Klein, Joe (2002) THE NATURAL New York: Doubleday, 230 pages

President Bill Clinton was probably one of the best campaigners in American history. He raised the hopes of followers and the anger of his opposition. His first 2 years were probably the worst in American history. He left office and all were at the time disappointed. The Left felt that he did not deliver and the Right were angry that they could impeach him but not convict him. Right wing talk show hosts secreted relished the election of Clinton and may feel the same way about Hillary if she runs. It was 8 years of soap opera.

However, on paper, he left behind a centrist record. He saved social security, provided for income tax relief on the working poor, raised taxes on the rich, and provided more money in his budget that went to the middle and the bottom than if a Republican were in office. He was involved in 2 wars without a lot American causalites. Along with much of the military, he was hesitant to become involved in a land war that could easily turn into a guerilla war with high causalities and essentially no exit strategy. His numbers were never as low as his predecessor or successor. He appointed 2 Supreme Court justices of moderate persuasion. Government at the federal level was smaller than when he came in. He introduced U.S. citizens to the benefits and downturns of a post industrial economy. NFTA passed under his leadership. He left office with the deficit in the surplus.

However, his personal life was a disaster. Time that could have been spent on political coalitions and fence mending was spent on controlling the media on his sexual adventures. His last days were as bad as his first days. He signed too many pardons and some very questionable ones at that.

However, if you want to draw a crowd, you tell your local candidate to get Bill Clinton and the place will be overloaded. Packed. One night on David Letterman he owned the room his charisma and vast knowledge on nearly every subject kept the audience rapt with attention.

When you vote for Elvis, you get Elvis with a Mensa intellect.