Clinton, Bush booked for joint Toronto appearance

[sabra]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090420.wibbitson21/BNStory/International/home

Event next month billed as a 'conversation' between the two most recent U.S. presidents

WASHINGTON — Former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush will appear together in Toronto next month on a public stage for the first time since Mr. Bush ended his presidency, in a remarkable twist on the cultural cold war that Barack Obama and others are trying to lay to rest.

The two will be appearing at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on May 29 for a moderated “conversation” that is expected to last about two hours.

It is odd to think of the two presidents seated side by side, chatting amicably about the events of the past 16 years, as they are expected to do, and about the global and domestic challenges facing the United States and Canada.

After all, Mr. Bush set out to dismantle much of what Mr. Clinton accomplished, from balancing the budget to fighting global warming, even as President Barack Obama has set out to erase the Bush legacy by reversing his tax cuts, prohibiting the torture of terrorism suspects, withdrawing from Iraq and rejoining the campaign against greenhouse gases.

[WI_DEM]

1. It will be a mutual admiration society

even if one wanted to criticize the other they probably wouldn't do it publically--or at least not too harshly, and I'm sure they will find "common ground" to agree on.

[AndyA]

2. Clinton should just do what Bush's Dad did...

He could walk over to Bush and vomit on him. Then turn to the audience, and say "that demonstrates what the last 8 years have been like under Bush."

Then Clinton can answer questions for 2 hours, while Bush is off stage trying to clean himself up. ;)

[blm]

5. Who do you think helped Bush SELL invasion of Iraq to Tony Blair, DC Dems, and American people

AND especially made sure to support and vigorously DEFEND Bush's decisions on Iraq in every major interview he conducted throughout his summer 2004 book tour?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. Further proof,

that Bill Clinton is an attention whore who will do anything to be in the spotlight.

Even share it with that thug.

I wonder how much they're each being paid.

Whores, both of them, but for different reasons .................

[karynnj]

8. I wonder why either accepted this

Especially why did Bush accept a joint platform with Clinton, who easily outshines him, in a country where he (Bush) is hated - and has been for years. (In 2004, a poll showed that 86% of Canada was for Kerry.)

I read the linked article and this is something put together by a man who books various people to speak, not some academic or other noteworthy forum. It is really clearly for money. The comments are really interesting. They see this for what it is.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

12. Again,

attention whores. They can sit up there and pretend they're being adored and suck up the attention (and the $$$) and, for a while, it'll be just like when they were in office.

Yes, it's hard to imagine Chimpy Fucknuts sounding even semi-coherent next to Bubba, who is, in spite of my distaste for him, a brilliant speaker.

But, attention whores are victims of their own needs, even if it's at the expense of whatever dignity they might have thought they had ...............

[Captain Hilts]

17. Bubba wants to raise money for his foundation, Toronto is an int'l financial center and Canadians...

are more internationally-inclined about global poverty than folks in the US are.

Other than that, no reason. It's also a quick flight from DC and NYC.

[Captain Hilts]

4. Shit. I will be there next month. Tee Oh had some serious Bubbamania during the book tour.

GWB must be stupid if he's willing to get on a Canadian stage with Clinton.

[blm]

7. What does Bush2 have to fear from Clinton? Bill was W's most influential Dem on Iraq from 2002-2006.

Far more influential than anything Lieberman ever said and did.

[karynnj]

14. I felt no Bubbamania during his egotistical book tour

It was unconscionable that he felt the need to be everywhere in July 2004 speaking of his book. I'm very sure that it was essential to the world to be reminded of the "highlights" of the Clinton year as Kerry's campaign started. The fact that the most repeated Clinton answer was "because I could" and because I need not even give the question tells you why this was a spectacularly bad idea.

[Captain Hilts]

15. Authors don't go on book tours? You missed the chaos at the Indigo/Chapters on Bay St.

Police had to close down the street.

Clearly you see only what you want to see. It must be comforting.

[karynnj]

20. I'm not saying I didn't hear of things like that - I'm saying that I was not one who felt it

(ie My parents certainly saw Beatemania, but they did not feel it. )

Glad you were happy with something that brought up Monica Lewinsky on every stop. Just when it had recessed into the background. But more importantly, did you see the various comments that Kerry and his people didn't like that Clinton was taking all the oxygen? What was more important the 2004 election or Bill's magical mystery tour?

[blm]

22. Clearly you can't answer what Bush2 has to fear from Bill Clinton, his top Dem cheerleader on

invading Iraq and his father's top protector throughout the 90s.

[politicasista]

19. Yep. I would rather have Obamamania than Bubbamania

all the way.

[Captain Hilts]

25. Fine by me. nt

[No More Bushbots]

6. Is it just me or does anyone else notice that Bush will only show his face in Canada?

[WI_DEM]

9. It doesn't make sense either.

[Captain Hilts]

16. I don't 'get' that either. A lot of Canadians like Reagan, but most HATE GWB.

He insulted them by not having the first 'foreign' visit or first state dinner with Canada and by NOT thanking Canada in his Sept. 11th speech, even though all of the US knew what Gander had done for us. What'd Mexico do?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. They should take their show to Madrid..to a courtroom.

[cherish44]

11. Joint? Do you think he'll inhale this time?

You know damn well Bush inhales...

[DeepBlueC]

13. Without Clinton, Bush would have no audience in this city

And Clinton, apparently, just can't say "no" to a microphone.

[KoKo]

18. I thought this was from the "Onion." Is "Globe and Mail" reliable?

:shrug:

[DeepBlueC]

21. The Globe and Mail is very much respected

[Captain Hilts]

26. Yeah, but I still prefer the Star. nt

[DeepBlueC]

27. the Star isn't the paper it used to be though, is it?

My favorite thing about the Globe is the Letters to the Editor.

[Captain Hilts]

28. Put the two in a blender, and you have a real paper! nt

[Spazito]

23. Geez, it is bad enough he was just here....

why the hell is he back again? Canadians DESPISE the bastard. How Clinton can volunteer to sit with that man for two hours is beyond me, even with the incentive of the money.

[AspenRose]

24. I predict there will be some calling out/criticizing of Obama at that appearance.

eom