From: matjmm@gsusgi1.gsu.edu (J. Morgan Morris)
Subject: Re: WELLLLL! IT'S DAY ONE. WHERE'S THE PLAN???
Organization: Georgia State University
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 21:25:41 GMT

ck347@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Richard A. Mulac) writes:



>ck347@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Richard A. Mulac) writes:
>>>Like I stated in another post, I don't think Clinton has a shred
>>>of character, but I consoled myself after the election in the
>>>thought that most of Clinton's campaign promises would be good
>>>for the country and maybe he would do a fine job.  Now after
>>>his blatant abandonment of those promises, he appears to be just
>>>another old guard Democrat who is placing top priority on implementing
>>>left-wing, liberal social policy and further addicting the public
>>>to the nipple of big government through increased spending.
>>>
>>>His ability to improve education in this country is suspect, and besides,
>>>his top priority is supposed to be the economy.  You can hardly translate
>>>what he did in Arkansas (not much) to the rest of the country.  And even
>>>though I don't respect his record, I am all for him trying to improve
>>>education and the economy.  I just don't like how his top priority has been
>>>shifted to a left-wing, liberal agenda.  Like one of Clinton's staffers
>>>said this week when asked what he thought the public's opinion of the first
>>>few days of the Clinton administration was, he replied:
>>> 'If you're an illegal alien lesbian whose trying to get an abortion, the
>>>      first few days of the Clinton administration have been GREAT!'
> 
>matjmm@gsusgi1.gsu.edu (J. Morgan Morris) says:
>>Whoa. He didn't do much in Arkansas?? Back up what you say, because I 
>>am quite familiar with his accomplishments. And he wasn't voted the 
>>most effective governor for nothing...
>>
>>In Arkansas, the major needs were education and the economy. He committed 
>>himself to improving both, and did so.
>>
>>In America, our primary needs are health care and the economy. I believe he 
>>will do his best to improve these areas, and they will be the ultimate 
>>indicator of his success during his first term. 

>OK, I'll grant you that in some areas, like education, Clinton made some
>gains while Governor.  But realistically, he was not the best choice
>the Democrats could have made when selecting their Presidential 
>candidate.  The fact is that Clinton was one of the token Democrats who 
>got in under the wire during primary season.  Those Democrats who got
>into the primaries initially didn't expect to win against an incumbent
>President with sky-high approval ratings.  More likely they were trying
>to set themselves up for a serious run in 1996.  As Bush became vulnerable
>the Clinton forces downplayed his negatives (the most I can remember a 
>winning candidate having) and overinflated his record.  

I, of course, believe that Clinton was the best choice.   Clinton's initial 
strategy was to run and establish name recognition, fully expecting Mario
Cuomo to enter the race. I also believe that he didn't expect to win this
year, and that he would have fulfilled the remainder of his term in Arkansas
until he decided to run for something else.

All of that changed when Cuomo decided not to run. His campaign was
reformulated (not the first time) and the rest is history. It's not 
Clinton's fault that this happened; it is a mixture of luck and the 
political savvy to take advantage of the situation.

>Arkansas is
>unique in it's problems and doesn't match up well with the rest of the
>country.  While Clinton may have worked minor wonders there, his methods
>can't be extrapolated to the rest of the country.

Oh, I see. Wal-Mart doesn't match up well with the rest of the country since
it's based in Arkansas. And the Dallas Cowboys don't match up well in the 
Super Bowl, since their owner and coach both have strong Arkansas ties.

He served for a long time in a state with issues that are common to many
others, and with few resources to effect change. I still believe that
experience does match up.


>>Some of the other issues, e.g.  the recent situation involving gays and 
>>the military, must be treated carefully.  While I agree with his stance,
>>the process should move slowly and involve two-way communication with
>>the people, or else he will alienate many people and lose the election
>>in 1996, much as he lost the governorship in Arkansas in 1980 for 
>>pushing reform without gathering consensus.

>This is an example of what I think his biggest problem is.  He thinks
>that the people wanted EVERYTHING he talked about doing during the
>campaign, and now acts surprised when there's a backlash to his
>actions.  The people wanted him to concentrate on the ECONOMY (which
>involves both education and health care), not social tinkering, even
>if it seems like an easy thing to do in one day.  As far as 'gays in
>the military' goes, I would allow it ONLY if all seperation of 
>military personnel were gotten rid of.  This means everybody, both
>men and women, bunk together, shower together, etc..  If you're
>going to let everybody in, then you shouldn't seperate them once
>they are there.  If the military isn't willing to do this, then I'd
>have to be for keeping the ban.


Part of the problem with the "gay" issue is that the economic stuff is
still being worked out. It is complex, and I hope they take their time
to get it right. So all that's left are these other "simpler" issues.

I don't think you have the authority to "allow" anything concerning
the military. Bill Clinton does, as commander-in-chief. Since gays and
lesbians are already in the military, it's not an issue as to whether they're
allowed or not; just to what extent certain behaviors are permitted. And I 
do believe that the military has a bigger problem with heterosexual 
behavior than with homosexual behavior, if the recent past is any indicator.
In the Gulf War, for example, there were numerous incidents of unwanted 
heterosexual behavior; only one incident of homosexual behavior
wothout consent. And the Tailhook scandal....etc.

Bunking together will not solve the problem. Strict conduct codes will
contribute to the solution.

Still, as I said in a earlier post, Clinton needs to move slowly on this one.


Later,
Morgan

-- 

John Morgan Morris
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Georgia State University
University Plaza
Atlanta, GA. 30303-3083

Internet: matjmm@gsusgi1.gsu.edu
Telephone: (404) 651-2253
FAX: (404) 651-2246

Newsgroups: alt.politics.clinton