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NYT on Clinton Memoirs: "Eye-crossingly dull"

19. June 2004 • Ari Paul
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Ouch! What is often regarded by those on the far-right as a liberal newspaper, The New York Times spoke harsh words of Bill Clinton’s new autobiography.

Said the Old Grey Lady reviewer, Michiko Kakutan:
“The book, which weighs in at more than 950 pages, is sloppy, self-indulgent and often eye-crossingly dull — the sound of one man prattling away, not for the reader, but for himself and some distant recording angel of history.

In many ways, the book is a mirror of Mr. Clinton’s presidency: lack of discipline leading to squandered opportunities; high expectations, undermined by self-indulgence and scattered concentration. This memoir underscores many strengths of Mr. Clinton’s eight years in the White House and his understanding that he was governing during a transitional and highly polarized period. But the very lack of focus and order that mars these pages also prevented him from summoning his energies in a sustained manner to bring his insights about the growing terror threat and an Israeli-Palestinian settlement to fruition. ”



  1. He has ADHD, just like George W Bush does. His “lack of concentration” is just one of many traits that ADHD people have.

    Can’t fault the guy for it.
       —T.J.    Jun. 20 '04 - 04:40AM    #
  2. ari – the author is joe Klien – at least that who everyone else is attributing the quote to.

    Dave
       —Dave L    Jun. 20 '04 - 05:53PM    #
  3. dave,
    click the link and read the byline…

    just the facts,
    ari p.
       —Ari P.    Jun. 20 '04 - 06:19PM    #