I just watched Bill Clinton’s keynote at the Democratic National Convention and was struck a couple of his points. He was definitely on his game, relaxed and confident, speaking in an almost conversational tone at times. [transcript available here: tip to Michael]
I was surprised at issues he raised: one being the fact that he is a beneficiary of the GOP tax cuts — the 1% who got the lion’s share of that largesse — and that he tied his own choices to avoid service in Vietnam with Bush and Cheney.
His play on the class divisions strengthened by the current administration’s policies, their beliefs made real, was fun for him: after the abuse heaped on him by the GOP and its minions in the media, he seemed to enjoy exposing their strategy of pulling the ladder up behind them by pushing the tax burden down on others.
Whether or not you think Lt Bush fulfilled his obligation, there is no doubt about his decision on going to Vietnam. And his wingman, if you will, took five deferments, claiming he had “other priorities.” Clinton, while perhaps not proud of his decision, has never shirked it and tonight he made it a point of comparison with the incumbent Commander-in-Chief and the man who would replace him. He never claimed to have done anything other than follow his principles, and by linking his choice and the differing justifications with those of the president and vice-president, perhaps he can undermine their claims to a just war and their various other moral imperatives. (Sweet irony to use Clinton as a moral club, but hey, it could be fun to watch.)
Billmon has a (somewhat grouchy) summary of the events: like him, I do miss Clinton’s gifts. I first saw him at the 1988 DNC in Atlanta, as a member of a local press bureau. That was the year he gave an address and just kept going: I think he was introducing someone else, and overran his time wee bit. Who would have guessed he would be the nominee and eventual winner four years later?