Legacy: Paying the Price for the Clinton Years

Why is it that the people who like this book write about it's factual basis, research, thoroughness and compellingness, and the people who supposedly don't like it write about... the people who liked it. They don't respond to any of the substance of the book, or to any of the conclusions in it. They only write generalities and sarcastic comments. And that is telling in itself.This book is solid. Anyone who really reads it, be they conservative, moderate or liberal, will come to the calm conclusion that Clinton was not a leader. He was a man with many problems that leaked all over his job and our country.I thought Lowry's tone was objective, well-reasoned and intelligent. While he certainly doesn't think highly of Clinton and his presidency (and he lays out those reasons in detail), he doesn't resort to generalities and name-calling. If you are at all interested in understanding recent American history and the impact that Clinton had on our country, you have to read this.

The source obviously conservative, does make a strong argument regarding the Clinton Legacy (mostly its failures). Mr. Lowry's research and notes are extensive (33% of the book). He slams former President Clinton's legacy on Domestic and International Issues. Anyone with a pro,anti, or neutral Clinton bias would be well served in reading this book and subsequently evaluating Mr. Lowry's notes.If Mr. Lowry is correct in his analysis of the former President, Mr. Clinton and or his defenders should be called upon to answer to these assertions (from the media), especially the assetions that relate to his dealings (or lack of dealings) with terrorism.

Read this book and you?ll have a much better understanding of the Clinton years. Clinton?s critics now have one volume that compiles his many deficiencies. Those on the fence will find this book convincing. Legacy will cause second thoughts for Clinton?s supporters.Rich Lowry divides his book into three parts: domestic policy, scandals, and foreign policy. Clinton?s biggest claim to fame is that he presided over record prosperity. The claim is that Clinton?s tax increases reduced the deficit, resulting in a reduction in interest rates and an economic expansion. Lowry points out that the expansion was well underway before Clinton took office. Annual $200 billion deficits were predicted well after the tax increase. Interest rates actually increased after the tax increase. What helped Clinton most was the business cycle. Besides good timing (the downturn was starting just as he left office) Clinton deserves credit for supporting free trade and cooperating with a Republican Congress (which he unintentionally put in power) in his second term.Clinton?s main scandals were Whitewater, his perjury about his sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky, and his fundraising scandal. Lowry leaves little doubt about Clinton?s guilt. Clinton?s own lawyer admitted that reasonable people could consider Clinton guilty of serious charges. Lowry makes several interesting points about what saved Clinton: (1) he was very experienced in running a cover-up; and (2) by the mid-1990s there was a substantial constituency that supported offences related to sex. Indeed, the one area where Clinton was bold was the pursuit of adultery.The worst part of Clinton?s legacy was foreign policy. He did very little about Saddam Hussein or al Qaeda. When dealing with terrorists or dangerous regimes his military policy seemed to be ?Thou shall not kill.? Unfortunately, terrorists did not reciprocate. They were emboldened by Clinton?s unwillingness to take serious action. Now his successor has to deal with unpleasant realities that Clinton put off to avoid taking risks.Some minor criticisms are in order: In his Troopergate story David Brock made it plain that he was quoting a state trooper; if his quote was wrong it was the trooper who was at fault. Lowry should have realized this when he later mentions that Jones sued the trooper for defamation. In covering the scandals Lowry should have mentioned that Clinton?s Justice Department harassed The American Spectator on the basis of unreliable evidence. Lowry may be wrong in thinking that Clinton?s removal from office would have helped the Democrats in 2000. While this would have given Al Gore a head start, it also would have caused a great deal of recriminations among Democrats. These complaints are quibbles. Overall, this is a fine book. Readers shouldn?t overlook the Notes section. It?s about 100 pages and has lots of interesting material.

Lowry dissects the feel-good Clintons and exposes the rot at the core of their administration - the after effects of which we are still feeling in this country today (9/11, thank you Janet Reno!). Lowry does a thorough job of examining and revealing the dark underbelly of Teflon Bill and Hillary's creepy reign. A refreshing alternative to the usual portrayal of Clinton as martyr and greatest president we ever had (right). Hard to argue with the facts here, scary as they may be. Liberal repetition of phony spin won't work for you anymore after you read this compelling analysis. A PAGE TURNER! Lowry writes with intelligence, insight and humor.

There's no better book on the Clinton presidency than this one by National Review editor Rich Lowry, an outstanding writer and smart political analyst. Conservatives have written a lot about Clinton, but Legacy may in fact provide the last word. And don't you love that red-letter "A" on the front cover?