.

If Jeb's doin' her, hat's off. I'd never vote for the man, nor for her, but he'd go up a point, from 0 to 1 on a scale of 10, in my opinion.

by redstar67 on Tue May 23, 2006 at 12:20:41 AM EST

Re: NYT Can't Keep Its Hands Off of the Clintons (3.00 / 1)

I gave you a 1 because you said you'd hit it.

by Bob Brigham on Tue May 23, 2006 at 01:34:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: NYT Can't Keep Its Hands Off of the Clintons (none / 0)

She is oddly appealing. Like Malkin or Coulter.

I guess it's the same reason why good girls like bad boys.

'Hitting it' is at least a relatively benign choice of words... if a bit cheesey!

by teknofyl on Tue May 23, 2006 at 11:28:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: NYT Can't Keep Its Hands Off of the Clintons (none / 0)

Yup, no 'splainin' taste.

Can't agree with you on Coulter though. Too creepy in a sort of Marilyn Manson way.

by redstar67 on Tue May 23, 2006 at 11:45:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Peer into Dubay's bedroom (none / 0)

I guess they wouldn't see much. He goes to bed at 9:00pm? If the stories are true he is so zonked out on antidepressants his little soldier can't stand at attention anyway.

by dpANDREWS on Tue May 23, 2006 at 09:09:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Peer into Dubay's bedroom (none / 0)

Does he cry himself to sleep thinking about the presidency that could have been, had Fredo not screwed it all up and made Bush a dirty word....

by Taylor26 on Tue May 23, 2006 at 12:50:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Lets talk about Rudy Guiliani (none / 0)

How many affairs has this guy had? Or should I say how many has he had that have gone public? 2?

by dpANDREWS on Tue May 23, 2006 at 09:13:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: NYT Can't Keep Its Hands Off of the Clintons (3.00 / 2)

Wait a second. I write this and I lose my full posting privileges?

That's screwed up, guys.

You all complain about free speech and the corporate media, but in terms of your ability to handle irony and 95% agreement, you appear to me to have some issues.

I'd have to say Humanite has a similar editorial policy.

Seriously, that's f'ed up.

by redstar67 on Tue May 23, 2006 at 12:43:47 AM EST

Mojo (none / 0)

It's probably the '1' rating that did it. Happens automatically. You just need more mojo (getting '3's is one way) to get trusted status back.

by Curt Matlock on Tue May 23, 2006 at 08:31:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Mojo (none / 0)

Thanks to those who gave me my mojo back.

And to the dude who didn't like "hit it" and troll-rated me: sorry to offend.

Must be a generational thing.

by redstar67 on Tue May 23, 2006 at 11:46:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New York Times Can't Keep Its Hands Off of the (none / 0)

It's probably a good idea to continue publishing stories that won't be in tomorrow's papers since they will appear in google searches and won't be stuck behind some "pay-per-view" or "registration required" firewall.

Everyone deserves to know the sordid stories behind the Republican candidates.

by LionelEHutz on Tue May 23, 2006 at 01:35:12 AM EST

Focus on the Issues (none / 0)

It's really sad that after the witch hunts of the 1990s, where Clinton was vilified for anything and everything he did, that we're still searching for reasons to distrust our public officials. Here's to hoping the 2008 race is about the issues, not the scandals.

http://takebackdefense.blogspot.com

by Pat Robertson on Tue May 23, 2006 at 02:02:53 AM EST

No, it's totally different (none / 0)

because Democrats hold themselves out as paragons of virtue and try to legislate morality, while Republicans believe in personal liberty and staying out of people's private lives.

Try sticking fingers in both ears to keep head from exploding- it worked for me in 2004.

by clb72 on Tue May 23, 2006 at 09:46:51 AM EST

Re: New York Times Can't Keep Its Hands Off of the (none / 0)

Wait... the Times is attacking Clinton again for no reason? And talking about how gosh-darn forgivable those Bushes are? Damn you, liberal media!!!

"It's not enough to say you'll be ready from Day One - you have to be right from Day One."

by schroeder on Tue May 23, 2006 at 10:54:07 AM EST

Maybe we should do as they do (3.00 / 1)

Coulter "jokes" about how the Times shoulda been blown up -- and the Times knuckles under to their side. Perhaps there's a point here from which we should be learning? Not that I'm actually suggesting anything; just sayin'

by smartalek on Tue May 23, 2006 at 11:39:19 AM EST

Re: Maybe we should do as they do (none / 0)

moral insanity is not a strategy

by Matt Stoller on Tue May 23, 2006 at 11:54:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Maybe we should do as they do (none / 0)

Yeah, but coming from our side, the scorched-earth tactics that seem to work so well for the other side would likely be neither immoral nor insane.

'course, the media like Coulter 'cuz she sells good, which is what the media are all about. But they wouldn't likely take too kindly to tactics like that from our side, 'cuz they just plain don't like us.

So probably you're right, it would be insane.

Fun to think about what it might look like, though. I'm thinking maybe bring back the idea of re-education camps outside Nome for former Dubya voters. Save the heated barracks for those who go willingly.

Something like that.

by redstar67 on Tue May 23, 2006 at 12:02:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New York Times Can't Keep Its Hands Off of the (none / 0)

dont forget JEB!' s crackwhore daughter
or his drunk-fuckin-ina-a-parkin lot son
or JENNA/NOT-JENNA "GIRLZ GONE WILD" BushTM
or Neil "VENEREAL WARTS" BushTM
or Doro "why wont david drier fuck me?" BushTM

by n69n on Tue May 23, 2006 at 06:52:06 PM EST

Re: New York Times Can't Keep Its Hands Off of the (none / 0)

from what i know of, Bush said that he turned to God when he was 40 to quit drinking. he made this public and said that 'alcohol began to compete with my energies ... I'd lose focus'. common! can you imagine Bush praying to God? now... how nice would it be if we knew where Bush went for his drug and alcoholic treatment center!?

by sehebre on Fri Jul 20, 2007 at 12:51:29 PM EST

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