It's worse than the "Checkers" speech

[madbaker]

I blame President Clinton.

Regardless of your views on the impeachment and all the related tackiness - he is to blame for introducing the phrase "It's time to move on" into common usage.

It's a way to avoid responsibility, an attempt to disarm opponents, paint them as stuck in the past, and bypass whatever criticism is being discussed.

It's a dodge, not an apology.

Barry Bonds is merely the latest to avail himself of the phrase - which is what inspired this rant.

It's time to bury this cheat in the dustbin of history.
It's time to m... Oops.

See how seductive it is?

Comments

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

I had posted a different comment, but ... for what it's worth, I don't think I ever said (or implied, or ...) Clinton was blameless for some of the idiocy that went on, or that he should have done the things he did with Lewinski (and/or others), and he shouldn't have lied about it.

I also agree that introducing a phrase such as "It's time to move on." is definitely a way to avoid responsibility, etc., as you note. However, I also feel that he's paid the price, and it is time to move on. Whether you agree he paid "enough" or not, it's done and over. The country has way too many things to deal with now, and that one is done.

I was appalled at the front page of The Chron and Bonds' comments ... (and I don't particularly follow sports, but still ...).

Time to move on? Blech.

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

I'm blaming Clinton here for using and popularizing the phrase as a way to avoid responsibility.
Not for the peccadilloes of his behavior, as stated above.

Rehashing that battle is nearly as pointless as bringing up Kennedy and Chappaquiddick.

Re: Time to move on? Blech.

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

Rehashing that battle is nearly as pointless as bringing up Kennedy and Chappaquiddick.

No argument there. I also agree that it's most likely Clinton's fault that the phrase was popularized. However, I think in his case it may have been more appropriate than the more recent use of it ...

Re: Time to move on? Blech.

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

Now, six years afterwards? Heck yeah.
First press conference, five minutes after things break? ...Uh, no. That's just avoiding responsibility.

And that's what everyone who uses the phrase does.

Re: Time to move on? Blech.

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

Thought I'd replied to this, but don't see it, so ...

I think we're on the same page, actually. Take the damn responsibility ...

[tsgeisel.livejournal.com]

Well, I agree with the fact that "time to move on" is a bit of a cheat phrase, there's definitely times when you do need to move on.

Regarding Bonds, I actually do believe he never knew exactly what he was taking. But I believe it was a willful ignorance; that he didn't want to know. And I forget - was it actually illegal?

As for the records, he overstated the case, but are we to asterisk all the records from before Jackie Robinson, because they were earned against only white players - when there were black baseball players who were so much better?

[soapbox mode off]

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

I'm not advocating changing the records. That's a slippery slope. Do you throw out just the most recent, steroid-binged numbers? How about since the DH rule (ptui), which jacked up offense? Since they changed pitchers' mound heights? And Babe Ruth didn't have access to personal trainers and weight conditioning, so...

I'd agree that if Bonds didn't know, it was because he didn't want to. If he in fact used steroids and HGH without a valid prescription (e.g. for dwarfism) then it was illegal under law. Regardless of what the players' contracts said. Just as it is illegal for NBA players to smoke pot, even though they're allowed to by the union contract.