Archive [January 2000]

“You can’t let every spy case affect the larger national interests of the country.” — BILL CLINTON, AFTER RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT WAS CAUGHT SPYING ON THE STATE DEPARTMENT, AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE.

Of course not! Let’s move on.

“Most of my time and effort now is going to trying to save the human race and make things better for human beings and the other creatures that live on this planet.” — TED TURNER, ON GETTING RID OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS, ON CNN’s “LARRY KING LIVE”

Thank you, Miss Congeniality.

Leslie Stahl: “I know something you do that most people don’t probably know. I can’t believe it, but you hypnotize chicken.” Al Gore: “I learned how to do that as a kid. I really did.” — CBS’S “60 MINUTES”

Ever try it in the Oval Office?

“I’m endlessly fascinated by her. She’s so smart. Virtually every time I’ve seen her perform, she has knocked my socks off.” — LESLIE STAHL, CBS REPORTER, ON HILLARY CLINTON, QUOTED IN THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

In other words, she hypnotizes you…

“If we are to avoid the eventual catastrophic world conflict we must strengthen the United Nations as a first step toward a world government … to do that, of course, we Americans will have to yield up some of our sovereignty.” — WALTER CRONKITE, ACCEPTING THE NORMAN COUSINS GLOBAL GOVERNANCE AWARD FROM THE WORLD FEDERALISTS ASSOCIATION AT THE UNITED NATIONS, QUOTED IN THE HOTLINE

I have a better idea: say goodnight, Walter.

”I think she’s got a really good personality. She’s fun.” — JAMES CARVILLE, ON HILLARY CLINTON, QUOTED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES

Right – in an Eva Peron, Elena Ceaucescu kind of way.

”I don’t recall it. I remember Gail calling me and asking me if I would interview for the book. And I told her I would not. I may have had a conversation with her on the phone. I don’t recall the quote.” — HAROLD ICKES, ON HIS QUOTE IN THE SHEEHY BOOK DESCRIBING HILLARY’S SENATE CAMPAIGN AS “A RACE FOR REDEMPTION.” ON CNN’s “LATE EDITION”

Translation: Yeah, I said it.

“I was the author of that proposal. I wrote that … That is something for which I have been the principal proponent for a long time.” — AL GORE, IN TIME INTERVIEW, ON THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT (EITC). BUT THE EITC BECAME LAW IN 1975, A YEAR BEFORE GORE WAS ELECTED TO CONGRESS, SLATE

Well, Algore invented Congress, too.

“[Hillary Clinton is] given the label by right-wingers as a, you know, flaming radical, In fact, she is quite socially conservative … Her youth minister … says that Hillary … actually disapproves of abortion personally, although she would always fight for a woman’s right to choose. She thinks homosexuality… is not normative, although she would fight for the President’s policies on that score. She believes that people should remain married. She doesn’t believe in divorce…” — GAIL SHEEHY, AUTHOR OF HILLARY’S CHOICE, INTERVIEWED ON FNC’S SPECIAL REPORT”

Yep. In fact, she’s running on the Conservative Party ticket in New York. Not.

“I’m proud to have been a part of the deliberations that have helped to set this economic policy in place … I want you to know that I am determined to continue the prosperity…” — AL GORE, TAKING CREDIT FOR THE GOOD ECONOMY, QUOTED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES

What a relief.

“[Gore’s gaffes are] a reflection of the great expectations that his parents, and particularly his father, had for him. The script that his parents wrote for his life called for him to be heroic and save the world. [Gore was] the dutiful son — responsible, conscientious, eager to please.” — BILL TURQUE, NEWSWEEK CORRESPONDENT AND GORE BIOGRAPHER, QUOTED IN THE HOTLINE

Oh, please. The guy just can’t tell the truth. It’s no more complicated than that.

“You can’t just sort of say generally that someone is Marxist.” — DIANE SAWYER, TO DONALD TRUMP, WHO SAID BILL BRADLEY HAS “MARXIST” LEANINGS, ON ABC’s “GOOD MORNING AMERICA”

Okay. Better say specifically that someone is Marxist.

“I’ve had niceness up to here. I mean, it was like eating cotton candy … listening to them.” — BILL PRESS, ON THE REPUBLICAN DEBATES, ON CNN’s “INSIDE POLITICS”

Marxist.

“She’s been on the board of directors of Wal-Mart.” — JAMES CARVILLE, ON HILLARY CLINTON’S CREDENTIALS FOR THE NEW YORK SENATE, QUOTED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES

And don’t forget that little Whitewater project.

“Corporal Cueball is volunteering. I’m going to New York, I’m setting up committees, and we’re going to call it the Committee to Combat Thuggery, and we’re going to take on all these thugs in the Giuliani campaign.” — JAMES CARVILLE, ASSISTING HILLARY CLINTON, ON NBC’s “MEET THE PRESS”

Sounds like a slur to me.

”I really shouldn’t have used that word. There is actually a better word: ‘goon.”’ — JAMES CARVILLE, ON CALLING GIULIANI A “THUG,” QUOTED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES

Here’s an even better word: “Senator.” Get used to it.

“I’m sort of a political goon.” — JAMES CARVILLE, QUOTED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES

Sort of?

“No one can speak for James or even match his inimitable rhetoric.”— HILLARY CLINTON, REFUSING TO CRITICIZE CARVILLE’S COMMENTS, QUOTED IN THE BUFFALO NEWS

There’s always your bud Larry Flynt.

“I found a little place in upstate New York called Love Canal. I was the one that started it all.” — AL GORE, TAKING CREDIT FOR FIRST DRAWING ATTENTION TO LOVE CANAL. BUT GORE HELD CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS IN 10/78, TWO MONTHS AFTER PRESIDENT CARTER HAD DECLARED LOVE CANAL A DISASTER AREA AND AFTER THE GOVERNMENT HAD OFFERED TO BUY THE HOMES OF RESIDENTS. QUOTED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES

Love Story, Love Canal … Algore is just a love machine.

“We are pulling things out of storage to see what has to be covered.” — HILLARY CLINTON, ON MOVING TO CHAPPAQUA, NY, QUOTED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES

Or shredded…

“Just work full-time at this. Don’t be a First Lady, don’t be Bill Clinton’s wife, don’t be an administration defender. I think once she’s able to do that, she’ll be more formidable than people are giving her credit for today.” — SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D, NY), ADVICE TO HILLARY CLINTON, QUOTED IN THE NEW YORK POST

Don’t be Bill Clinton’s wife? Mr. Schumer, you forget — that is her sole accomplishment.

“We’re not going to rely on Congress. We’re going to find other avenues. It’s our overall sense that this is something the American public is demanding.” — JOE LOCKHART; WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN, ANNOUNCING THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON “WILL TAKE ACTION ON GUN SAFETY NEXT YEAR” — DESPITE CONGRESS ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS CONVENED T0 “BRAINSTORM” A STRATEGY FOR GOING AROUND CONGRESS, PROPOSING THAT CLINTON ACT THROUGH EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY, FEDERAL REGULATIONS, OR NEW LEGISLATION. AP

The sound you hear is the Founding Fathers rolling over in their graves.

”I would be very surprised if any adverse consequences flowed from the Chinese running the [Panama] Canal.”— BILL CLINTON, AT NOV. 30 NEWS CONFERENCE. BUT ON OCTOBER 19, WHEN ASKED BY A REPORTER: “HAVEN’T THE CHINESE BOUGHT THE SHIPPING RIGHTS ON BOTH ENDS [OF THE CANAL]?” JOE LOCKHART SNAPPED: “NO. THAT IS THE KIND OF SILLY STUFF THAT GETS OUT FROM TIME TO TIME IN THIS TOWN.” WHITE HOUSE PRESS OFFICE

In fact, why not sell the Chi-Coms our most powerful computers, and allow them to take our most advanced weapons designs? Oh, we already did.

”I can say quite honestly there has never been a decision I’ve made that’s been influenced by money.” — BILL BRADLEY, IN JOINT APPEARANCE WITH JOHN MCCAIN IN CLAREMONT NEW HAMPSHIRE TO FORESWEAR “SOFT MONEY,” NBC NIGHTLY NEWS.

Hence, your nickname: “Dollar Bill.”

“I have found that it is not easy to stop spending the taxpayers’ money.” — BILL BRADLEY, WHILE DEMOCRAT SENATOR FROM NJ. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL TAXPAYERS UNION, BRADLEY VOTED FOR $70,303,000,000 IN SPENDING INCREASES DURING THE 103RD CONGRESS ALONE. QUOTED IN INSIGHT

And, as long as you’re a Democrat, you won’t have to.