Welcome back.Not having looked at this thread much recently, I was momentarily disappointed to read threats (and accompanying cheers) of your impending departure. I enjoy reading (or, what is more frequent, admittedly, skimming) your posts. I don't agree with you much, and I especially agree with Chris about the Middle East, but the board's a better place for all of your loquacity (not to say pedantics!) and your love of CMS. Thanks for coming back.

You ask my reasons for admiring Bill Clinton.

Where do I begin? Well, apart from Clinton being a champion of political-correctness and equality, here are just a few of the reasons why I admire this great man from Arkansas.

Clinton’s successful presidential campaign of 1992 was made extremely difficult for this most cultured of gentlemen by the vile attacks of the opposition, who attempted to besmirch his character by dredging up claims of personal misconduct from his time in England. The way Clinton withstood and triumphed over this foul and cynical assault was a tribute to the man’s tenacity and strength of character, attributes that the free world are now thankful for following Clinton’s early return to Camp David from the G8 summit in Japan. My respect for Bill was further reinforced following his weathering of the Whitewater storm. This finest of presidents emerged from this ‘dark’ period in his presidency an even better and stronger man.

Having been elected president, Clinton triumphed over opposition from Republicans and from his own ranks to gain budget approval, despite a demand for more spending cuts. Bill doggedly ensured that the wealth of the United States would continue to be meted out to its people with generosity and even-handedness.

However, it is on the international stage that Clinton has truly excelled, especially for a president elected primarily on popular domestic policies. With political issues erupting around the world, in places as disparate as Bosnia, Somalia, Rwanda, Haiti, and Cuba, Clinton wasted no time in upholding American values of freedom and fairness through the protection of free trade and peace-keeping measures. Indeed, the Israel-Jordan peace agreement was signed at the White House in the summer of 1994 by Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and Jordan's King Hussein. In the autumn of that year, Clinton succeeded in restoring Haiti's ousted president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, to power. Clinton scored again by bolstering Russian president Boris Yeltsin's popularity with American economic aid, and would later persuade Yeltsin to ‘allow’ former Eastern Block countries to join NATO. And, during the entire course of Clinton’s tenure, the bond between the USA and Great Britain has grown ever stronger. When it comes to foreign policy, Britain is now seen by America as its greatest ally, and British approval is constantly sought before overseas action is considered. Indeed, Britain is once again a powerful force on the world stage (if mainly symbolically) as a loyal and trusty friend of America….that great bastion of democracy…..and Bill Clinton has played a major role in forging the stronger links between the American people and her close cousins in Great Britain. And, Clinton fuelled the success of George Mitchell’s peace brokering exercise in Northern Ireland.

Back at home, in 1996, Clinton enacted measures to improve access to health care, to raise the minimum wage above $5, and to impose sanctions on companies that do business with Iran and Libya. In a move to discourage teenage smoking, Clinton approved a series of curbs on cigarette advertising and introduced plans for the FDA to regulate nicotine as a controlled substance…..pretty impressive stuff! I must say though, I still enjoy the occasional pipe, cigarette and cigar.

Clinton’s second term was charcterized by a soaring economy, and his continued gentlemanly conduct in public and in private. The Starr investigations provided conclusive evidence of Clinton’s enormous strength and resolve, and his ability to lead the USA as a great leader and as a human being….a man of the people. The mature and enlightened people of the United States were willing to ignore Clinton's alleged human frailty…..anyway, the economy was in great shape, his policies were popular, and the United States remained strong abroad. The public had no desire for impeachment…..and autumn elections saw the Republicans lose five House seats.

Apart from all of the above reasons for admiring Clinton, there is the wonderful Hillary….and Chelsea too! Hillary has to be one of the most able and talented first ladies in the history of the USA. It is interesting to note that Great Britain’s Prime Minister, Tony Blair, also has an incredibly intelligent, witty and popular wife to support him, in Cherie.

One of Clinton’s greatest triumphs has been the coining of the phrase “fear of the other”….the man has unflinchingly attacked prejudice, seeing it as one of society’s last great ills. But that is what Clinton is all about….he purifies, he expunges the evils of society, he has led a hugely successful crusade to further erode the barriers that divide one man from his neighbour, at home and abroad. His response to the ‘ethnic cleansing’ in the Balkans is proof positive that his devotion to world harmony extends well beyond the comfortable and secure boundaries of the USA. Clinton is not alone in this….he merely represents modern America, a nation that is serving as guiding light to all the world’s nations…..America is full of heroes like Clinton, and heroines like Hillary….Clinton is merely the temporary custodian of the further development and sophistication of global society.

More than ever, the political leaders of the free world are relying on teamwork….not just co-operation with government colleagues, but also consultation with their wives, families, and friends. Indeed, I’m sure that Clinton had the statesmanlike foresight to consult Lewinsky on policy at home and abroad. Apart from providing Bill with great friendship, Lewinsky served her country, and the free world, by helping to inspire its leader. The American People could see this, and respected Clinton’s conduct as the actions of a normal human being….the People could identify with Clinton’s human frailties.

Clinton and Blair…..they’re ’team people’…..bonding with the peoples of the free world, and reaching out beyond the constantly expanding borders of Western Civilization, to the less fortunate and oppressed.

It was quite fitting that the fine movie AIR FORCE ONE was made during Clinton's stint as president.....the movie is a serves as a great tribute to the courage and resolve of President Bill Clinton.....the Harrison Ford character and Bill Clinton are virtually interchangeable....it was quite moving to see the real-life president invite many of the cast and crew on to the real-life Air Force One.

Having been born in the town of Hope, Clinton has dedicated his life to fulfilling the hopes and dreams of the people of the Free World.