Bill and Ted's excellent adventures

Posted: Friday, February 01, 2008 3:40 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann
He did it again.

Bill Clinton mentioned Ted Kennedy last night in Phoenix, Ariz., in reference to the "train wreck" of No Child Left Behind, as reported by NBC/NJ last night.

Today, at a rally in Clinton home state of Arkansas, he just repeated the same sentiment, perhaps a bit more strongly. He said that the education bill came about because "the president made a deal with Senator Kennedy."

Of course, it wouldn't be Bill without a spoonful of sugar. He added, "Neither one of them meant to mess it up."

Then a long riff on why it failed.

Event in progress...

*** UPDATE *** It is worth noting that Hillary Clinton voted for No Child Left Behind.

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Comments

Ted Kennedy introduced Bill to Monica too.

Norman Hsu (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 3:49 PM)

And isn't President Clinton fundamentally accurate in saying that it took the agreement of Bush and Ted Kennedy to make this bill into law? Had Ted Kennedy refused to support it, it would have been dead on arrival. Bill Clinton is RIGHT to make that known now that Teddy is attempting to present himself as some sort of wise elder statesman in support of Obama's candidacy. The point is that Teddy may be elder, but "wise"??? Not necessarily.

Rob in NV (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 3:51 PM)

How about all what Kennedy said about Clinton at the endorsement of Obama--was that necessary? I don't think so--not for the "high roaders".

Texas Democrtat (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 3:54 PM)

So do Obama supporters really want to get into a discussion of who is more ethical and who treats women with respect over Bill or Ted? I think they are both pretty bad.

Bob, NY, NY (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 3:54 PM)

Bill is absolutely right:

" When No Child Left Behind (NCLB) first passed, it appeared to be a political masterstroke. It stands as one of Bush’s few genuinely bipartisan domestic-policy achievements, clearing the House by a 381 to 41 margin with more Democratic than Republican votes. Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) partnered with the White House to steer it through the Senate."

From: http://www.amconmag.com/2005_08_01/article.html

Rob in NV (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 3:55 PM)

More proof of the Clinton's tendency to want to destroy opposition rather than stay on substance. Hopefully an Obama surrogate will point this out. Be nice if the press did, too. It IS a fact. Obama isn't trying to denegrate Maxine Waters, for example....

Geoff of Brooklyn (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 3:56 PM)

*** UPDATE *** It is worth noting that Hillary Clinton voted for No Child Left Behind.

And blah, blah, blah....you forgot to embellish how Obama had the vision and foresight to come out against the No Child Left Behind bill when he was still back in Illinois helping old ladies cross the street.....and finalizing his real estate deal with his good buddy Rezko.....

Kevin, Rehoboth (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 3:58 PM)

It is also worth noting that Barack Obama doesn't have enough Senate seniority to have voted for or against NCLB. He has only been in the Senate for 3 years. Not enough experience.

Rob in NV (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 3:58 PM)

PERHAPS IT WOULD BE BEST, IF YOU FIRST CHECKED OUT.. hillaryclinton.com , for more detailed information.

Jimmy Titus, Fort Worth, Tx. (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 3:58 PM)

Wow, Hillary seems to vote for a lot of things that end up 'messing up'. No Child Left Behind, The War, that bancruptcy bill that she was glad failed. Guess her 'gravitas' doesn't equal Obama's 'judgment' after all.

Brad Glisson, Durham, North Carolina (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 3:59 PM)

Bill and Hill really need to talk more. Don't they have a counselor to help them mediate there differences?

And as far as Bill throwing Ted under the bus . . . if you want to be a friend of the Clinton's, you must have some sort of value to them. When you no longer have that value, you can be sure they'll be right there to throw you under the bus. Trouble is, the line of ex-Clinton friends seems to be getting longer and longer as of late. The Clinton's either need to speed up their process, or hire some illegal immigrants to do their dirty work for them.

Dirk Simon (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:00 PM)

True, wouldn't have passed if Ted Kennedy refused to support it. Also wouldn't have passed if Hillary Clinton, etc., refused to support it.

Maybe this was another one of those "voted for it, but wished it would fail" moments for Clinton?

Demagirl (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:01 PM)

I thought Hill had Bill under control. He is so petty and transparent. Democrats - PLEASE DON'T GIVE THIS MAN A THIRD TERM!!! Just the thought of him back in power - but unaccountable - gives me the creeps, bigtime! Let's let Bill go back to a nice, quiet retirement in Chapequa.

Susan, Tampa (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:02 PM)

Q: How do you know you're in deep, deep trouble?

A: Your a female, at a bar, and Bill and Ted are hitting on you.

Jenny Weeds (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:03 PM)

MONICA! MONICA! MONICA

raven6 St. Louis, Mo (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:05 PM)

Now really, how long did you expect for it to be before Bill blew up again? It's been what, two days?

The man has turned into a complete joke.

Lilly Abner, Oklahoma (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:05 PM)

Hello? Hillary voted for No Child Left Behind too. Someone please either remind Bill of that minor fact or put a muzzle on him until Wednesday.

EnoughofBill (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:06 PM)

Did Obama vote for it? Oh, that's right, Hillary hadn't helped him get elected to the Senate yet. I'm sure with his uncanny foresight, Obama could've predicted it would fail. Anyway he could tell me who's going to win the Super Bowl, and by how much? I need to make sure I cover the spread.

raider dem, maryland (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:06 PM)

Billary are at it again - the politicians of personal destruction are at it again. Yes, Teddy played an important role in NCLB; however, when Bush broke the promise of fully funding it and the Congress was controlled by the GOP, Teddy and NEA got screwed.

Billary is just pissed that Teddy and Caroline are supporting Obama. More importantly, Billary are twisting the facts to trash Teddy. In the end, Billary's conduct in this election will leave a weakened Party. But they don't care. For Billary it's "it's only and always about me!"

Paul McL, Winston-Salem, NC (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:07 PM)

As an actual piece of Legislation, NCLB isn't particularly a train wreck. It's the fact it was completely underfunded that turned it into the "mandate with no money" that it became. I don't think it says anything that negative about Teddy for co-sponsoring it or about Hillary for voting for it. It got messed up in the execution when all those "bipartisans" from the red aisle turned their back on the funding.

Da5id, Columbia, SC (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:07 PM)

I agree, here we go again. I guess you gave Chris something to rant about for another day while you guys carry out the MSNBC mission to get Obama elected. It is ridiculous.

Mark KY (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:09 PM)

No child left behind is a disaster, but only because Bush lied to everyone and bargained in bad faith... just as he did over the war... We were all duped. He lies. Blame Republicans, not Democrats. Hillary or Obama... at least we'll have a President who can complete a sentence.

Marty Shupert (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:09 PM)

Hillary tends to vote for what is popular at the time and not necessarily what is right (both don't always mix). She talks about experience? Looks like her experience has been a series of misjudgements that she refuses to apologize for. That's not what I want from my president.

Aaron, Dalton, MA (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:09 PM)

Since Bill is on the ticket (I'd say joined to Hillary at the hip but what do I know?) and Ted is not, criticism of Ted is pretty well wasted.

Commonsense (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:10 PM)

Stop all your diatribe and just listen. It is simple: Hillary voted for "No Child Left Behind", therefore, her support of the bill is as much to blame for its passing as any other politican. So, It is clear that Bill's statements were just a political move. But, what is so disturbing is that he courted Senator Kennedy's support on behalf of his wife's campaign, and just because he believes that Obama is more qualified to be president, Bill attacks the character of a person who he considers a friend, all in the name of politics. Bill just keeps making the case that Hillary is if the crooked old politics that Americans are yearning a change from.

Chicago, IL (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:11 PM)

Gee, Bill, you were begging for Ted's endorsement for Hillary last week. Suddenly Ted's a bad guy? Gee, and if it was so bad, why did Hillary vote for it? And why play Whack-A-Ted anyway? Did he suddenly decide to run for president?

For the record, from Barack Obama's web site, "The goal of the law was the right one, but unfulfilled funding promises, inadequate implementation by the Education Department and shortcomings in the design of the law itself have limited its effectiveness and undercut its support. As a result, the law has failed to provide high-quality teachers in every classroom and failed to adequately support and pay those teachers."

Pete, Albany, NY (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:11 PM)

Give Teddy a break, at least no one died from the No Child Left Behind Act.

Teddy, Chappaquiddick, Massachusetts (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:11 PM)

Don't worry Jenny...

with Bill you just end up messy, with Ted you end up dead.

Mike Austin,TX (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:11 PM)

"Bill & Hill" are BOTH pathological liars. 'Nuff said...

Rick, Seattle, WA. (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:11 PM)

>> Wow, Hillary seems to vote for a lot of things that end up 'messing up'. <<

Same old saw -- If Hillary knew then, what she knows now . . . .

Someone should ask her about marrying Bill. If you knew then what you know now Hillary, would you have gotten hitched?

These two are turning into cartoon characters.

Max E. Padds (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:11 PM)

Oh yeah, smart one Bill....criticize the failed bill that Hillary voted for......what an idiot.

Cat (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:12 PM)

Talk about accepting responsibility of its own action!!!! It's never Hillary's fault the bill was written in such way that she taught that it would be a success...Wrong again Hillary! I guess you learn it from your Husband!!!

Carine, Streamwood, Il (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:13 PM)

It seems to me that when the Clinton campaign has spoken over and over again about how much they respect Sen. Kennedy since he's endorsed Obama, it seems foolish to pull this out now. I mean, c'mon Bill. Quit bashing people for supporting the same things your wife supported. And Hillary, if you're really running the show, then run it. And get Bill out of the spotlight.

Erin, TN (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:13 PM)

I once saw a comedy where a 911 operator differentiated between a "regular need help now!" caller and one for a "White Women in Trouble" caller: geuss which one the Cops responded to in record breaking fashion ... White Women in troubled by an African American: Hillary in trouble - Caucasians Rally!

Joseph Runsabove (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:14 PM)

Isn't interesting that driving a woman off a bridge and leaving her at the bottom until the next day is ok for a Kennedy but telling the truth about Ted's no child left behind is bad for Bill and Hillary. Come on folks get real!

Kathryn Frawley, New York City (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:14 PM)

What's unbelievable to me is there are actually Hillary supporters in this thread defending Bill's latest distortion... and managing to mention Rezko in light of the Walmart videos recently made public. Downright pathetic.

Billy, Normal, Il (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:14 PM)

Why is this, just like the Iraq war all laid by you Obama supporters at Hillary Clintons feet, she was not the commander in chief and certainly not the only one after seeing intelligenct, faulty thought it was, and that Obama was not priviledged to see voted the same way a lot of others did. And we as a country were all cheering them on following 911, we were hell bent to get revenge on someone, I guess now we will pin it all on Hillary

JT, Texas (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:14 PM)

I'm totally sick of both of the Clintons and it's not even Super Tuesday yet. Hopefully the public will wise up and finally put them both out to pasture for good. The only way the country will move forward is with new people and new ideas, not more of the same tired divisive politics. Haven't we had enough of that?

Ted from New Jersey (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:14 PM)

I see Bush and Cheney again except the names are changed to Obama and Kennedy.....

Shelly, Erie , PA (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:14 PM)

I wonder if Bill was thinking about hammering Kennedy on No Child when he was begging for him to endorse Hillary?

Mike, Erie, PA (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:15 PM)

Isn't NCLB the largest funded education bill in the history of our nation? Oh yah, the accountability that comes with the funding. Imagine that, you want public dollars, then ensure us that you are actually educating our children.
Do you really think Bill that Kennedy's endorsement carries any weight? Who of the voting public actually looks at who endorses what candidate. I hope to see more of Bill in the future, the more he is out in front of Billary, the better chances she has of not being the party's nominee. He's an angry man whose time has come and gone. He lacked foreign policy, his administration was inept, we send our manufacturing jobs out of town with NAFTA and now they want to offer us more of the same? No thank you. She's alredy said Bill will have some sort of prominent role in a Billary administration. Do we want that? No. In my opinion, he is used up rubber that we keep hoping will patch up the holes in our shoes. Nope.

Danny, Sacramento, CA (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:15 PM)

I think it's time for Ted to move on-find another job, we keep saying we want change but the same faces are still here doing what they always do.

J.S. Arimgton, tx (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:17 PM)

Right Kevin, the same Rezko who has now been tied to contributions to Hillary's campaign co-chair.

Jay, Chicago, Illinois (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:17 PM)

I love that Clinton supporters keep throwing the name of Rezko out there when it has already been proven that Hillary took money from him too. The only difference is that she has not had the ethical sense to return the money the way Obama did.

She also has not returned all of the money from Hsu and I am still trying to figure out why hundreds of illegal and dead Chinese immigrants who don't speak a word of English have donated so much money to Clinton.

Did they all stay in the Lincoln bedroom?

Bill Clinton is a very credible person - I don't see why anyone would ever question his honesty. After all, he did not have sexual relations with that woman.

John, Chicago, Il (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:17 PM)

What Clinton is saying is factual. What is wrong with that? Why make such a big deal about it? Kennedy is a loser of the democratic party. Look how he split the pary in 1980. Look at the results of Kennedy's action. 12 years of rebulican rule. No wonder Hillary is up by 24 points in Mass. The folks of Mass know Kerry and Kennedy are losers. Why didn't any of you squak when Kennedy went afer Clinton in his endorsement speach of Obama. Obama made a huge mistake by clinging to these losers. Hopefully when he Is hillary's running mate, he will loose them. We need winners like the Clintons. Not the same old far left losers like Kennedy, Kerry, and Daschell.

tom a, minneapolios, mn (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:17 PM)

Last night I had the strangest dream. It was so real, so life-like and so vivid I woke up in a cold sweat.

Let me describe it to you briefly...

1. Hillary wins the Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States

2. Naturally, she wants to choose as her running mate someone with a lot of knowledge and experience in government and foreign affairs, someone who is a seasoned campaigner who could bring a lot of strength to the ticket. Who better than Bill, her husband?!!!

3. Hill and Bill go on to win the election in November and the Democrats maintain control of the House and the Senate.

4. Hillary is sworn in as President on January 20, 2009. The next day, after all the inauguration parties are over, she calls a press conference to make an announcement: she is resigning as President!!! Bill, as the Vice President, immediately becomes President!!!

This is all perfectly legal under the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution; for it states that no person "may be elected as president more than twice".

Bill is not being elected for a third term but is merely serving out the remainder of Hillary's term ---all 4 years of it.

5. But wait! There's more! The following day Bill calls a press conference to make an announcement. He has chosen someone to fill the now vacant Vice President Position. Guess who he picks? Why, Hillary, of course!!!

Now you stay awake and let me get some sleep !!!!!!!

Mary, Cave Creek, AZ (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:17 PM)

> PERHAPS IT WOULD BE BEST, IF YOU FIRST CHECKED OUT..
> hillaryclinton.com , for more detailed information

What do think Jimmy Titus, next Wednesday you can sell the servers for this web site?

H. Bess (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:17 PM)

I'm surprised Bill has the time to play hatchet man. I thought he would be busy counting his Kazikhstan uranium money

Tom, NY, NY (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:18 PM)

Q: How do you know you're in deep, deep trouble?

You leave the most delegate-rich state never to return FIVE days before the vote...

ObamaRama (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:18 PM)

What he is saying is true. He is not dissing Ted, He is just stating a fact. Bush wanted this program and most Democrats wanted it. The problem is it became an unfunded mandate that did not do anything for education. They all messed up. This is not news MSNBC. Leave Bill alone. Hillary and Ted want to fix this legislation.

Irene (Sent Friday, February 01, 2008 4:19 PM)

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