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Clinton Speaks at Georgetown on GOP's Approach and North Korea

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October 18, 2006 3:59 PM

ABC's Jennifer Duck Reports: Former President Bill Clinton's message to the Georgetown University crowd concerned "the common good approach" and fighting the ideologues--in his words, the current ideological Republicans--in politics.  With careful words, Clinton criticized the ideological Republicans about their willingness to listen (as the ideologues) and voiced his concerns about North Korea and the economy.

The former President criticized the current administration of using the "uncommon good approach" and called it successful so far, but added "it may not be in 3 weeks."  Clinton continued the criticism saying, "Now, this sort of politics -- striving for the common good -- for me stands in stark contrast to both the political and governing philosophy of the leadership in Washington today and for the last six years."  He also spoke on the conservativeness of our current government saying, "This is the first time when, on a consistent basis, the most conservative, most ideological wing of the Republican Party has had both the executive and the legislative branch, with a very distinct governing philosophy and a very distinct political philosophy."

Staying on the ideological kick, Clinton said, "We ("philosophers") believe in striving, at least, to cooperate with others because we think that there are very few problems in the world we can solve on our own.  They ("ideologues") favor unilateralism whenever possible, and cooperation when it's unavoidable."

Clinton called the Woodward book State of Denial "well named" saying, "If you are an ideologue, denial is an essential part of your political being."

On North Korea, Clinton said there was "legitimate concern" about the nuclear tests and Iran's nuclear ambitions.  He said our position has been weakened because for at least half of 6 years, the administration has asked for funds for research into two nuclear weapons.

On tax cuts, Clinton reflected on his new-found "millionaire" life and criticized the tax cuts for the wealthy, saying he and his wealthy friends should be taxed more. He also criticized Congress's passage of more Estate Tax relief saying the $250 billion a year that went to the Estate Tax is several times what it would cost to restore the cuts in college aid, cuts in after-school programs, and implement the 9/11 commission's recommendations.

Clinton spoke a little over an hour at his alma mater and was not surprisingly fashionably late by about 20 minutes. 

October 18, 2006 | Permalink | User Comments (9)

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User Comments

Clinton in 2008... time we brought him back!

Posted by: Mark | Oct 18, 2006 6:40:16 PM

Typical Clinton. Instead of apolagizing for his reckless foreign policy which allowed the N. Korean & Iranian threats to grow while he was entertaining contributors with extravagant parties in the White House he blaims everything on the Bush administration whiich is still cleanining up after him.

Posted by: YAFer in Jerusalem | Oct 19, 2006 12:43:59 PM

I just watched the speech on www.c-span.org , it was very good.

Yafer - may be you should apologize for you spelling or is that Bill Clinton's fault too?

Posted by: BenMurphyNYC | Oct 19, 2006 3:19:12 PM

I want our country to return to what it once was. It was a country where people had jobs, paid their taxes, and were satisfied. Now everyone is dissatisfied. With everything. They have no jobs, no homes, no money to pay what they owe. We have a President who takes care of their own, the rich. They don't care who's life has been killed in the Iraq war, the President says his heart breaks for their lost life. Oh yes. He will be out in two years and all his mess will have to be fixed by the next poor President who gets in. I pray for whoever does. Amen.

Posted by: zerillofran | Oct 19, 2006 5:55:20 PM

God Bless Bill Clinton. Our country is in the worst state than it has ever been. The Bush administration has created an ologarcy. We have fewer rights. The jobs created have been part-time. Health Care is in a shambles. Crime is rising. We are borrowing SO much money to "fight a war on terror" that we are in danger of becoming a third world power. We have shunned Kioto, the Geneva Convention and Nato. The world does not look favorably on us. I will stop listing the agregious wrong doings such as graft and plain ole' stealing frome the American people thru the no bid contracts going to Dick Cheney's Halaburton. Where did the billions go? WE HAVE TO HAVE A CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT! THERE IS NO OPTION IF WE WANT TO LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY AGAIN! Jeaninne Scott-Lamb

Posted by: Jeaninne Scott-Lamb | Oct 20, 2006 8:53:39 AM

Bill Clinton and his liberal cronies came to the conclusion that "Liberal" IS a dirty word, so they are now going to "rename" their Marxist/Socialist philosophy that "redistributes wealth" as "Common Good". Hopefully most Americans will recognize that liberalism/socialism/marxism (take your choice) has never worked and never will.

Posted by: Robert Richards | Oct 21, 2006 2:59:13 PM

Why can't we see things for what they really are, simply. Jeaninne Scott-Lamb, Bill Clinton is blessed and, yes, you're right, we have to have a change in our government. Now having that said, lets take a moment to understand the TRUTH and the CONSEQUENCE of the 'isms' war ... unlike anuthing we have ever known. We impetuously entered into this rather peculiar dimension of life's reality in the Middle East. Strange and shocking suicidal behavior ... defies all adjectives; fanaticism best defines the fanatics who commit suicide to kill and maim innocent Iraqi families, including children.
Now I cannot overstate the fact that we, the People, of the United States of America, for the first time in American history - we invaded a foreign country without any real provocation ro actual threat to the People of the United States. Remember ... Osama bin Laden - He convinced '19 fanatics' to commit the terror on 9/11 [most of whom were from Saudi Arabia; none from Iraq]and, now its Democratization's Imperialism vs. Islamic-Fanaticism's Terrorism. Yet beneath the lying... lies the truth; whatever the reason the President and his team decided to go to war... the business of war was a big mistake! What do you think?

Posted by: Counselorlyons | Oct 24, 2006 12:52:31 PM

Good ol' Bill Clinton. "I did not have sex with that woman..."

Posted by: Eric Bystrom | Oct 30, 2006 12:11:58 AM

Jeaninne Scott-Lamb, There's no doubt, you are an extremely, intelligent individual. That's the most intelligent, most well written, post I ever read. I suggest you get in government and help bring some positive change to our great country. Yes, Bill Clinton is a blessing to our country. I do a lot of traveling to foreign countries and People from all over the world speak very highly of Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Posted by: Pointman | Dec 30, 2007 6:56:50 AM

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