Bill Clinton marked the first anniversary of his presidential library by coming out against the hard-line rhetoric that has become all too familiar in Washington these days. Increasingly, the left has stepped up their attacks on the president and his administration, with charges that Bush lied and/or mislead the public with regard to the causes of the war in Iraq. The Democratic strategy is understandable, however. As with any war, the population is apt to grow weary when there is the perception of a lack of progress, a perception that is perpetuated by the media, who reports Iraq in a very one sided manner, ignoring progress toward the training of security forces or democratization. Because of this downbeat perception and because of the Bush administration’s seeming inability to articulate its strategy or plans for the future, much less to defend the actions it has already take, the left smells blood and has stepped up their vitriolic attacks 100 fold.

During Clinton’s speech he spoke about his differences with Bush over Iraq, tax cuts and the deficit and called for greater conciliation and compromise, while acknowledging that he too ignored such calls during his own presidency. Its unclear exactly what type of political game Clinton may or may not be playing. Perhaps he is laying the foundation for his wife’s expected presidential run in 2008, by convincing the electorate, that Sen. Clinton is more pragmatic than her loud-mouthed Democratic cohorts. In reality, we can expect nothing in the form of conciliation. What we can expect is more virulent attacks and perhaps a more vigorous response from the White House, something that has been sorely lacking in the past, or perhaps, Bush will capitulate. One would like to think that Bush has more gumption that that but given his track record, we aren’t sure. Its not enough for the President to say we won’t cut and run in Iraq, he must convince the population why. The president must recognize the fact that without the support of the people he cannot govern and frankly in a representative government one would hope so.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-11-20-clinton_x.htm