Bill Clinton tells a love story to make his case for Hillary
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Former President Bill Clinton salutes after speaking to the delegates during the second day session of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA >> There have been millions of words, decades of video and reams of commentary devoted to their story. It’s been dissected, defended and decried at kitchen tables and on cable news, in tabloids and classrooms.
But on Tuesday night, as millions of voters watched and with the political stakes as high as they’ve ever been, Bill Clinton tried to make sense of it all and make the case for his wife, the newly minted Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
“In the spring of 1971, I met a girl,” he began.
The former president’s tenth address to a Democratic convention was by far his most personal, a 42-minute tour through wedding proposals and Halloween parties, the deaths of parents and movie marathons.
Perhaps their worst moments — the Monica Lewinsky scandal, impeachment and legal battles that followed — were conspicuously omitted.
Instead, Bill Clinton cast himself as a passenger in his wife’s life, reshaping the story of much of their decades in politics.
The goal was to make Clinton, perhaps the most famous female politician in the world, yet a public figure her aides claim remains unknown, relatable to voters. He cast her as a liberal heroine of her own story, who fought for education reform, health care, civil rights, the disabled, 9/11 first responders and economically depressed rural areas.
“She’s the best darn change-maker I’ve ever met in my entire life,” he said. “This woman has never been satisfied with the status quo on anything. She always wants to move the ball forward. That is just who she is.”
He never once mentioned GOP nominee Donald Trump by name, dismissing Republican attacks on Clinton as “made up” and a “cartoon alternative.” Rather, Bill Clinton focused nearly exclusively on his wife’s achievements and how she’d influenced him.
“I have lived a long full blessed life. It really took off when I met and fell in love with that girl in the spring of 1971,” he said.
But it wasn’t only Clinton who broke a glass ceiling on Tuesday when she became the first female nominee of a major party. Should she win on Election Day, her husband will step into a singular role in American history: first gentleman.
The potential new title is perhaps the strangest twist in a political career known for its second acts. After health scares and political missteps, the Comeback Kid, as he was known in his first presidential race, could come back to Washington one last time.
In 2012, he acted as a powerful validator for President Barack Obama, electrifying the room as the party’s “explainer-in-chief.”
But, said Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, “This is different.”
“This is more personal,” said Podesta, who recalled riding to the convention hall with Bill Clinton as he touched up his 2004 convention address. “This is more about her.”
Bill Clinton felt pressure to perform for his wife and make up for his own missteps during her second presidential campaign.
Nearly 70, he’s also a bit frailer, a touch shakier, though aides and friends say his famous memory remains sharp. Some say his administration’s legacy has been repudiated by his own party, which shifted left during Obama’s time in office.
“God bless him, Bill even looks old now,” said Republican strategist Alex Castellanos. “He’s not the once and future king, he’s the once and past king.”
But no one doubts that Bill Clinton still wants to be at the center of the action. While aides have said he will not get a Cabinet post or a seat in the Situation Room should his wife win, Clinton has made clear that her closest adviser will remain involved with her administration, saying he’d likely have a role in managing the nation’s economy.
They remain a “two for one” package, as Bill Clinton famously said during his first presidential race. But on Tuesday night, he hinted, just barely, that Clinton perhaps is finally getting her part of the deal.
“I married my best friend,” he said. “And I really hoped that she choosing me and rejecting my own advice to pursue her own career was a decision she’d never regret.”
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Follow Lisa Lerer on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/llerer
99 responses to “Bill Clinton tells a love story to make his case for Hillary”
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Should have played the song “Desparado” in the background.
From the BIGGEST LIAR alive! The man who waved his finger at the nation on TV saying he didn’t have sexual relations with that girl…then admitted to it later. One liar endorsing another liar…but then that’s the Clintons.
IRT makiki123: Portraying the Clintons as liars is going to offend all of their brain dead supporters, apologies to genuinely brain dead folks. It’s sickening to think these two will probably be back in the White House in January. Even more sickening is the blissful ignorance of the dumbed down electorate that will put them there
Ikefromeli eats it up.
So, what’s your education level? Where did you go to school? What do you do for a living? Seems like fair questions as you opened the gates of the dumbed down electorate?
You have been Gruberred. Obama like the Clintons are lawyers. And what do lawyers do? They will defend and say anything to get their clients off the hook or present their point of view no matter how guilty or stupid their idea may be.
Hmmmn, ever think about not ending a sentence in a preposition?
In all due respect as a non-partisan, Trump ain’t exactly a truth-speaker (he lied to contractors that were owed money in the millions who ultimately lost their busness) or class act-speaker who quickly resort to name-calling when called out. Sounds familiar?
Indeed. He flat out lied to state regulators when he said he would never utilize junk bonds for primary financing for the Taj Mahal. He had already contacted such bond firms, prior to his meeting and thus for all intensive purposes failed the project from the get go, as the bond payments were almost more than the generated revenue.
Trump was an amateur when compared to the Clinton Foundation. Investigations are underway. Stay tuned.
Kinda what I was thinking. This is a man that will say anything and everything to reach his end goal. I can only imagine the $B’s that will flow into the Clinton Foundation if Hillary gets elected. America will truly be for sale. Do you think he has an interest in this election?
Obama like the Clintons are lawyers, and what do lawyers good at? They will say and do anything to get their client off the hook, no matter how guilty their client may be.
I didn’t watch Bill Clinton’s speech because after 5 minutes I could not stand to listen any more. I think Bill genuinely loves his wife, HOWEVER soon after they married, it was clear that Bill was too hornay for Hillary who was not into the frequent and nastee stuff. Bill strayed every which way, even when he became governor and then Pres of the US. Chris Rock in one of his stand up routines said it all regarding Bill and Hillary Clinton. Not me, but Chris Rock blames Hillary that maybe if she kept fit and took care of Bill’s constant scratches, he would not need to lie and harass other woman to satisfy his itches. However now that he is an old man, like JJ, they guy’s plumbing downstairs is all backed up and don’t work like it used to anymore, so no one has to worry about Bill again straying off the ranch. He might actually do some good as Hillary’s advisor in economic and other matters in including terrorism. I rather have Bill Clinton be in charge of helping shape the US economy for the future and guiding his wife lead the US and the world rather than Ivanka trump, Jared Kushner and the rest of Trump’s family members guiding their egotistical, racist father lead the nation.
Not too sure you’re keeping current with the slick willie’s plumbing. The horn dog still looks for tight buns.
Trump is manipulating you hon. You are a useful fool to him and the plutocrats he represents.
“In the spring of 1971, I met a girl,”
every year, every month, every week, the serial sexual offender met girls and abused them. when he was in college he walked girls late at night to their dorms. when he campaigned he selected girls working in the office. when he flew on epstein’s lolita airline he met little girls and sexually assaulted them.
epstein is a founder of clinton’s foundation, into which epstein steered millions in donations from repressive countries and donors kept secret by funneling more than $100 million of their donations through canada. the foundation also cloaked hundreds of thousands of dollars paid to the clintons in speaking fees.
the female felon refuses to hold press conferences attempting to avoid inquiries by reporters into these and a myriad of other financial scandals using the clinton foundation and the female felon’s secretary of state position to sell political favors.
As to your allegations of serial sexual offender, care to give us a source?
Give us a source? You must be kidding. You must be very young or don’t follow the news. Google any of these names to get the facts: Juanita Broaddrick, Kathleen Willey, Paula Jones, Sandra Allen James, Eileen Wellstone, Christy Zercher, Carolyn Moffet, Helen Dowdy, Becky Brown, Regina Blakely Hopper, Monica Lewinsky, Elizabeth Ward Gracen, Gennifer Flowers, Connie Hamzy, Dolly Kyle Browning, Sally Miller (Sally Perdue) and Lencola Sullivan.
Thanks for the list. I had forgotten how many there were.
Maybe he was talking of his love for them and for Hillary knowing and not saying anything.
So why was he out banging other women? He lies just like his wife.
“I remember one time me and Hillary were making love in the Oval Office…oops sorry that wasn’t Hillary…”
Ikefromeli, DNA evidence on her blue dress? Now how did that get there. She was supposed to swallow the evidence.
Crass comments from a crass person….
She took sniper fire in Bosnia.
…and Willie “did not have sexual relations with that woman!”
Hillary is just like her husband, they each will lie and lie until backed into a corner with no escape.
It’s hard to take him seriously with reference toward his wife. His past history with Monica debunk the whole touch of love and loyalty spoken by him. It’s difficult to imagine a beautiful matrimonial union with these two. All what one can picture is a pair more interested to become the most powerful man and woman in America. Refrain from saying the world because plastic aren’t genuine.
I have to agree. Poor Monica was just the tip of the iceberg. Seems weird to have a “love story” endorsement of his wife when he is such an known and repeated philanderer. Better just to leave that kind of topic alone.
Monica was supposed to suck it up.
She tried speaking with a mouth full and some leaked out.
Show some respect for the White House humidor
Interesting that in Bill’s chronograph of love, he skipped 1998. That was the Monica year.
Worst Democratic nominee since Michael Dukakis!
Well, that was nauseating. Word of warning to SA readers: Stand by for many more puff piece stories regarding Ol’ lady Clinton. She won’t exactly get the free ride little Barry got for 8 years but rest assured the progressive, left leaning media outlets will grease the skids for teflon Hillary.
I will take heed as you have warned and put weight to all that is Clinton. I will simply ignore all the signs of Trump’s unqualified history and just vote him since he is such the examplary candidate. All voters cannot think for themselves so let’s just all not do our own diligence and just take all the Republicans’ statements as all true and we must vote for their “anointed” great one.
Yes, we all must take heed to your advice and ignore all the puff pieces on Clinton. We must also ignore all the facts on Trump as they are all false. Of course, we the masses cannot hunk for ourselves and believe everything that’s on paper or on the screen. Thank you for your warning.
For that overly moralistic, self-judging and putative crowd–a few words. While Bill may have been unfaithful, a relationship is something that is owned by the individuals, not by anybody else. It is theirs to develop the parameters and boundaries, and they are the sole caretakers and authors. So, say what you want, but the Clintons have withstood the test of time and come out the better for it.
Furthermore, I know many a man (having been married 25 years myself) that were faithful but failed profoundly in many other germane areas of life: they physically and emotionally abused their partners, they were distant, they were not reliable wage earners, they were not good fathers, and overall they were NOT good partners. None of that can be said about Bill, so while he has failed and exposed his flaws, that is not some outlier, rather that is the commonality that makes us all human and interrelated.
On the other hand, we have a person who has 5 children from 3 wives, in less than 24 years, hardly sees his children past the age of 12, as they all attended boarding school, and has his own womanizing problems……so very telling.
Self-judging and putative? Owners, sole caretakers and authors? Parameters and boundaries? Commonality and interrelated? What kind of new age babble is that? Not all of us here are high school graduates ya’ know. Let’s simplify things, shall we. Slick Willie saw chicks he liked, did the nasty with them and lied repeatedly about it. Then his wife and his henchmen discredited the women who came forward and ruined their lives. It’s as simple as that.
I’m sure if you were under the spotlight nothing will be found of you doing an indiscretion. Trump himself has been unfaithful to his wives (see sources sch as New York Times and Inside Edition). Again, let us all of the masses follow blindly the Republicans as they are perfect and we must take all their word as scripture.
Did Trump lie about it to the American people while in a trusted public position?
LOL. You have to be kidding.
This post needs a coffee snort warning: “WARNING, THE FOLLOWING MAY INDUCE NASAL EXHALATION OF COFFEE”.
Repeated use of powerful position for sexual favors, alleged sexual assault, disbarment for perjury, profound narcissism– this is his real world legacy. Deeply flawed people are understandable, just not in positions of great leadership and power.
Hmmmn so it’s real,world you want, how about this: a father who was a documented racist, lying about attending Wharton, when in truth he was a transfer student from Fordham only after a substantial donation from his father, nonetheless, he was never admitted to Wharton; four, yes four draft deferments, a glided silver spoon in my mouth, four huge federal bankruptcies totaling over a billion dollars, nary any philanthropic or volunteer work–in fact, he took 9-11 recovery dollars specifically designated for small businesses, womanizing that is legendary, more than a few sexual assault complaints filed against him, hundreds of lawsuits, including several for racial profiling in housing units, trails of broken relationships, serial embellishment, 3 wives (yes, infidelity), and still nary a single tax return…..
So, how do you like those truths??
How do you like truths.
Bone Spurs -1-y
Bankruptcy -investor, if a guy can survive 4 bankruptcies I’m with him.
Wharton-BA
Silver Spoon – JFK
9-11-40 Wall Street-Wall Street, Big Banks all got money, place was a disaster
Sex assaults-no convictions
Womanizing – Talk to Bill
Racial profiling -sued Fed Government for 100 million at age 27. Settled with no wrong doing, 45 years ago.
Philantrophy-doesn’t toot his own horn
Tax returns -being audited, ask Obama. He’s in charge of the IRS.
3 wives – finally found the right one. He’s a trader after all.
DONT LISTEN TO IKEFROMELI.
What the heck are you talking about: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, JFK, Ghandi, Steve Jobs….etc. You should take a very thorough look at history and revisit that fairly pedestrian, but moreover inaccurate comment. Tell you what, you can audit my class, but I’m not sure you could obtain admission to the institution I teach at….
Mental institution?
Haha, sarge, you crack me up.
The more I read your comments the more convinced sarge22 has recognized a mental disorder -delusion A delusion is a belief that is held with strong conviction despite superior evidence to the contrary. As a pathology, it is distinct from a belief based on false or incomplete information, confabulation, dogma, illusion, or other effects of perception.
Delusions typically occur in the context of neurological or psychiatric disease, although they are not tied to any particular disorder and have been found to occur in the context of many pathological states (both physical and mental). However, they are of particular diagnostic importance in psychotic disorders including schizophrenia, paraphrenia, manic episodes of bipolar disease, and psychotic depression.
It’s not surprising that individuals that meander around the lane of mediocre thinking, make what can be described only as sophomoric retorts. When exhibiting an upper margin of intellectual capacity becomes the outlet, for those less inclined, you have what is known as a societal class that is unbenighted with wit or intellectual curiosity.
So, in lieu of looking for the answers in all sources, they conscript the destination, in search of the answers that ONLY intersect with their own beliefs and ideology. That my good friends is sloth of the mind and the road to dogma.
Les, did you attend Medical School, and if up you did, what did you do your residency in? It’s painfully ironic that you mention a disorder, when you compulsively make posts, some nary a wit of sense or logic, and do this what can only be described as 24/7, #ihavenolife.
Have you no life? A loved one or partner or even family? No other activities to indulge in or outlets to give back to your community and society? No, it’s obvious you are a pained lonely person without too many other things going on in your life, to which making nonsensical banter has become your one and only foray, and you do that in anonymity behind a keyboard while the rest of life is passing you by……how very quaint and depressing.
Clinton Cash: “Devastating” Documentary Reveals How Clintons Went From “Dead Broke” To Mega Wealthy
Clinton Cash, a feature documentary based on the Peter Schweizer book, has been posted to YouTube for all to view free just in time for the DNC. Clinton Cash investigates how Bill and Hillary Clinton went from being “dead broke” after leaving the White House to amassing a net worth of over $150 million, with over $2 billion in donations to their foundation. This wealth was accumulated during Mrs. Clinton’s tenure as Secretary of State through lucrative speaking fees and contracts paid for by foreign companies and Clinton Foundation donors.
The New York Times hailed the book as “The most anticipated and feared book of a presidential cycle” while MSNBC described the documentary as devastating for the Hillary campaign.
The Clinton camp has, of course, dismissed the documentary as a right-wing smear campaign filled with unsubstantiated conspiracy theories. That said, perhaps the most shocking aspect of the release is that many of the biggest bombshells revealed in the documentary have been vetted and confirmed by various mainstream media outlets. More recently, some information uncovered in the Panama Papers has echoed some of Schweitzer’s allegations in the movie and book.http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-07-25/clinton-cash-debut-just-time-fan-flames-tension-dnc
Actually, besides the lack of sources the context is fairly obvious so I wonder what school you teach at. And if you actually teach at a school your flaunting your academia shows a lack of respect for your own school as it has become like Trump, a circus.
Here’s a suggestion ike: When les audits your class explain the difference between all intents and purposes and all intensive purposes in order to clarify your earlier post regarding Trump’s Taj Mahal.
The same could be said of Trump.
“…I know many a man (having been married 25 years myself) that were faithful but failed profoundly in many other germane areas of life: they physically and emotionally abused their partners, they were distant, they were not reliable wage earners, they were not good fathers, and overall they were NOT good partners.”
Then they were NOT men. Simply males. REAL men are faithful to their partners, provide for their children, are strong enough emotionally so they don’t abuse anyone physically or emotionally and are reliable and responsible.
Kinda makes you wonder about the type of friends people surround themselves with..
Actually, I can say the same regarding marital fidelity. I know of a lot of men who fit in tha category (both sides, meaning men as well as women). It is what it is. When most marriages fail within a year or two statistically that is telling. And, no, hawaiikone, it’s not because I surround myself with them. It’s just a fact of life.
Hey Ike, I believe you were married to yourself for 25 years.
And a surgeon, and the father of three daughters: one an Ivy graduate, the other two at CAL and Harvey Mudd. Education and contributions back to society are not just talking points in our house, but part of who we are….
Ikefromeli, academia is not your problem. You got no common sense. Just a typical brain washed DemoRat.
You got to stop watching CNN. Those flashes of light are subliminal messages to make you write more hyperbole.
Talk at you later. Can’t wait for the next auxesis.
Ikefromeli, I’d be surprised if the DemoRats see a bump in the polls with you on their team. They don’t need another Debbie.
Bill and Hilliary have a disconcerting pattern of lying. Very unsettling to have not one but two Clinton’s in the WH. As bad as Obama is, America got it right when they elected him POTUS instead of crooked mama. Let’s keep the Clintons out of the WH.
Aaaawwwww. A love story. Feeling all warm inside. Sadly, Bill didn’t have time to speak about the 35 other “love stories” of the last 4 decades, about the sexual harassment, the alleged sexual assaults, the interns. Maybe we’ll get to hear more about these after the election.
While you’re at it, please share with us about Trump’s.
And Roger Ailes….
Bill Clinton to write a book of love stories. Chapter One Hillary. The following chapters; Juanita Broaddrick, Kathleen Willey, Paula Jones, Sandra Allen James, Eileen Wellstone, Christy Zercher, Carolyn Moffet, Helen Dowdy, Becky Brown, Regina Blakely Hopper, Monica Lewinsky, Elizabeth Ward Gracen, Gennifer Flowers, Connie Hamzy, Dolly Kyle Browning, Sally Miller (Sally Perdue) and Lencola Sullivan.
The #1 best seller profits will go to the Clinton Foundation.
sarge22: Agree Bill C is one sik sum o batch but cannot get outraged when the alternative and all his henchmen are an equally lyin, cheatin sik sum o batches. Also saw a picture of Trump’s son cut apart a dead elephant, that was probably shot and killed by the son for “sport” in Africa. Bunch of real tuff guys. If they think they are so strong, brave and feel the need to hunt and kill why don’t they enlist in the military so that they can help to hunt and kill Muslim terrorists? Rhetorical question, animals, unlike Muslim terrorists, don’t shoot and fight back.
They were conducting an autopsy on the elephant. They could not perform autopsies on the 4 Benghazi victims because they dragged their mutilated bodies through the streets of Benghazi. There was nothing left.
What’s the difference. The Former Secretary of Defense and the CIA Director gave speeches today dragging Trump through the convention Hall.
The Economist was right-never read the comments section.
You should always read the comments section otherwise you would be like Ike.
Sad but true.
If you ever actually read the Economist, it would be because you were at the Dental Office, and someone read it out loud to you…..
I actually did have a subscription and read it all by myself. Gold over $1340 today as the pundits proclaim the economy is doing good. Who to believe. Comments are a valuable tool.
“I married my best friend”
With friends like that who needs enemies.
Do we really want this predator running around the White House AGAIN?
Just when it starts to seem that Donald Trump can’t surprise the jaded American media anymore, the Republican nominee manages to go just a little bit further.
During a press conference Wednesday morning that was bizarre even by Trump’s standards, he praised torture, said the Geneva Conventions were obsolete, contradicted his earlier position on a federal minimum wage, and told a reporter to “be quiet.”
But the strangest comments, easily, came when Trump was asked about allegations that Russian hackers had broken into the email of the Democratic National Convention—as well as further suggestions that Vladimir Putin’s regime might be trying to aid Trump, who has praised him at length. Trump cast doubt on Russia’s culpability, then said he hoped they had hacked Hillary Clinton’s messages while she was secretary of state.
“By the way, if they hacked, they probably have her 33,000 emails,” he said. “I hope they do. They probably have her 33,000 emails that she lost and deleted. Because you’d see some beauties there.” A few minutes later, he returned to the idea, speaking directly to the Kremlin: “I will tell you this: Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.”
It was a stunning moment: a presidential nominee calling on a foreign power not only to hack his opponent and release what they found publicly, but hoping the Russians had stolen the emails of a top American official, perhaps including classified information. Atlantic.
So, this is the statesmen, the leader of the free world, the man who does not know the difference between hummus and Hamas….that you want sitting in the White House?
Your obsession with decimating Trump may be revealing a subconscious disappointment your own candidate of choice. There is a better way, and don’t bother regurgitating that “wasted vote” nonsense. Once either of these crooks gains office, we’ll all be regretting what could have been had we ignored that overused platitude.
I am merely posting present day articles on the candidate. I would be remisssed to say about almost half of these posts are from very established conservative publications.
I think it’s more correct to use remiss rather than remissed.
And your obsession with Trump is quite telling.
That’s twice you’ve come at me. Are you interested in a discussion? Had you even loosely followed the daily jabbering around here, you’d know I’m no Trump fan, so I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. Once.
Ikefromeli,You have no common sense.If the Russians have the emails whose fault is that?
I think Ikefromeli has a good point. I think your post is self-contradictory in that it dismisses Trump’s comments that imply that he would have enjoyed Russia hacking our email system. Now, what kind of a person would enjoy that. That is quite telling about you.
If Russia is hacking our email system they must have Hillary’s classified emails. What’s her defense?
Keaukaha- SWOOSH
Boink (a la Shaquille reject).
right, bill
Mothers of the Movement?
Where’s the Fathers of the Movement?
My, my, my, the trolls certainly have their panties in a bunch this morning.
RealClearPolitics reports that GOP nominee Donald Trump has jumped in the polls, with the Los Angeles Times/USC poll showing Trump up 7 points.
Rasmussen Reports revealed yesterday that 70 percent of likely U.S. voters believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. Only 24 percent think the nation is on the right track.
A new Gallup survey found that Hillary Rodham Clinton’s favorability rating has plummeted to 38 percent (it was up to 55 percent in 2014), and that’s down even from a month ago, when it was at 41 percent. Of course, 71 percent of those identified as Democrats and “left-leaning independents” view Clinton favorably, Gallup noted.
As long as you’re referring to both teams in this struggle towards mediocrity, then I agree. Hard to even imagine the rhetoric a couple of months from now..
Unicorns and rainbows…attaway Honolulu Star Advertiser. I’m not definitely down for any party, let alone candidate – but you really need to set the STANDARD, instead of waxing poetic for the Clinton’s legacy. If you’ll check – FIVE other women have ran for president, and some of those were nominees for the major parties (remember Margaret Chase Smith? Shirley Chisholm?). I also don’t think that he stands to break ANY glass ceilings as the nation’s first ‘gentleman’. That ain’t no gentleman…that’s just Ol’ Bill,
Patsy Takemoto Mink? First Asian-American to seek nomination…and a woman. Main-stream media is selling us all a pack of lies…and we just buy it all w/out a second thought. C’mon folks – DEMAND more from anyone in office! DO YOUR JOB.
Crooked Hilliary is the loose change agent. No common cents.
Articles like these make the coffee taste so much better.
Unless you look at the price tag for that coffe you just bought. Drum roll…
Been reading all the posts about Bill Clinton the pe rv, HOWEVER it don’t mean much at this point when the other side consists of Donald Trump, Gingrich, Bill O’Reilly and Roger Ailes that involves equating women to blood coming out of wherever, cheaters married three times, falafels or enjoy the exposure of raw hamburger meat or get fired.
Hey All,
The bottom line is is you like the status quo, vote for Clinton.
If you do not like it the way it is now and want change, vote for Trump.