WP,pg1: Bill Clinton Takes Spot On Global Stage

[DeepModem Mom]

Bill Clinton Takes Spot On Global Stage

By John F. Harris
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 1, 2005; Page A01


In 2001, in the opening months of his ex-presidency, Bill Clinton confided to an aide that he had decided on his dream job for the next chapter of his life: secretary general of the United Nations.

The goal may not be realistic, he acknowledged, but he then went on to analyze all the factors in minute detail, as though he were preparing for a political campaign: whether a U.S. president would ever see fit to back him, for one, and what it would take to persuade other nations to bend the long-standing tradition that the top job does not go to someone from a country with permanent status on the U.N. Security Council.

His ambition, as the aide described it, was both breathtaking and entirely logical for a natural-born politician who had reached the top of the American political ladder: "president of the world."

Four years later, say several associates who have spoken with him in recent months, Clinton regards his dream of leading the United Nations as something more than a flight of fancy and something less than a serious prospect. Already, however, he has succeeded to a surprising degree in fashioning his ex-presidency to make himself a dominant player on the world stage.

His ambitions are no less obvious than when he was on the rise as a domestic politician. Clinton wants to present an alternative face of America to the rest of the world -- in implicit opposition to President Bush, and to create a legacy that builds on his eight years in office....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/31/AR2005053101825.html

[halobeam]

1. Although I really liked him as a president,

I can't get over his buddying up with Bush1. How would he even sway me to believe he's in "implicit opposition to Pres. Bush"?

Not thinking he can convince me. Nope, but I do love to listen to him talk, so I offer him to try.

[K-W]

2. He will die a politician.

Dont expect Clinton to ever stop being friends with everyone in the room.

[Frances]

3. Clinton grew up with people like the Bush family

He just didn't agree with their positions. That was his political genius--he was always "nice" to everyone. He debated ideas, not personalities.

[pacifictiger]

4. 'scuse me?

What books have you been reading? There is a WORLD of difference how Clinton & shrub spent their childhoods.

[Frances]

5. Sorry I wasn't clear

I meant that there were a lot of ignorant, anti-intellectual, bigoted people in Clinton's life (remember Ike had to send troops to Little Rock when the schools were first integrated).

Clinton had to live with these people in his community, but he didn't agree with their positions on race and education and economic opportunity for every one.

[CBHagman]

7. I recall some of Clinton's biggest enemies...

...were old segregationists.

By the way, did you notice that Harris just couldn't help himself and HAD to work in a reference to Monica Lewinsky? I don't know whether this is the Post's policy or Harris's tendency, but even the most complimentary article (e.g., Clinton receiving an award for efforts on behalf of those with AIDS/HIV) will work in a reference to M.L. :mad:

[GOPBasher]

6. You're right. He's a politician, as another poster said, and

he'll always try to be friends with everyone. I completely agree with you.

[Lisa]

8. that comes through in his autobiography

There are many incidents he describes, from childhood and college all the way up to the White House and after, where he describes going out of his way to speak with his foes one-on-one. He positively glows when he talks about finding some tiny point of agreement with them. I can't help wondering if some of them fibbed about it, just because they didn't want to disappoint him when he was being such a big earnest puppy-dog, or because they wanted to make him go away!

[Frances]

9. I would guess that 90% of my family and friends from high school

were very anti-Clinton. I certainly don't like it, but what am I supposed to do? Cut them ALL off? Besides as the population moves South and Southwest, we have to win some of these people to our side or we lose our country altogether. So, I am sympathetic to Clinton's way of doing things.

[gauguin57]

10. Bill is on Larry King Live right now ...

... 9 p.m. EDT.

And he is a CUTIE!

[hollowdweller]

11. Clinton was so forward thinking on international affairs.

While I think Jimmy Carter is the former president who has achieved the biggest diplomatic success in his term Israel/Egypt, I think that Clinton actually had envisioned a way all nations would actually work together while keeping their separate identities and culture.

I guess Republicans would argue Reagan and the toppling of communisim, but I tribute that more to the advance of global communications and the fact that once a population gets to a certain level of overall intelligence it is hard to keep them with a state media.

Clinton would KICK ASS as head of the UN. As long as he could manage to keep his business connections balanced with his humanitarian side I think he would be awesome. Plus hell, he's used to being scrutinized!