The Clinton Connection

Through the haze of round the clock news coverage, the sadness, and the disbelief, I had totally forgotten about Bill Clinton.

First of all, he is the "former" President, and should not be a vocal figure in this ongoing tragedy -- that role is clearly for Bush. But after seeing Clinton on television yesterday wandering the streets, just off a plane back from Australia, I was reminded of Clinton's greatest talent - his touch.

Many outside Washington who have met Clinton have said he has a magnetic, almost spiritual presence. He has a way of touching people, and making them believe he truly "feels their pain." It could be his eyes, tone of voice, body language, or all of the above. Whatever it is, Clinton, like it or not, is missed by a great many people.

That's why his unannounced arrival yesterday got to me. The outpouring of affection from the Village (admittedly, a liberal hotbed) was unbearable. People cried, shouted, and held up photos of "missing" loved ones to his face. He hugged, talked, and joined the masses in their misery.

Smelling blood in the water, Fox News Channel unleashed the sharks, and for hours last night made sly attempts to push the blame for this tragedy onto Clinton. Either he should have "taken bin Laden out" years ago, or cut too much funding from the intelligence community.

Truth is, nobody would have supported a full military commitment to attack bin Laden years ago during a robust economy and relative world peace. Secondly, funding for the intelligence community has shifted over the course of the last century towards technology, and less manpower, in an attempt to cut costs and keep fewer personnel "on the ground" around the world. To report that military and intelligence cutbacks (which were necessary after the massive Reagan build-up of the 80s) are to blame for all this is disingenuous.

In my mind, having a shower curtain separate an airplane's cockpit and passenger cabin, plus allowing passengers to carry knives (but not scissors) on board, has got to be the most egregious oversight of it all.

Clinton is well liked and admired by a great many people in this country, and his presence is well appreciated by many New Yorkers. For conservatives to ignorantly attack him at this moment is simply uncalled for.