Dean Sees Clinton as Mideast Envoy

[kskiska]

DEARBORN, Mich. -- Speaking to a crowd of Arab-American activists, Howard Dean said yesterday that if he won the White House he would ask Bill Clinton to be his Middle East envoy, in an attempt to forge peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

The former Vermont governor echoed his Democratic rivals for the presidency in saying President Bush has not engaged in enough peace-brokering in the Middle East. But he took a step further with his proposal to enlist the former two-term president.

Despite the escalating tensions in the region, Dean said he was "optimistic" that Israel and the Palestinians were closer than ever to an agreement and that a figure of Clinton's international stature could help bridge the gap.

"Of all the Arab people, the Palestinians probably have the best opportunity to have a democracy," Dean said.

more…
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/dean/articles/2003/10/19/dean_sees_clinton_as_mideast_envoy/

[diplomats]

1. I think Dean may have said this before

But it's an idea I could go for.

[pruner]

7. Dean's been saying this for a while

but I have yet to see Clinton comment (one way or another) on this idea.

[bluestateguy]

2. Could be a good idea, BUT

nobody doubts Clinton's diplomatic skills and nobody doubts that both sides would listen to him. The only problem is that getting former presidents involved in international peacemaking can make the sitting president--especially if he is new and inexperienced in foreign affiars--seem "small" and insignificant by comparison. It's as if he's handing off the tough part of the job to a more experienced professional, tacitly admitting that he is not up to the job. Former presidents who take on such responsibilities cannot escape the limelight and even a successfull effort might not be credited to the current president, but to the former president. When Clinton asked Jimmy Carter to troubleshoot for him in Haiti and N. Korea Clinton became irritated that Carter seemed to get all the credit for the diplomacy, further suggesting that Clinton could not handle foreign policy.

[leesa]

3. After the mess Bush has made, ANY new president will need all the

help they can get. Don't help the Repukes to paint it this way.

[goforit]

5. We better be sure there will be another President!!!

Our children and many of the world's children are at stake!!!

[gristy]

4. This is a valid concern

Dean would be at some risk. Is there any way Clinton could mitigate such a possible outcome? Could he be trusted to do so?

[SharonAnn]

6. I don't think so, smart people hire other smart people. Dean

is plenty big enough to deal with the Presidential responsibilities. he's a big man, bigger even than his physical stature.

He's going to have his hands full with Domestic Issues and the economy. He needs a good Middle East envoy.

[0007]

14. "Clinton became irritated?"

I haven't heard or read about this anywhere, could you please send me a link, Sir? Thank You.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

15. Well, it was Dean's stupid idea

and it is stupid because Arabs would hardly view him as impartial and Clinton would say 'no' anyways.

[tlb]

8. I wonder if this is Dean trying to induce Clinton

to lay off. Clinton/DN/DLC have been pushing Clark.

Perhaps this is Dean offering a "deal" where if Clinton stops undercutting Dean, then history will show Clinton's final act of governmental service won't have been the Rich pardon.

[pruner]

9. Dean has been saying this for longer than Clark's been in the race

sorry… I don't have a link handy

[tlb]

10. No link necessary..

I recall this mentioned earlier, but the DNC/DLC has been Dean's enemy long before Clark. Dean may feel now he has the momentum towards the nomination they may be more inclined now to listen, because where are they left if he wins without them.

Also Clark's seem to me to be self destructing, and I gather they relied on Clark to stop Dean.

[emad]

11. Don't count on this one ever happening....

Too many people still remember the presidential pardon that Clinton signed for arch felon Marc Rich, whose wife denise so generously doshed up Hillary's own senate campaign.....

BAD karma.....

[Rose Siding]

12. No they don't remember

and I doubt they'd care if they did.

At any rate, what would that have to do with aiming for peace in the ME? There's a trump in there.

[Bridget Burke]

13. Speaking of pardons

Let's anticipate what * will sign in the last hours of his "presidency"--if we're lucky enough to get the votes counted.

And there've been lots worse presidential pardons than the one for Marc Rich. They just didn't have the right-wingers beating the drum for them. ("arch felon" ho! ho! ho!)

[emad]

16. I guess he'll vote himself an all-inclusive getoutclause cum

pardon, maybe he already got one in advance from Clinton before the solemn presidential oath and stepping into office!!!

Might be interesting to carry out a DU Poll of top nominations for who will get Junior's pardon (so far): Ken Lay, Jeff Skillings, Denis Kozlowski, Martha Stewart, Alfred Taubmann, Tony Blair, etc etc????

[noonwitch]

18. Taubman is in poor health, he'll probably get one

He's not the worst of the bunch, compared to Ken Lay. I doubt Martha will get one, but they still have to convict her, first. I'm hoping she is vindicated in court.

[snippy]

17. I think this is a good idea, but it would be better for all the candidates

to call for Whistle Ass to ask Clinton to act as Middle East envoy. Many people would see this as worth a chance and when Whistle Ass adamantly refuses even to consider it, those people would see that Whistle Ass prefers the status quo in the Middle East to asking for help from Clinton. Plus, the Reich wing fundamentalists would go ballistically apeshit which always helps decent Americans see the republican party as embarassingly vile and evil.