So everyone knows that some have chosen to make diaries bashing Bill Clinton's economy, either crediting "lies" that never happened, or crediting only the dot-com bubble, which is absolutely specious. The economy under Bill Clinton did well because he took the steps needed to end the deficit which was to raise taxes on the rich big time: this in turn fixed up the bond markets which in turned fueled the economic boom we knew back then. Ever Republican in both houses voted against it. Unfortunately for them, the economy took off, and the budget deficit died. Bill Clinton did that by telling the truth to the American people how tax cuts for the rich were why the deficit was so high and the economy bad.

Bill Clinton also fixed the economy by signing the Family Medical Leave Act, which made it possible for women to take leave while they took care of their child, he also raised the earned income tax credit. This in turn lifted people out of poverty, which fell in every demographic group in terms of race and gender. The dot-com boom only helped the rich. It didn't change the lives of most of the working Americans who went out of poverty under President Clinton.

More countries chose to invest in us due to the deficit Clinton ended. 22 million new jobs because they knew we wouldn't go under like we would have under Bush Sr. had he got another term. Was he a free trader? YES he was, but eveyr living former President supported NAFTA too, and Bush I negotiated it. Welfare reform got those people on welfare into jobs, ending welfare as we knew it, making welfare what it was always meant to be: a second chance, not a way of life. It was indeed Bill Clinton's truths which fueled the economy of the '90's. I hope the radical Kos-like Clinton haters get that.

Paul Krugman has another masterpiece in the New York Times.  I really have to give him credit, because was one of the very few members of the "commentariat" that was able to cover the Democratic primary without demonizing Hillary Clinton and blindly praising Barack Obama.

He repeatedly criticized Obama's position on health care and criticized him for attacking Hillary Clinton's health care plan from the right, including print and radio ads that were strikingly familiar to the right-wing's "Harry and Louise" ads that helped defeat the 1993 Clinton health care plan.

He also defended Hillary Clinton when the media and Democrats were piling on her over her comments on LBJ's role in the civil rights movement.  In Hate Spring Eternal, he reminded us that Democratic candidates had often been treated this way in the past and that Senator Obama could expect similar treatment should he become the party's nominee.

As we all know by now, Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, gave $4,600 to help retire Senator Clinton's outstanding debt. The New York Times's blog The Caucus just reported that:

This just in: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and former President Bill Clinton each contributed $2,300 to Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign. They made the donation today.

After Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton were finished speaking here, the contributions were announced to reporters by Jamie Smith, a spokeswoman for Mrs. Clinton. The news comes one day after Mr. Obama and his wife, Michelle, announced that they had each contributed $2,300 to Mrs. Clinton to help retire her campaign debt.

Politico.com is spotlighting Obama today with a series of articles. Ben Smith is covering the quandary that Obama faces on embracing the Clintons too tightly. The relationship between Obama and Clintons especially Bill seems to be more complicated and a delicate dance. Obama ran on a platform of a change basically refuting the Clinton presidency/legacy. Of course, it didn't go down well with the former President. Obama have to craft a delicate message that balances his philosophy and Clinton's supporters which surely would need a delicate touch and hand of a political genius.

On the other side thus far it seems HRC is speaking for the Clinton family and has essentially taken over the reigns of Clinton participation in political discourse in the public arena from Bill. Bill might have to resign to the destiny that the time is ripe for Obama and HRC. I personally think he should concentrate more on the Clinton Foundation work which is doing excellent work all around the World. Although his bondage with the African American community needs repair and I think he is more interested in that. Read more of Ben Smith's article in..

After Sen. Barack Obama emerged as the winner of the Democratic nomination, he announced that he'd be glad to meet Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton at the time and place of her choosing.

But now that Clinton has conceded defeat and endorsed Obama, he's the one choosing the time and place. And the central choice he faces is whether he can -- and wants to -- win with the Clinton legacy.

Despite widespread speculation about the Clintons' feelings and motives, the reality is that they have few options: They have to do whatever Obama wants. Hillary Clinton's political future, and her husband's legacy, rest on the perception that they are working as hard as they can for the first African-American presidential nominee, whether he wins or loses.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/060 8/11390.html

Ken Vogel thinks Obama has gone "conventional". He concludes that Obama who embarked on a message as an unconventional politician who would be the change agent for Washingtonian politics actually missed some opportunities recently to highlight his convictions. I personally think Vogel is being little too harsh and is rushing to quick judgements.

Barack Obama has crafted an image as an unconventional candidate, a change agent and a post-partisan politician who represents a dramatic break from the status quo. But since securing the Democratic presidential nomination, when confronted with a series of thorny issues the Illinois senator has pursued a conspicuously conventional path, one that falls far short of his soaring rhetoric.

Faced with tough choices on fronts ranging from public financing and town hall meetings to warrantless surveillance and the Second Amendment, Obama passed up opportunities to take bold stands and make striking departures from customary politics. Instead, he has followed a familiar tack, straddling controversial issues and choosing politically advantageous routes that will ensure his campaign a cash edge and minimize damaging blowback on several highly sensitive issues.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/060 8/11384.html

There are more articles on Obama and Clinton Unity appearances and maxed out Obama donation for Clinton campaign fund on the Politico frontpage..Happy Reading..

http://www.politico.com/

According to Terry McAuliffe, Big Daddy and the presumptive Democratic nominee allegedly met Monday.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washingt on/2008/06/hillary-obama.html

"McAuliffe also said Obama had visited ex-President Clinton at his New York home Monday and that Clinton, in Europe this week, had stated his willingness to 'go 24/7...to win the White House.'"

Are people on the same page with respect to their stories?  Hillary and Obama pretty much said that he hadn't had a sit-down with the former president.  What the hell is McAuliffe talking about?  Wasn't Obama in New Mexico on Monday?  Did McAuliffe confuse Hillary with Obama or is he just envisioning things again?

(Cross-posted at Clintonistas for Obama)

When William Jefferson Clinton was elected president, I was still a young girl living with parents who were determined (especially my father) to instill in me a love for the Republican Party, and a sneering disdain for Democrats in general. I grew up around Right wing radio and Fox News (first launched in 1996). I was supposed to detest Bill Clinton and scoff at his wife. I remember when Hillary made her infamous "baking cookies" remark and did her amusing impression of Tammy Wynette's accent. I remember because I giggled delightedly and beamed at her - and because my father chastised me immediately. But I liked her, and I couldn't help it - and at the time, I liked Bill even more. When my father asked me who I wanted for president, I told him I wanted "the friendly one," much to his dismay. As the 1992 election results rolled in, I sat directly in front of the TV with an irrepressible grin on my face, while my parents emitted exasperated sighs from the other side of the room.

No, this is not a troll diary or snark: I'm serious.

Bill Clinton is awesome. He's the most human president we'll ever have. He sometimes makes mistakes. He lets his (many) passions get the best of him on occasion. And sure, he seems a bit overwhelmed by the youtube-style campaign. But the man is still awesome. And I support him, no matter what he said in the HEATED primary. I love this man. He represented hope and progress to so many people (including myself).

This is what unity is, folks. It's forgiving heated political debate during a primary and reaching out to the other side. The burden is on the WINNERS to be cordial and forgiving, NOT the losers.

Senator Clinton walked back to Senate amongst standing ovation from her Senate colleagues. "Clinton gave a short speech saying she was glad to be back and planned to do everything she could to help Obama win the White House and Democrats win races across the country."

The fallen front-runner -- now simply New York's junior senator -- walked into the Democrats' weekly caucus lunch to a forks-on-glasses serenade and standing ovation from 40 Senate colleagues.
"Glad to be here, my friends, glad to be here," Clinton said as she made her way past a greeting party of interns from her office and well-wishers on the Capitol steps.
Clinton, who will appear at her first joint public rally with presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama in Unity, N.H., Friday, is learning to face life as a senator after seven years as a candidate and candidate-in waiting. She took her first steps toward the commonplace Tuesday afternoon, telling caucus members she planned to be an active advocate for their agenda and promising to campaign for Democratic candidates around the country if called upon.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/politi cs/ny-usclin0625,0,445084.story

Bill Clinton extended his full support today to Senator Obama's campaign promising to do everything to help Obama win the Presidential election.

Bill Clinton extended his support to Obama for the first time Tuesday in a one-sentence statement from spokesman Matt McKenna.
"President Clinton is obviously committed to doing whatever he can and is asked to do to ensure Senator Obama is the next president of the United States," McKenna said.

For more follow this hyperlink.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080624/ap_o n_el_pr/obama_president_clinton;_ylt=AkL M5WaNyzb8IWIYjacR16.yFz4D

Despite all the negativity in the reports and efforts of media to portray Clintons as poor losers and manufacture fissures within Democratic party, it is clear that the Democratic party is getting unitedly behind Senator Obama. It is also clear that HRC and Bill C. are rapidly joining forces with Senator Obama to help him win the White House during November election.

It is time for us, all of their supporters to follow their example and support Senator Obama.