Tag cloud

« Rules of Attraction | Main | Measuring State AG McKenna - and Pierce County Prosecutor Gerald Horne »

Clinton v. Bush - at Yale

A bit of speculation, for fun and perhaps a bit of enlightenment, a comparison of Bush and Clinton during their College years at the same institution, Yale University in the Connecticut river valley.

Although both got their undergraduate degrees in 1968, Clinton did not arrive at Yale until 1970, for his Law Degree - after his Rhodes Scholarship. The Washington Post biography of George W. cites 1968, Bush's senior year, as a notable transitional political year at Yale, as it was also for the Country as a whole.

I've done a quick google review of both men's record at Yale, but before I get to the facts let's start with some assumptions I had before starting to write this piece.

Although both Clinton and Bush were from outside the east coast social hierarchy Bush clearly had a high position in that society translatable from his Father's DC career, while Clinton had none, save what he had earned in his own academic career.

Clinton, though not necessarily poor, was definitely the hick from Arkansas who had definitely some poor years in his life, as well as an abusive alcoholic step-father - the family's price of entry to the business owner middle class.

I also was under the presumption that George was much more of a party boy than Clinton. And although I do believe Clinton became the better leader I'm also of the opinion that Bush was likely the better 'lover', as well as family man. - at College and as Husband - probably due a solid upbringing which gave him something to fall back upon through a not unusual moral path through college.

Okay, now for some facts. At the Yale Law School Hillary was a year ahead of Bill, choosing the younger, bright upstart for herself. Not much else popped up in my quick search regarding Clinton- presumably by the time the Rhodes Scholar arrived at Yale he knew he had a career ahead of him and was both professionally and legally prudent. I didn't look at his Georgetown years, but, FWIW, I'd bet he worked his ass off.

There is quite a bit more information about George W. - the alleged recipient of the iconic Ivy league 'gentleman's C' - all the more important at that time in order to keep junior out of the Vietnam conflict. Bush arrived in the year of his Skull and Bones father's unsuccessful Senate campaign against a LBJ ticket rider (1964). His fraternity was the Jock Party group and he was elected as president of the that group during his Senior year - perhaps his last positive association with the greater campus community.

The Washington Post Biography asserts that his Senior year was a year of political transition at Yale, so one can imagine the privileged frat boy being quite the symbol of politically correct derision - and probably with justifiable cause. One can channel that through partisan coverage of those years, worth reading.

The Post also asserts that Bush's Skull and Bones membership was a 'legacy' membership, not one earned as with the other 14 members. Also noted was that applicants were required to disclose their sexual history. Not a whif of that though is available.

There is a lesson here - and it is not which is the better man. Clinton the hard working student who bust his butt to make it would later succumb to some of the moral failings that Bush got over between the ages of 18-22. Bush, the well raised, but spoiled, party boy would actually turn out to be the better Husband (and Father???), if not a very good leader.

FWIW, a person in Clinton's sexual 'profile' would be at high risk of having his later explorations becoming a permanent part of his character. Clinton though, an exceptional individual, might have a shot at 'growing' out of it.

In contrast, Dick Cheney, a five time DUI recipient, is a good example of the type of young man who never did grow out of it at all.

And Gore, well, Al - maybe it's time for YOU to get your groove on... in your own way, and in public. Perhaps Barack can help with that if he were to choose the Senior leader as his Veep.

And McCain, well we are still waiting to see who you choose.for your running mate..:-)

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.motleytools.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/144

Tag cloud

Archives

July 2020

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
      1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31  
Powered by Movable Type 3.35
Hosted by LivingDot
AddThis Social Bookmark Button
Add to Technorati Favorites