So, Big Bill, WJC, the man who brought prosperity to us all, imprisoned excessive millions excessively, made welfare queens multiple jobs so others could raise their children in extreme poverty, and innovated the financial sector to all of our benefits and who still can talk to the people and win them over . . .
Yeah, he got booed by miners after his wife brought him “out of retirement” to shut these people . . . sorry, show these people . . . sorry, demonstrate compassion to people who have taken blow after economic blow over the last 30 years.
What do we call Big Bill’s role? He’s not the black friend white liberals have and can check in. He’s the guy who can go out and talk to those people. He does our slumming for us. Except he’s re-treading old lines from the 90s. Back then, he told us the “future is coming, we can’t change that” and didn’t. Now he’s telling them “The question is, are we going to get back in the future business, and are you going along for the ride?” It’s almost hard to imagine HRC is suddenly looking soft in Florida, Ohio, and Pennsyvlania.
When we were playing that thought game about what kind of coalition HRC is thinking of building, Mr Jones asked “But if a big coalition emerges, what’s it a coalition *about*?” That question was painfully hard to answer during WJC’s administrations, but it was muddled enough that we could convince enough of ourselves that it was indeed *about* us.
Now, while we still may not know what the coalition is about, some are pretty sure that it’s not about them and sending WJC in to charm them is only rubbing salt in the wound.
Does HRC have time to course correct? Can she get out a message to convince those people? They’re really gonna blow it.
In at The End of The World 
I think WJC’s role will, by necessity, be in the background. Going to either really friendly areas like California or “challenge” areas like Kentucky. Fundraisers. Smaller venues. Or acting as his wife’s surrogate now so that she can focus on Trump.
He’s always a danger to make news, but it’s obviously got to be Hillary’s campaign. I wouldn’t be surprised if he found reasons to be in Europe or Asia for long stretches of time in the next few months. A Clinton Foundation event in Lima or something.
I’m assuming he doesn’t even address the convention. Just smile from the gallery and play the supporting husband.
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I also don’t think these polls mean anything. Nationally she’s up 13 points. Democrats don’t win Appalachia at the presidential level anymore. And haven’t for years. Which pains me, having grown up in Appalachia. But, I don’t think that it reflects a particular weakness of HRC.
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Tend to agree w. CVFD here — but also wth Laska about WJC’s thin skin and tin ear. Hoping he stays in the background. If sixteen years ago, Gore blew it by distancing himself from Bill, that was sixteen years ago. Neither the policies nor the guy himself play the way they used to.
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That may be the saddest thing about the election for me. HRC will be able to win without having to address these concerns or make any meaningful moves towards helping them. On the “be afraid” side, will HRC wind up losing more votes if Trump is able to make a credible claim on the issue? I.e., will he be able to rope in more people because their disdain for him is less than their distaste for HRC?
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I guess I’d agree that *if* she wins, it won’t be because she finally brought Appalachia — using that term as a placeholder for a whole bunch of issues — back to the Democrats. There are huge historic tendencies involved here, so how depressed to be by this particular election…that might raise other questions I can’t face right now.
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CVFD, I didn’t realize we grew up in Appalachia. Talk about elitist liberal snob.
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