Was Bill Clinton the best President since Ike?

[Sumner 1868]

Waco, NAFTA, WTO, gun control, welfare "reform" (i.e., cuts), telecommunications deregulation, repeal of Glass-Stegall, thoroughly unconstitutional "Anti-Terrorism Act," "Commodity Futures Modernization Act." Caved on gays in the military, caved on a federal jobs program, watered down an already weak promise on health care. Cost his party Congress after almost sixty years of dominance with little interruption.

Then we get to the worst of Clinton; bombed Somalia, bombed Iraq, bombed Sudan, bombed Afghanistan, and bombed Yugoslavia. None of these "interventions" were needed, and all ruined the chance of peace after the Cold War.

[Sumner 1868]

Perhaps a good way to determine the Clinton years would be to look at the state of mind at the time of his election compared to the end of his presidency. Statistics below are from Erika Shaker's book "Great Expectations."

*In 1992, 16% of Americans believed non-whites should not be allowed to immigrate. By 2000, it was 25%

*34% of Americans believed a widely advertised product was probably good in 1992. In 2000, it was 45%.

*In 1992, 66% of Americans discussed local issues with other people. That number was 34% in 2000.

*36% of Americans believed that men should be heads of their household in 1992. In 2000, that number was 49%.

*The number of Americans who believed that violence is a normal part of life rose from 9% in 1992 to 31% in 2000.

*The number who believed that violence is an acceptable way to meet your goals rose from 14% in 1992 to 26% in 2000.

*In 1992, 72% of Americans considered defending the environment a priority. In 2000, 57% did.

*American's time spent watching television increased from 36% to 40% between 1992 and 2000.

*65% of Americans considered materialism a threat to society in 1992. In 2000, that number was 48%.

* In 2000 34% of Americans said they enjoyed showing foreigners that they're smarter and stronger, up from 27% in 1992.

Very bad psychological shift for eight supposedly blessed years.