Bernie, thank you very much for a POSITIVE message!! We need more positive instead of people always pointing fingers!! As I have always said to those who are always whining, it could happen to you too!

You go Bill !!!

Bill Clinton.

I agree.  While Hill is a very smart lady and is gainning more clout -- It is Bill who has it more  (for the moment)--bases on his experience, personallity, smarts, verbal talents, etc -- and the very fact he was a former US President. He showed the N. K. leadership that this issue was important problem (without it getting all "blown up" and it  also showed them any due respect they may think they require-- while also giving them a way end this thing & still save face --

Everybody wins here -- without it becoming a "official /international policy matter" (which it would be if the US Sec of State was the one to deal with this directly --

No matter what some might think of Bill Clinton as a person -- He was the perfect envoy for this situation -- as the postive results prove.  Let the NK "spin" this any way they like -- the ladies are free and home now --  Thank you Bill!  Good luck and god bless to al!

Very well said.

Just voted for your post, Bernie G and agree that your positive and honest statement is more what we need. Enough of unjustified criticisms and hate mongering.

That's the stupidest question that this venue has put out, so far. Of course, a former president is going to have more clout than a Secretary of State! DUH!!! So what's your point?

The real question should have been...does Bill Clinton have more clout than Obama? Hands down...yes!!!

Hey Nancy

the initials for Secretary of State are SOS not COS. At least you know her position. Many people do not.

The real question should have been...does Bill Clinton have more clout than Obama? Hands down...yes!!!

HMMM

I'll add to the question - Do Bill and Hillary Clinton have more clout than Obama

He11 yeah!

sueca, I totally agree with you. The Clintons have served our country very well in the past and continue to do so. May they continue to do so for a long time in the future.

Great comment both Bill and Hilrey are hard working americans who has this countries best interests at heart. Most of the negotiations were done by others Bill was was the individual selected to convey the final message. We should all thank god that we have so many people here that care and continue to do many things to help others. It would not have been in the best interests of America to have Hilrey directly involved in these final negotiation. GREAT WORK AL AND YOUR STAFF

sueca, I also agree with you. The Clintons have always been the best in our administration. They have been there for us, the Americans, in the past, now at the present, and I believe they will also be there in the future as well. To me, there will never be a couple as loving and caring for our country as the Clintons.

HA HA HA LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL......Said like a true Liberal. I have a few liberal friends that have met these people and their little lackey Gore and they are not nice and caring people. What a joke!! Get your head out of the clouds. Like all politicians they care about POWER.

I am thankful these two journalists were released and I don't care who did it, just that it was done. It cracks me up how people on here are saying, let's not bring politics in it and have hate mongering, but yet, we have to worship at the Clinton altar. Sorry not brainwashed. I remember exactly what they did in their administration and how all libs try to give this putz credit for the economy. Sorry economically flawed humans, it was the 12 years before Clinton that brought a wonderful economy and he started the downfall of our economy, now joining him Bush, Jr and the SAVIOR Obama. Get a clue people.

You are so right Tammy. If we want to talk about politics, why discuss the Clintons. Why not discuss the fact that Congress has added $200 million to a bill that lets Congress buy 3 Gulf Stream jets to fly our loser Congressional members around the country. Wasn't it just 9 months ago, Congress belittled auto exec for taking a private plane to the Senate Hearings. WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE MONEY FOR THIS TRIVIAL SPENDING.

Anyway, sorry I went off on a tangent. No other media outlet will discuss this jet purchase story.

Welcome home ladies. Glad your safe.

If you sold what you're taking to sya and actually believe this, you'd make a fortune.

Bill Clinton is remembered fondly by the rest of the world because of the contrast between his administration and the one who followed him.

Island Jeff

Clinton had a 65% approval rating when he left office. YOU ARE WRONG with the comment above because Clinton left office before we could compare him to Bush.

I LOVED BILL CLINTON and STILL DO for so many reasons.

i so very agree. i would like to know what bill had to do with the nk to get them freed. i said this right from the start when i heard that it was bill and no one else. and yes what about al gore. they were his people. rich sob

I agree mostly with what you say, but the hidden agenda could bite us in the arse. We don't know what he had to give in return for this. NK would do nothing for free. He probably gave them another part to the nuclear reactor he gave while president. We will never know until we see the bomb at our door. Thanks Bill.

President Clinton did many great things in his presidency. Unfortunately, he made some personal choices that do not reflect the morality that most Americans care for their president to display. However, amny of those who publically denounced his personal actions have been caught doing even more! What a shame, that some don't remember him as a president who cared so much for the US and it's future, that when he left his presidency, there was a surplus. Bush and his inept job performance has been a legacy that we will all be paying for forever!

Yay!!!, Pres. Clinton. Way to go!

(P.S. to all the "bashers": Bush was not the best, Bush was not the worst. Ditto for Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, Obama, oh, hell, just pick one. We have not had a president whose one abiding concern was America, and America only, with no concern for personal celebrity or power, since George Washington. They're all liars, they're all crooks, and to think otherwise is naive. Because not a one of them has protected and defended the Constitution, Obama included. But they love the fact that we're all at each other's throats over which side is best - it allows them to turn this country into a wasteland while nobody's looking. Oh, yeah, they're all good little D's and R's during the campaign, then it's over, and they all crawl into the same snakepit and curl up.)

Well said PatriotGal!

here ye here ye i agree also patriotgal!!!!!!! thank u

that's not the president's job. That's why he has a sercretary of state and diplomats. Remeber Bill Richardson acted in the 90's for Bill Clinton to release hostages from Korea in the past. Not in the President's job description.

The President of the US is not supposed to go to a country that is our enemy. They could be killed or taken hostage. Not to mention that by sending a President that is no longer in office, our country is not dealing with a terrorist country. He went as an individual person (someone that has political clout because of a position that was held), not to represent our current administration. It would be a dangerous position for anyone that was American to go to that country. I would like to say thank you to our former President.  I would love to think that something like that would be done for me or anyone in my family if put in the same situation.

Oh please, give me a break. The President of the U.S. doesn't do this sort of thing. You don't know, in fact only those involved know, what went on before President Clinton got on that plane.

To One Angry Taxpayer: Obama had to stay out of this as anyone who understands the critical situation in North Korea totally understands. This had to be done by an "outside party" - someone outside of the administration. No sitting President would ever have gone to request the release of two prisoners. Clearly you don't understand the fragile nature of the world's relationship with North Korea right now.

I may not have used as strong of language, but with all the media attention Obama tries to get, you would think he could have given more attention to such an important humanitarian situation as this. He didn't show up and barely gave it thirty seconds of his time, but he had plenty of time to give to the Gates arrest which he had no business sticking his nose into....which by the way I believe the arrest was justified. I'm not a Bill Clinton fan but I appreciate what he did and the contribution he made to bringing our fellow Americans home safely.

Hey Angry Taxpayer. Could it be that he was not looking for a photo-op like W did so much of the time-------like swooping in on a carrier deck in a flight uniform declaring victory!! What a hotdog he was (is). Of course, as many have told you in reply, it simply is a matter of the President delegating this type mission to someone with the clout and stature to seal the deal.

Hey Angry Taxpayer. Could it be that he was not looking for a photo-op like W did so much of the time

Huh? you are kidding right? Mr. Media has had more photo-ops in 200 days then Bush had in 8 years!

You libs are soooo funny, naw pathetic is more like it. I can promise you Obama is jealous as hell of this situation. He had to beef up more tv time to make Americans (especially the pathetic women that vote for presidents because they have fantasies about bedroom activity) forget Slick Willy. This guy is the only president to go on Leno/Letterman, forget which because I sure didn't watch it and they are stupid libs anyway so Pater, really? I think you should retract that statement because you show your intelligence level. Silly liberal.

W Goin......part of the situation in NK is thanks to Billy boy Cockton, Clinton. He is the one that gave NK a nuclear reactor while he was president. I am sure he gave something else destructive to the world when he went for the journalists as well.

George W and Dick C with their charm and international reputation would probably end up having the hikers sentenced to........I don't even want to think about it. Let these thugs stay under their rock.

Seriously, you really dont think they were just "hikers". Bill will always have the clout. He is one of the good ole boys and when you run in those circles it will be awhile before a lady can step into that same circle. I wish Hillary had stayed out of the present administration. I would rather have her sitting on the outside giving OB the what for than sitting on the inside asking "when". Obama will not let her light shine too bright. It was much to close for him last year and based on his present direction and little statremnts coming from Hillary , I would guess he is in trouble from her next time unless she has just given up and now playing follow the leader like every other good little dem is doing.

LOL

Larry 314720...what a sexist comment. Why do they have to be gals. They are very intelligent youg women. Have respect. Yee Haw!! yourself.

Dude, Cheyenne, relax! Politics is all about give and take. No way did Kimmy give those chicks up for free and no way did our golden boy Bill go allll the way over there for nothing. And Lord knows little miss Hillary is not putting out these days. How p/o-ed do you think she is that her hubby had to go back there to finish what she tried to accomplish not even a month ago...you the man, Bill! YeeHaw with whoever you want! (Takes two to tango, btw...)