<$BlogRSDUrl$>

Thursday, September 22, 2005

John Hinderaker lies about Presidential courtesies. Try Google, John.  

John Hinderaker on Powerline appears outraged by recent statements former President Clinton made about the current administration on last Sunday's morning talk shows. For some odd reason, hearing some critical analysis of the current administration out of the mouth of the president who oversaw an amazing eight years of piece and prosperity is almost too much for Hinderaker to take:

Power Line: Uncharted Territory, Once Again: "This has never happened before. Until now, both parties have recognized a patriotism that, at some level, supersedes partisanship. Consistent with that belief, former Presidents of both parties have stayed out of politics and have avoided criticizing their successors. Until now. The Democrats appear bent on destroying every element of the fabric that has united us as Americans."


As if that isn't bad enough, Hinderaker's statements are not even true. It didn't take more than a few seconds to Google the query:

"former president bush" "criticized clinton"

That brought me to this AP article from September, 2000 where former President Bush (#41) did indeed criticize Clinton while campaigning for his son in 2000:

"Bush questioned the Clinton-Gore administration's overseas military policies..."

"He also said George W. would "restore honor and decency" to the White House."

"The elder Bush also criticized Clinton's decision last week to release oil from the nation's strategic petroleum reserve to combat high fuel prices."



Interestingly, one of the big issues at that time was the price of gas for consumers. Former President Bush was explained while stumping for his son that prices would come down if we elected his son, which would lead to the opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Of course, ANWR hasn't opened, and if it did, would have little effect on the price of gas, since it simply isn't large enough to lower our dependence on foreign oil. Interestingly, the price of oil has average MUCH higher under the current President Bush than it did under Clinton.

Also, during the 2000 campaign, George W Bush stated (2:52 into audio clip titled, "Energy Policy and Politics") that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve was meant "for war" or times of major disruptions. Now that we're both in a war (actually two wars), and have a major disruptions (Katrina), Bush has failed to use the Strategic Petroleum Reserves, causing the prices to skyrocket and hurt American consumers.

Would President Clinton be wrong to criticize the current president for his irrational and hypocritical energy policy? When is it appropriate to cross this line (which hasn't existed at least as far back at Bush 41's criticism of Clinton)?



Comments: Post a Comment

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?