Politics

Clinton on Obama’s Economic Performance: ‘Got a Very Difficult Hand to Play’

Clinton on Meet the Press

Waiting for an uptick in the economy during President Obama’s first term? Former President Bill Clinton says don’t hold your breath:

After reading a quote from President Clinton’s former adviser James Carville, suggesting that President Obama take a complete change of direction and “fire a lot of people,” President Clinton countered Carville’s assertion that things are not going well with:

“He became president just a few months after the financial crash. Now, keep in mind, even before the financial crash, in the eight years before the financial crash, we had almost no new jobs. Only 10% as many as we had when I was President…. Historically these things take five years to get over. And a year after the President took office, the final figures came in and it turned out that the crash was even worse than anybody thought….There’s no American alive except the people who are old enough to remember the great depression, and there are not many of them, who remember what it’s like to go through a financial crash, which normally takes four to five years to get over. So he’s got a very difficult hand to play. “

After telling Americans that the President was dealt a harsh hand, and that these things usually take four to five years to turn around, he commended the President’s current economic plan, saying “I think he finally got a plan that people can gravitate to.”

When asked by David Gregory if President Obama can be reelected if unemployment does not come down significantly from 9.1 %, President Clinton responded;

“Yes, If people believe that he had a credible plan, and the Republicans thwarted it, either because they were wrong or they just wanted to beat him. That‘s the problem they’re facing.”

When asked about the Republican field of presidential candidates in 2012, Clinton said it appears to be a two-man race between Perry and Romney, but wouldn’t count anything out.

“It‘s likely to be an unpredictable year because it’s an unpredictable time.”

President Clinton’s full interview on NBC’s Meet the Press:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Comments (150)

  • numbers
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 5:20pm

    When some people get lemons they make lemonade. What did Obama make?

    Report Post »  
    • The_Almighty_Creestof
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 5:30pm

      Me sick!

      Report Post »  
    • Exrepublisheep
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 5:40pm

      Clinton gave us a budget surplus. What did bushie2 give us? I mean us the little people, we know what he gave the rich. To compare bushie2 and obama just count the body bags.

      Report Post » Exrepublisheep  
    • MiCurmudgeon
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 5:40pm

      Nine pars, four boggies and four double boggies ….for an overall below par performance.

      Report Post »  
    • logictrumps
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 6:10pm

      @ Exrepublisheep

      This surplus you speak of, which of the following best describes it:

      A. Accounting gimmick

      B. Clinton just opened trade with China and they purchased a boat load of treasuries in return
      for shifting our manufacturing base to their nation which in turn helped the Fed Reserve
      pump up the tech bubble which then crashed & trillions vanished from our economy.

      C. There never was a surplus because we have for the last 20+ years simply rolled over maturing
      treasuries.

      D. All of the above

      Report Post »  
    • qpwillie
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 6:10pm

      Exrepublisheep,
      The Republican congress gave us the budget surplus as part of the “Contract With America”.

      Report Post » qpwillie  
    • CatB
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 6:30pm

      Urine.

      Report Post »  
    • Exrepublisheep
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 7:15pm

      @qpwillie. Republican congress did that? So what happened when a repub president took over? Shouldn’t it have gotten even better? CRASH! No, it didn’t.

      Report Post » Exrepublisheep  
    • IntransigentMind
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 7:42pm

      Why are we still listening to Bill Clinton as if a wise and sage adviser? He helped us get here:
      http://markamerica.com/2011/09/18/who-else-will-do-it/

      Report Post »  
    • barber2
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 7:48pm

      Obama just blamed the guy who gave him the lemons…

      Report Post »  
    • mdb749
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 7:55pm

      tee times.

      Report Post » mdb749  
    • rangerp
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 8:04pm

      @Exrepublisheep

      Very early into the Bush presidency, we were attacked. have you forgotten 9/11. Tell me, how do you think things would have gone with Al Gore at the helm during 9/11?

      The war on terror cost a bit, and was not exactly forseen. Slick Willie reaped the harvest planted by Reagan. Study economics, and enlighten yourself.

      Report Post » rangerp  
    • SteveSD
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 8:54pm

      I’m getting really tired of everyone asserting that the President is the sole determiner of fiscal policy. Y’all need to go read the constitution again. It’s the Legislative, not the Executive branch that has spending authority. The real question is; what did congress give Mr Obama? And… if memory serves, I seem to recall Democrats being in office when he was elected.

      Report Post »  
    • jzs
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 9:19pm

      Bush cut taxes in a big way (which ran up the deficit) and was a champion of deregulation. And the economy started downhill a year before he left office and utterly collapsed before he left.

      Why is it that anyone wants to pursue those same policies? They didn’t work. Hint: they helped the rich, the people who donate to Republican campaigns even though the rest of us suffer.

      If you’re paying for GBTV or otherwise looking for someone to tell you what to believe, I’ll spare you the monthly fee. The core, the fundamental guiding principal of the right is this: does this policy the top 5% richest people in the country? If it doesn’t, then it’s bad. It doesn’t matter how the middle class or poor are effected. There is one and only question about any policy issue: does it support millionairs and billionairs? That’s it. That’s all you need to know on policy.

      Now, if you also want to know who to hate and fear, turn to GVTB.

      Report Post » jzs  
    • Exrepublisheep
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 9:46pm

      @rangerp. AGAIN. So what happened when a repub took over after slick? 9-11, yes on georgie2 watch, people forget about that.
      @JZS. Well said.

      Report Post » Exrepublisheep  
    • SteveSD
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 10:20pm

      @JZS

      Thank you for your input. I’ve been studying these concepts for over 20 years, long before GBTV, and Glenn Beck, and I’m well aware of what principles work and which do not. Your statements regarding Bush are grossly inadequate and ignore entirely the actual, progressive policies that both he and the Democratic Congress, led by Barney Frank and Chris Dodd, and literally hundreds of others, that have systematically destroyed the system that actually works. We have not had a truly free and open society for well over a hundred years.

      Let’s hope the American people recognize the consequences of selfishness, venality and corruption, and decide to change things. Only then will we see an improvement in our condition. Presidents are meaningless; the people are the future.

      Report Post »  
    • trueblueday
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 11:46pm

      Obama confiscated the lemonade stand.

      Report Post »  
    • ourrightsourfreedom
      Posted on September 19, 2011 at 2:35am

      A bag of lies!!!

      Report Post » ourrightsourfreedom  
    • Steve
      Posted on September 19, 2011 at 5:51am

      jzs

      WOW! What a whopping piece of dog mess.

      Which leaves me to say………http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hfYJsQAhl0&feature=youtu.be

      Report Post »  
  • proantisocialist
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 5:15pm

    ooooohhhhh willy 5 years not 4 hmmm sounds like someone stumping for the pres….

    Report Post » proantisocialist  
    • michael48
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 5:31pm

      an idiot who doesn’t know what is..is. Giving advice to an idiot who hasn‘t a clue what universe he’s in or where he’s from…

      Report Post »  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 6:15pm

      Notice how he didn’t bring up Jimmy Carters depression……..Why? because Reagan started to turn it around in two years

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
    • llotus
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 6:32pm

      Exrepublsheep…….I am one of those little we the people……and I have to say the only time we prospered any at all was when there was a republican prez. not a dem. Something about the deems when they get in the White House….you can only be better off if you are on welfare or completely dependent on the gov. Lotus.

      Report Post »  
  • americanbychoice61
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 5:12pm

    We have BO selling a jobs plan that nobody is buying and turns to Bill Clinton to give it credibility…yes, the same Clinton that lied under oath. How stupid they think the american people is that in the middle of the Solyndra scandal they are trying to sell us more green jobs? I guess we’ll find out in 2012.

    Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 5:24pm

      Yes .. Obama has taken everything and made it worse and worse … and he calls on Bill Clinton to save him??? Hopefully people are waking up and realizing that EVERYTHING Obama has been doing is MONEY LAUNDERING from TAXPAYERS to his SUPPORTERS!

      TEA!

      Report Post »  
    • GeorgieJo
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 11:28pm

      I IGNORE everything word that comes out of Slick Billys mouth.
      He is a LOSER.
      Thanks for teaching my 7 year old daughter THE BLUE DRESS SYNDROME.
      Hillary HOW can you stay with such a moron?
      Oh wait its NOT a marriage IT’S a lame democraptic union.

      NO BO in 2012!!!!!

      Report Post »  
  • Cat
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 5:08pm

    Good God … When will this clown get out, and stay out?
    When we wise up and to stop funding this behemoth federal government before it ruins all of our lives.

    Report Post » Cat  
  • Nessuno99
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 5:07pm

    and we thought it couldn’t get any worse when Bubba ran things……….somebody call Monica

    Report Post »  
  • ZaphodsPlanet
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 5:07pm

    I think what BC is trying to say is, “There‘s not going to be any cigars in BO’s future”, especially not in the oval orifice. Is it me, or is BC slowly starting to look like an even uglier version of his wife?

    Report Post » ZaphodsPlanet  
  • CitizenVetUSA
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 5:06pm

    Desperate Obama – The Obama Buffett Rule:

    Code Phrase for “Jimmy Buffet” as in “Looking for my lost shaker of salt”!

    Report Post » CitizenVetUSA  
    • mdb749
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 7:55pm

      Now, that’s funny! Welcome to Margaritaville!

      Report Post » mdb749  
  • Boose
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 5:01pm

    http://www.erepublik.com/en/referrer/Bucephalus92

    Report Post »  
  • poster
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:49pm

    Depends on the meaning of, ‘Got a Very Difficult Hand to Play’.

    Report Post »  
    • anOpinion
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:54pm

      Obama did get a bad hand to play, so did Reagan. The problem is that unlike Reagan, Obama has played it as poorly as humanly possible, and continues to do so.

      Report Post » anOpinion  
    • chips1
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 5:12pm

      It would be difficult for anyone to jump from trading coconuts to using real money.

      Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:47pm

    Once again the hypocricy of the uber-failures of DC is apperant to the masses; though he may be right on the money of Mr Obama being elected yet again. The left will pull off every trick in the book via fraud, ballot stuffing, intimidation and lawsuits across the board to make sure he wins.

    And failing this happening somehow, then there is George Soros and his multi play plans in action.
    http://artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm (cat folk art)

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • chazman
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:59pm

      … I never trusted you, BILL, or that dog ugly wife of yours, and I certainly DO NOT TRUST OBAMMY!!! You liberal marxist’s better watch yer backs ’cause we’re gonna take you out hard!!

      Report Post »  
  • abbygirl1994
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:42pm

    Clinton, you are such a hypocrite and one of the most immpral presidents we have had.. first of all Obama has done nothing but made the situation worse, Mr. Spend Spend, wouldn’t know how to balance anything.. and second of all it was the Democrats who owned the Congress and Senate and spent spent so don’t even blame Bush.. you damn Democrats need to take the bulk of the blame.. for a change, cause it being Bushes fault is getting awfully boring and old! Not all American’s are idiots.. we know who is at fault.. DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post » abbygirl1994  
  • hi
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:38pm

    The Blaze is going to get in trouble for that scary picture of Clinton at the top like Time got in trouble for Bachman’s bad picture.

    Report Post » hi  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:43pm

      Does he look like W.C. Fields, or what?

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
    • Bonnieblue2A
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 5:01pm

      Clinton looks like his head is going to explode. Must support the global bankers. Must stay in the good graces of Spookey Dude Soros, Clinton’s biggest backer.

      Clinton has written the playbook for Obama and all Clinton’s staffers work for Obama. Obama’s failures are at the direction of Bill Clinton.

      Make no mistake about it people, Obama‘s term is Bill Clinton’s 3rd term. They will make him look so bad that Hillary will win a primary challenge against Obama and then Bill will get term #4, just like FDR!

      Report Post »  
  • littlemule
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:36pm

    I did not have sexual relations with that woman!!!!!!!!!
    words to live by

    Report Post »  
    • mrfunn
      Posted on September 19, 2011 at 6:32am

      The Lib media tried to tell us that oral sex was not sex.

      Report Post »  
  • TxMadMac
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:33pm

    Pimpdaddy’s got him a has been hoe to back him up ! I think i’m gonna throw up.

    Report Post »  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:33pm

    slickwillie~~~ We’ve NO interest in anything that flows outta your mouth except, “Goodbye.” Like an old and aged homecoming queen who yet sees herself as the high school starlet, you seem to think we care what you think. Since you demeaned the highest office of our land, supported and participated in looting historical, precious treasures from OUR HOUSE when you left in disgrace, I think the nicest thing you could do is to shut up and take hillarybillary (yet another one so enamored of herself she cannot see straight) with you.

    Report Post »  
  • 777patriot
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:30pm

    Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama, insert any Neo-Con you want, the band changes & the song remains the same.

    Ron Paul 2012

    Report Post » 777patriot  
    • Shasta
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:48pm

      Not if I have anything to say about it. I’ll take just about anybody besides Obummer and Paul.

      Report Post » Shasta  
    • 777patriot
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 6:50pm

      Anyone but Obummer huh? Sounds like anyone but W. Bush, or anyone who will treat the oval office with respect unlike Clinton and his interns, or the original anyone but no more new taxes bush.

      As I said the song remains the same, and your voice is coming through in the chorus Shasta.

      Liberty Defined
      Ron Paul 2012!

      Report Post » 777patriot  
    • Al Gored
      Posted on September 19, 2011 at 7:27am

      The progressives ( or are they liberals again? ) like Ron Paul.
      That is enough for me to be suspicious of Ron Paul.

      Report Post »  
  • ChristinaP55
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:30pm

    He’s had his chance for even some improvement & has failed miserably. He‘s got to go before it’s too late to turn things around.

    Report Post »  
  • Timothy_Reid
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:29pm

    Everyone under the sun is making excuses for Shamwow (Obummer). Personal opinion…..the severe lack of personal responsibility is one of the major factors in this country going down the drain.

    Report Post »  
  • eyestoseeearstohear
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:28pm

    GO AWAY BILL…
    Don’t you have someone you can lewinsky?

    Report Post »  
  • TeaPartyPatriot
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:28pm

    ‘Got a Very Difficult Hand to Play’ = “IT‘S BUSH’S FAULT”
    a broken record that has nothing new or original to offer, and it not responsible for anything.

    Report Post » TeaPartyPatriot  
  • BonnieBlueFlag
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:28pm

    Our response to this should be the no b.s. truth:

    Obama inherited a recession but created a DEPRESSION. That is what we are in now.

    Report Post » BonnieBlueFlag  
  • orlandojon
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:26pm

    Duh Bubba says ‘Got a Very Difficult Hand to Play’
    America says…He made it much worse

    Report Post »  
    • mrfunn
      Posted on September 19, 2011 at 6:35am

      Hey impeached President Clinton,

      The dot-com bubble created during your watch was beginning to crash when Bush took office.
      The housing bubble CREATED by YOU and Cisneros ( The National Homeownership Strategy and revised CRA ). Forced lending to home buyers who could not afford a home to push up homeownership. What could go wrong?
      Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Bush tried to change them, the Dems would not let him.
      Osama bin Laden, YOU had multiple opportunities to take him out. Would 911 have happened if YOU had OKed the plans to take bin Laden out?
      And who can forget the ‘stained’ rug in the Oval office and the moral decline that followed.

      Obama is not the only President who has inherited some problems.

      Bill, Hillary or Barack?
      Which one is the biggest liar?

      Report Post »  
    • IT DEPENDS UPON WHAT THE MEANING OF THE WORD 'IS' IS
      Posted on January 13, 2012 at 12:53pm

      @mrfunn
      “It depends upon what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.”

      Report Post »  
  • kindling
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:24pm

    I am so glad I named my stinky old goat Billy Clinton….because this guy really stinks. First he is talking about his time as president whicn the Republican held Congress saved and next the fact the Democrats held Congress during the fall while Bush was President. Obama didn’t get delt a bad hand, he pulled a bunch of worthless cards and kept them and threw away the good ones…….ON PURPOSE!

    Report Post » kindling  
  • NHABE64
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:23pm

    Clinton is a socialist but is smoother than this radical moron in the White House. Slick Willy knew how to get sex in the White House and almost convinced everybody “I did not have sex with that woman”. I wonder if he makes that comment at one of his 25,000 a plate dinners ? Ha! Slick Willy Clinton, oh yeah!

    Report Post »  
  • TRONINTHEMORNING
    Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:20pm

    No one can defend the poser-in -chief; he is not credible so let’s beat his lameness in 2012.

    Report Post »  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:25pm

      Blame BUSH!!!!
      BO has had over 2 years to fix it…Couldn’t fix it with both housed.
      The Lib policies are killing small business…
      I’m doing every thing I can to FIRE BO FROM OFFICE

      TEA IN 2012!!!!!

      Report Post » banjarmon  
    • kindling
      Posted on September 18, 2011 at 4:33pm

      Reagan turned things around faster than 5 years. I could turn things around in a few months but I would be running for my life from union thugs, exfederal employees, illegals, and LIBERALS!

      Report Post » kindling  

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