Bill Clinton Criticizes President Barack Obama & Democratic Lawmakers Over Failure to Adequately Stabilize U.S. Economy in 2009, Says Country is a Mess.

In his new book, Back to Work, former president Bill Clinton criticizes President Barack Obama and the Democratic lawmakers for their failure to make a stronger case to stabilize the U.S. economy in 2009. He was also very critical of last summer’s political fight over raising the U.S. debt ceiling, saying it made the nation look “weak and confused” overseas, according to the AP.

He also “describes the current state of the country as ‘a mess’ and largely blames the anti-government sentiment embodied in the tea party movement that has held sway since the 1980s.

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Clinton analyzes the factors that contributed to the nation’s current economic woes and offers several policy prescriptions he says would create jobs and make the U.S. more competitive. While he generally praises Obama for taking steps to mitigate the financial crisis and deep recession, he also gently dings the president for poor communication and strategic misfires.

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During the 2011 debt ceiling fight, which brought the U.S. Department of the Treasury close to defaulting on its debts, Clinton publicly urged Obama to raise the ceiling unilaterally and cite constitutional provisions for doing so. In his book, he appears mystified still as to why Obama allowed such a perilous showdown. Obama now has “a tough hand to play” in negotiating with Congress, Clinton writes. Source: Washington Post

Some make take Clinton’s comments to heart, while others, mainly staunch Obama supporters, will find another reason to say, see Clinton’s still harboring a grudge over Hillary Clinton’s loss to Obama during the 2008 presidential campaigns. Personally, I find Bill Clinton, despite wandering eyes and hands, to be a very shrewd and knowledgeable politician. Now this is a book I would like to read or listen to the audio book.