--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bill Clinton fascinates me because, at…" description: "\"Bill Clinton fascinates me because, at the time, it seemed like his shenanigans and the people after him were the biggest political stories you could e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/john-mulaney-7291_clinton_bill-clinton-fascinates-me-because-at-th_3138544.jpg" --- # Bill Clinton fascinates me because, at the time, it seemed… ![“Bill Clinton fascinates me because, at the time, it seemed like his shenanigans and the people after him were the biggest political stories you could ever imagine. I remember when the 'Starr Report' was published in the newspaper, all of us were reading it in the high-school cafeteria, and a dean…” quote by John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/john-mulaney-7291_clinton_bill-clinton-fascinates-me-because-at-th_3138544.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/john-mulaney-7291_clinton_bill-clinton-fascinates-me-because-at-th_3138544.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/john-mulaney-7291_clinton_bill-clinton-fascinates-me-because-at-th_3138544.jpg) > “Bill Clinton fascinates me because, at the time, it seemed like his shenanigans and the people after him were the biggest political stories you could ever imagine. I remember when the 'Starr Report' was published in the newspaper, all of us were reading it in the high-school cafeteria, and a dean started taking the newspapers away from us.” [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He humorously reflects on how political scandals dominate public attention, showing how media can amplify certain narratives. **In simple terms:** Political scandals dominate news cycles. Key Takeaway Question media influence on perception. Themes politics media attention Mood humorous critical Type satirical observational When to use this quote - news consumption - public discourse - critical thinking Key Concepts satire social commentary Questions to Reflect On - What stories shape your view of politics? - How does satire affect your seriousness? A Different Perspective Humor may oversimplify complex issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I think I've yet to do the big heave is because New York editors tend to think D.C. guys like me want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-labash/i-think-i-ve-yet-to-do-the-big-heave-is-because-new-york-editors-tend/) [Matt Labash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-labash/) > [Political stories in general are tough. They just don't appeal to as wide an audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callie-khouri/political-stories-in-general-are-tough-they-just-don-t-appeal-to-as/) [Callie Khouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callie-khouri/) > [I felt like challenging myself and challenging my readers with something darker and heavier. I don't know how to explain it, because I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-felt-like-challenging-myself-and-challenging-my-readers-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The biggest political change in my lifetime is that Americans no longer assume that their children will have it better than they did. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/the-biggest-political-change-in-my-lifetime-is-that-americans-no/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [ \[Donald Trump\] ran an extraordinarily unconventional campaign and it resulted in the biggest political upset in perhaps modern political history. American history. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-ran-an-extraordinarily-unconventional-campaign-and-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [For the party, the Beijing Games are the biggest political happening of 2008. Everything revolves around them. This will be a huge celebration for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-xiaobo/for-the-party-the-beijing-games-are-the-biggest-political-happening/) [Liu Xiaobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-xiaobo/) > [ When the history of this period is written, \[William Jennings\] Bryan will stand out as one of the most remarkable men of his generation… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/when-the-history-of-this-period-is-written-william-jennings-bryan/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [“By the time Trump arrived at his next event, in Lisbon, Maine, he had hit upon an even better sound bite to capture Clinton’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-green/by-the-time-trump-arrived-at-his-next-event-in-lisbon-maine-he-had/) [Joshua Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-green/) > [We have something happening that actually makes the Republican Party probably the biggest political story anywhere in the world. Everybody's writing about it. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-have-something-happening-that-actually-makes-the-republican-party/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [An Egyptian newspaper once publicly identified me as the C.I.A. station chief in Cairo. It seemed so stupid at the time. I was only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/an-egyptian-newspaper-once-publicly-identified-me-as-the-c-i-a/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [I had a column in high school for our school newspaper. I enjoy writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-korver/i-had-a-column-in-high-school-for-our-school-newspaper-i-enjoy-writing/) [Kyle Korver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-korver/) > [For chat-room tyros who expect to make their first million day-trading by age 27, paging through the Sunday newspaper with a pair of scissors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/for-chat-room-tyros-who-expect-to-make-their-first-million-day/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [Writing for a newspaper is like running a revolutionary war. You go to battle not when you are ready, but when action offers itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/writing-for-a-newspaper-is-like-running-a-revolutionary-war-you-go-to/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Every morning when I pick up the newspaper and read about an earthquake in Japan or problems in European financial institutions, the first question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schapiro/every-morning-when-i-pick-up-the-newspaper-and-read-about-an/) [Mary Schapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schapiro/) > [Things that appear on the front page of the newspaper as 'fact' are far more dangerous than the games played by a novelist, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-doctorow/things-that-appear-on-the-front-page-of-the-newspaper-as-fact-are-far/) [E. L. Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-doctorow/) ## More by John Mulaney > [I don't know if there's a strategy really so much as, like I learned doing standup and had to learn fast, you always just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-don-t-know-if-there-s-a-strategy-really-so-much-as-like-i-learned/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [I never turn on the crowd. Sometimes, you think it's a terrible show, and then afterward, sometimes people say they really liked it. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-never-turn-on-the-crowd-sometimes-you-think-it-s-a-terrible-show/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [If I was at the Comedy Cellar at midnight you yelled at the back of the room. But you, for television, play it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/if-i-was-at-the-comedy-cellar-at-midnight-you-yelled-at-the-back-of/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [Ill book a ticket on some garbage airline. I dont wanna name an actual airline so lets make one up, lets just call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/ill-book-a-ticket-on-some-garbage-airline-i-dont-wanna-name-an-actual/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [You can't always see both sides of the story. Eventually, you have to pick a side and stick with it. No more equivocating. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/you-can-t-always-see-both-sides-of-the-story-eventually-you-have-to/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [ With the first episode \[of John Mulaney Show\] I tell a story that happened to me accidentally chasing a woman down the subway. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/with-the-first-episode-of-john-mulaney-show-i-tell-a-story-that/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [Part of standup is being loose and having a good time yourself and that translates to the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/part-of-standup-is-being-loose-and-having-a-good-time-yourself-and/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [Maybe I just have high self-esteem, but I have a lot that I really enjoy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/maybe-i-just-have-high-self-esteem-but-i-have-a-lot-that-i-really/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [I have a lot of stories about being a kid because it was the last time I was interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-have-a-lot-of-stories-about-being-a-kid-because-it-was-the-last/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [Going on the road for long stretches can seem daunting, and I certainly miss being home sometimes, but the chance to see so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/going-on-the-road-for-long-stretches-can-seem-daunting-and-i/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [I do longer runs on things, a lot stories. I really like one-liners, I like a lot of different kinds of standup but I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-do-longer-runs-on-things-a-lot-stories-i-really-like-one-liners-i/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [I look back on being 17 and think, 'Oh my God, how did I not die?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-look-back-on-being-17-and-think-oh-my-god-how-did-i-not-die/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [ If you’re comparing the badness of two words and you won’t even say one of them \[the n-word\], that’s the worse word. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/if-you-re-comparing-the-badness-of-two-words-and-you-won-t-even-say/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [In every case, I find pre-planning noble, but not always that useful in comedy. You know comedy once you're doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/in-every-case-i-find-pre-planning-noble-but-not-always-that-useful-in/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [Most open-mic experiences I had were okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/most-open-mic-experiences-i-had-were-okay/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) [Explore all 92 John Mulaney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) ## More Clinton quotes > [There's more than 1700 emails out of the thirty three thousand Hillary Clinton emails that we've published, just about Libya. It's not that Libya…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/there-s-more-than-1700-emails-out-of-the-thirty-three-thousand/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [You can criticize Trump and his wealth all day long, but you can't say he hasn't worked. You can say that about the Clintons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/you-can-criticize-trump-and-his-wealth-all-day-long-but-you-can-t-say/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ I guarantee you \[Hillary Clinton\] is smoking in humiliation over the idea that she needs to heal and that \[Donald\] Trump's the guy to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-guarantee-you-hillary-clinton-is-smoking-in-humiliation-over-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [How do you, on the one hand, not object to Hillary Clinton being elected, and then, on the other hand, tell people, "Elect me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/how-do-you-on-the-one-hand-not-object-to-hillary-clinton-being/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [All my life I've been involved with racial politics. I was a Freedom Rider in the South. I was the author of books on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hayden/all-my-life-i-ve-been-involved-with-racial-politics-i-was-a-freedom/) [Tom Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hayden/) > [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I didn't do anything for Russia. I've done nothing for Russia. Hillary Clinton gave them 20% of our uranium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-didn-t-do-anything-for-russia-i-ve-done-nothing-for-russia-hillary/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I absolutely trust Hillary Clinton to stand strong on trade agreements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrod-brown/i-absolutely-trust-hillary-clinton-to-stand-strong-on-trade-agreements/) [Sherrod Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrod-brown/) > [We're in more wars today under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton than under George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan. Yet they tell you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-re-in-more-wars-today-under-barack-obama-and-hillary-clinton-than/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Hillary Clinton is the least popular candidate for president ever except for Donald Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-pickering/hillary-clinton-is-the-least-popular-candidate-for-president-ever/) Charlie Pickering > [Hillary Clinton truly is sincere, but she has to connect more with the American people in terms of what she believes in and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/hillary-clinton-truly-is-sincere-but-she-has-to-connect-more-with-the/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [Why can't we have a voice? What's the difference between an athlete having millions or Donald Trump? Every time a politician talks, they talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-abdul-rauf/why-can-t-we-have-a-voice-what-s-the-difference-between-an-athlete/) Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf > [Hillary Clinton's been around for 30 years. Why do these stories need to be told? It isn't all of this widely known?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/hillary-clinton-s-been-around-for-30-years-why-do-these-stories-need/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I happen to think that Hillary Clinton is a beacon of hope for younger girls, as was Barack Obama in other inspirational areas. We've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-meneses/i-happen-to-think-that-hillary-clinton-is-a-beacon-of-hope-for/) Alex Meneses > [If you're going to run for president as the anti-Clinton, you should know that Democrats and their media friends will do whatever it takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gigot/if-you-re-going-to-run-for-president-as-the-anti-clinton-you-should/) [Paul Gigot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gigot/) Browse all 2,917 Clinton quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Bill Clinton fascinates me because, at the time, it seemed like his shenanigans and the people after him were the biggest political stories you could ever imagine. I remember when the 'Starr Report' was published in the newspaper, all of us were reading it in the high-school cafeteria, and a dean started taking the newspapers away from us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Mulaney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/bill-clinton-fascinates-me-because-at-the-time-it-seemed-like-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clinton" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/bill-clinton-fascinates-me-because-at-the-time-it-seemed-like-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/john-mulaney-7291_clinton_bill-clinton-fascinates-me-because-at-th_3138544.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/john-mulaney-7291_clinton_bill-clinton-fascinates-me-because-at-th_3138544.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/john-mulaney-7291_clinton_bill-clinton-fascinates-me-because-at-th_3138544.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Bill Clinton fascinates me because, at the time, it seemed like his shenanigans and the people after him…” — John Mulaney", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Mulaney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Bill Clinton fascinates me because, at...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/bill-clinton-fascinates-me-because-at-the-time-it-seemed-like-his/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/bill-clinton-fascinates-me-because-at-the-time-it-seemed-like-his/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```