Clinton joining with Mrs. Bush is more of the "Bush not so bad" validation

[blm]

that Bill Clinton always manages to convey in the months before an election.

He screams about Rove's "bullshit" to a liberal interviewer who few will read, while all the news networks are fawning over his joint efforts with Mrs. Bush representing her husband's policies.

Mrs. Bush "working" with you on your global aids initiative, Bill, IS Rove's "bullshit" and smells like you are part of it.

Afraid Dean might succeed in Nov.?

I'll defend you against 9-11 lies and ANY other lie against you, Bill. But I wonder if you care what else I think about what you are doing?

[nini]

1. did you see his interview with Stewart last night?

He basically explained this issue.


This is hardly Rove crap.

[blm]

7. I didn't see the interview - but he always has an explanation why he pals

with the Bushes. So, I expect he WOULD have one ready here.

[nini]

11. He said he will work with anyone to get things done

He tries to leave politics out of getting important things done in this world.

He also said he is critical of jr. when he disagrees with him but will also tell him if he agrees on something.


In other words, the world is not just black and white to him. If he can help to do soemthing positive he'll do it.

Too bad not everyone is like that.

[karynnj]

14. Maybe he should rethink this:

Clinton said:
He also said he is critical of jr. when he disagrees with him but will also tell him if he agrees on something.

When did he speak out. He didn't as Bush talked invasion as the Iraqis were destroying missiles at the demand of the inspectors.

[Cha]

16. What the hell would Any

Democrat agree with bush on? Or any true republican for that matter? bush is insane.

[blm]

20. I don't care if he agrees with him on some things, but the time to do it

is NOT NOW.

[Cha]

26. Right, but I ask WHAT would it be?

The tax cuts? I don't think he agrees with Mark Warner on that.

[blm]

19. THIS close to election is NOT the time to do it, and he KNOWS it.

It's IMPORTANT to get a balance of power in DC - and that will help the world more positively than any conference being held this week.

[nini]

21. so, working on Katrina with Bush Sr. and reading is bad

Ok.


:eyes:

[blm]

22. Clinton's a political animal - - he understands timing.

You want to reduce it to a black and white issue, go ahead if that's your comfort zone. I've read his book. I know what he has said and what he has chosen to omit. I don't see black and white.

[beachmom]

46. Clinton, unlike Bono (who is TRULY nonpartisan) is for better or for worse

one of the, if not THE, standard bearers of the Democratic party. It is also commonly speculated that his wife will seek the presidency in 2008. You can be with the opposition party or you can decide to work on one or two big issues in a nonpartisan way that are important to you -- but on the eve of yet another election, you CANNOT do both.

I agree with BLM. Bill has a need to be loved, and it's at our expense. Bill is actually quite popular now, and when he sheds positive light on the Bushes in any shape or form, that makes Bush's numbers go up. And THAT may very well cost us ONCE AGAIN in an important election.

Bill should be tirelessly working to get Dems elected across the country; instead he's trying to boost the president's poll numbers.

[LynneSin]

49. I saw that too

Perhaps he's hoping that Laura might have a bit of sway over George.

And to me it shows that Clinton is the better man than anyone in the Bush Regime. When it comes to the Environment, AIDS, Poverty, etc - we need to learn to put partisanship aside and get everyone on team

[Armstead]

15. It is Rove crap because it is what Rove counts on from Democrats

Ever notice how so many Democratic politicians want to be nice and conciliatory, while Republicans politicicians take a basically "Screw off" attitutde towards their opponents?

Rove and his ilk count on that. It's very effective. If someone like Clinton contributes to the positive image of Republicans, they are just diffusing the ability to actively criticize them.

Whenever Clinton says that Mr. Bush is a nice man, and offers rationalizations for the administration's actions, it may be gracious and civil. But I'd prefer more of Gore's "tell it like it is" approach.

I do wishg the nation were able to be more non-partisan and civil, like Clinton espouses. BUT IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO. The GOP does not want bipartisanship, so Democrats have to fight fire with fire.

[fooj]

2. You get no argument from me.

[Dhalgren]

3. Laura just want s to hang out with a REAL man for a change.

And Bill...well, Bill is just Bill...

[WI_DEM]

4. Yes, of course it's all about Hillary and 2008

and somehow by appearing with the Bushes the Clinton's make Hillary seem more appealing to the country. I don't buy it.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

5. What are you insinuating?

Bill Clinton is working for Rove? You're way off.

[blm]

9. No - Clinton isn't working WITH Rove. But, neither is he naive to let Bush

just play him into this scenario.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

13. Doesn't it just occur to you that Bill Clinton actually cares about AIDS

He likely has reservations about working with any Bush, but Mrs Bush is in a better position to influence the White House over HIV/AIDS aid and policy than what he is on his own. I personally don't think it's such a good idea but turning on him over this and calling him part of "Rove's bullshit" is taking the criticism too far.

[blm]

18. I don't agree. If this was a onetime thing I WOULD agree with you. But the

propping up of Bush as a person and policymaker has happened many times before.

I suppose you missed Clinton on Letterman claiming he never even heard of the Downing Street Memos when Dave wanted him to talk about them, almost a full 2 months after their release and after the senate and congress were seeking investigations?

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

6. Hey, Laura is better than Rupert

IMHO of course.

[bryant69]

8. Triangulation

I think he goes to far sometimes - but without knowing specifically what youare talking about it's hard to make a call.

Bryant
check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[AX10]

10. Clinton is spending way too much time with the Bushistas.

[Bridget Burke]

12. What are you talking about?

Please supply a link to President Clinton's latest "outrage."

[madfloridian]

17. I have heard it all day. Do a search on Clinton, Laura Bush, aids..

or Clinton Global Initiative.

I am with blm on this...too much time with the Bushes is harmful this close to an election.

[wisteria]

25. You know, this may sound a bit crazy, but it is possible that the

Clintons' don't want to see the Dem's do too well in the elections for two reasons. Gov. Dean will get credit and not the DLC and if the Dem's gain both houses or even one by a large majority, that diminishes the chances of a Democratic President in 08. This is all tin foil stuff, but Clinton is a slick politician who wants to see his wife become President.

[blm]

28. Heh - I posited that a few months back

and shared my observation in reply to the same poster. heh

[Bridget Burke]

27. You brought it up....

You provide the link.

Thanks!

[madfloridian]

38. No, I did not bring it up....

but though our country was far better off when Clinton was president...I don't like his close connection to the Bush family.

Most of my family are Republicans, except for a daughter. I respect Republicans. I do not consider the Bush family to be Republicans in any way.

[blm]

40. They aren't Republicans - they're fascists masked as Republicans and using

the GOP loyalty drones to forward their fascist agenda.

[blm]

29. It was just on MSNBC after the Gen. Downing interview.

.

[Bridget Burke]

31. Ok....what was "It"? n/t

[blm]

32. The reporting of Clinton and Mrs Bush working together on his

global initiative program.

He is hosting her at his conference where she will promote Bush's policies..

[jeffuppy]

23. Clinton is in many ways still a child...

He wants validation and approval more than anything else in this world. He cares about AIDS, yes, but he cares more about people believing he cares about AIDS. As long as it keeps him and his wife at the center of the world he will cavort with almost anyone. Positive outcomes for the world are secondary to positive outcomes for Bill - a close second but still second. I love the guy, but that's just his weakness.

[karynnj]

33. Welcome to DU

Your comment is great - and likely far closer to the truth than my comments. He really is a kid.

[wisteria]

24. I think this is being done to soften the Clinton image among repubs.

This is all done with Hillary in mind. And, just like the Bush administration the Clintons' have the media at their beck and call too. The Hillary campaign has begun!

[glitch]

36. In my perfect world the republicans would turn away from fascists

toward the Clinton position and the democrats would turn progressive. I'd like to see the pendulum swing back from the right, to where as far right as we could go would be the moderate Clinton position.
The fight would be Moderate vs Progressive rather than Fascist vs Moderate, where we are now.
Then we could actually respect our adversaries again, a bonus. We could actually make our way back up to where we were before Reagan, and progress from there.

Actually not my perfect world, but a hell of a lot closer than where we are now!

[ProgressiveEconomist]

30. Doesn't a higher profile for BC remind voters of when they felt safe

and had a competent, smart world leader directing US domestic and foreign policy?

Bill Clinton is back in the public eye for some selfish reason, that's for sure. Don't rule out his own possible ambitions for a big promotion, from former US President to President of the World, which is what he'd become if somehow he managed to get UN charter provisions waived and succeed Kofi Annan. The curretn UNGS's term ends just weeks after the elections in November.

[blm]

34. With the media it's not about what's said, but what the PICTURES convey.

.

[bvar22]

35. Bill Clinton represents BIG MONEY.

He has always represented BIG MONEY.
Democrat or Republican has no meaning to Bill Clinton.

However, he is very charming. I love to hear him speak.
That doesn't change the TRUTH.

PS: Hillary Clinton is the same.

[Beaverhausen]

37. Did you see him on the Daily Show last night?

This global initiative looks like it will do a lot of good in the world.

[blm]

39. Yes it can - but Mrs. Bush doesn't have to be part of it right before Nov

elections.

[bvar22]

41. Look for the Hidden Agenda.

I TRUST Jimmy Carter.
I don't trust Bill Clinton.
How could anyone?
Look at the record.


He IS charming, intelligent and charismatic.

[ProSense]

42. First Lady Is Playing a Major Role on the World Stage

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/19/AR2006091901516.html?nav=rss_politics

[GeorgeGist]

43. Triangulation is so 20th century...

and we can all see how well that worked out.

[flpoljunkie]

44. blm, Arianna Huffington agrees with you on this...and so do I.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/bill-clinton-and-laura-bu_b_29868.html

What the hell was Bill Clinton thinking, inviting Laura Bush to deliver this morning's keynote address at his latest Global Initiative conference? Talk about speeching with the enemy.

Have those private White House lunches Mr. Clinton occasionally has with Laura's hubby distorted his sense of time, place, and perspective -- causing him to utterly forget that there are less than seven weeks before a crucial election... an election Democrats should walk away with but are in danger of letting slip through their hands, an election that could give Democrats investigative power over the many outrages perpetrated by Laura's husband, an election in which the Democrats' strongest campaign message is linking congressional Republicans to the disastrous policies of said husband?

I realize that the goals of the Global Initiative -- tackling poverty, AIDS, religious intolerance, and climate change -- are noble, and that the conference aims to avoid partisan politics. And I've heard Clinton's lofty pleading: "Shouldn't there be some forum where Americans and citizens of the world can put aside there differences and find common ground."
But this is not a time for Bill Clinton to be acting like a former president, floating above the political fray. This is a time for Bill Clinton to be acting like a Democratic former president. There is a world of difference between the two.

There couldn't be less ambiguity about the stark choice being offered to the electorate in November. Do you want to let George Bush continue to have a free hand in destroying this country or do you want to pull the plug on him? It's that simple.

[rinsd]

45. Like Ariana has any fucking room to talk.

William Jefferson Clinton is a statesman above all.

I can understand why a political whore like Ariana would have little understanding of that.

[flpoljunkie]

47. Bill Clinton is about Bill Clinton, first and foremost.

Clinton puts the political ambitions of his wife above the welfare of the party. You have your opinion of him, and I, and other here, have ours. You are welcome to yours.

[blm]

50. A statesman knowis this country needs a power BALANCE above all.

At the very LEAST, balance. Clinton is a politician, and he knows TIMING. They have focus-grouped and discovered that Hill has a better chance in 08 if the Dems are NOT in control of the senate and house in 2007-8.

[blm]

48. He pulled this crap all throughout 2001 - 2004, too. He knew exactly what

he was doing. He is also the one who told the Terry McAuliffe DNC to curb the antiBush rhetoric at the convention.