The Meaning of Bill Clinton's Rascal Diss of Rick Perry

Azi Paybarah — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:03:09 -0400

Bill Clinton called Gov. Perry a "good-looking rascal" whose anti-federal government agenda was "crazy." (photo credit: azi paybarah / observer)

Bill Clinton's "good-looking rascal" diss of Texas Governor Rick Perry earlier this week reminds WNYC's Jim O'Grady of the warming the former president gave to Democrats about another guy from Texas.

O'Grady:

That rhetorical sleight of hand—raising an alarm about Perry’s potential attraction to voters while simultaneously smack-talking him--reminded me of a conversation I had in mid-2001 with a Clinton staffer.

At the time, the ex-president was newly settled in Harlem and putting together his globe-trotting, post-White House agenda. His successor, George W. Bush, was wallowing at the start of his first term with mediocre poll numbers. There was open talk among Democrats about Bush looking like a beatable, one-term chief executive.

But the staffer, an acquaintance, said this was the advice he’d heard Clinton giving to various Dems about President Bush: "Do not underestimate the guy. He's a canny pol. We need to beat him like a drum."

Turner Hedges on Tax Pledge He Signed in 2010

Azi Paybarah — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:54:09 -0400

Republican congressional candidate Bob Turner signaled a shift on his economic policies, moving away from a pledge he made last year to avoid raising taxes.

On the Brian Lehrer Show this morning, around the 16:30 mark, the WNYC host asked "So, you won't sign the Grover Norquist 'no new taxes under any circumstances' pledge?"

Turner, who signed it in 2010, said: "Um, I would hate to part with Grover's money, but it's probably, I'm pretty close to that. That in the grand scheme, I think the Republicans are happily saying 'Well, we're not increasing taxes, we're just closing loopholes. I like that terminology better than raising taxes. But the reality is, revenue will be increased."

Last week, Turner broke with some fiscal conservatives when he said he would not have voted for Rep. Paul Ryan's budget, which the candidate said went too far in cutting funds for entitlement programs.

Representatives for Turner and Norquist did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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The Meaning of Bill Clinton's Rascal Diss of Rick Perry

Turner Hedges on Tax Pledge He Signed in 2010