The enduring taint of Clinton

We are over five years past the end of the Clinton presidency, and to most observers of politics and culture that is ancient history. Nothing could be more false. As suggested by the below notes, written between early 2000 and early 2001, Clinton’s debauching of the presidency, and the country’s failure to hold him to account, permanently changed our culture for the worse. This, by the way, was why one of my two indispensable requirements for supporting a presidential nominee in 2000 was that he denounce the immorality of Clintonism, so that his own election could be seen as a national repudiation of Clintonism, which was the only way the country could be cleansed. Bush did not do that (he only made the cheap and meaningless comment that he would “respect the office of the presidency”), and, combined with his support for multiculturalism and surrender to Mexico, he did not get my vote.

Here are the notes.

Clinton neutron bomb of spirit

3/20/00 12:37 AM

When I see Clinton arriving on a state visit in India, it strikes me that the fact of his remaining in the presidency not only corrupts America, but the whole world.

The damage of this is incalculable, infinite. Vietnam ruined America, but the damage was visible and comprehensible, and, while vast, finite. But Clintonism is a neutron bomb of the spirit, destroying our soul while leaving our bodies intact and healthy.

Everyone ignores what Clinton announces about himself

Start with the Esquire photo. This most obscene thing: he’s telling the whole world what he is and they ignore it! He’s saying he’s transgressor, a pervert, a man who gets his kicks from defiling the presidency and laughing in everyone’s face. Why didn’t he become an absolute pariah over that photo?

Then the pardons, and all the libs are saying, oh why did he do this. He’s so smart, so adept, why did he shoot himself in the foot? (shooting yourself in the foot is an accident).

Clinton Man of the Century

Last year an online discussion group was discussing who should be man of the century. If that means the person who has had the most significant effect on his time, may I suggest that the answer is none other than Clinton. He effected (or at least completed) the utter moral debauching of America. He has reshaped the American people—by getting them to accept and make excuses for his manifest depravities—into a truly nihilistic people, and through America, he has worked the same moral corruption on the rest of the world as well. This is the largest change in American and world civilization in our lifetimes, and perhaps in the whole twentieth century as well.

Clinton debauched America

Clinton has debauched America and the world. This astonishing change, this absolute transformation of the American people and culture, has happened before our eyes. Like a kind of computer virus that wipes out a people’s ability to tell the difference between right and wrong, true and false, he has moved through our collective soul.

Many people think such prognostications are laughable. Look at how well everything is going. And it’s true life seems to be extraordinarily pleasant for many people. People of all classes, particularly the elites, are more full of themselves, more pleased with themselves, than in any historical experience. But all of this avails nothing, if the society has become so morally corrupt that one can no longer believe in it, and no longer have any respect for other people. For a person who sees this, America has already died. Or rather, it has died and been replaced by a different entity, something still called America, but unbearable. So the celebrations and self-satisfactions of our age only are real for those who resolutely don’t care about the loss of the belief in truth and right that once formed the glue of the America people.

For example, you have to be indifferent when you hear people shrug off something they once would have been horrified by.

Pardons are culmination of Clinton

These pardons are the logical culmination and perfect symbol of the Clinton presidency: the idea of not paying consequences.

His motive—to get back at the system, to get back at the law and order that he resents.

It embodies the nonjudgmental culture that Clinton embodies.

The transgressor whose main mark on history was that he got away with everything, wanted to help other transgressors get away with everything.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at April 21, 2006 02:24 PM | Send