My view on asking W to help with Haiti:

[howard112211]

Overall, I think it wasn't such a bad move of Obama's.

First of all, I don't think there is much potential for him screwing anything up. I doubt they will let him near anything that is
of fundamental relevance. Also, I think his contribution, if any, will be largely symbolic.

In any case: I think it is a lose-lose situation for W. He can accept, and therefore "demoralize his base". The freepers will go apeshit if he contributes to anything the "muslin Obamunist" is doing. Or he can decline and further underscore the image of Republicans as selfish partisan assholes.

Personally I'd like to see W in jail. However, I realize that this is the job of the judiciary branch. I still have some slight hope that at some point all those "rule of law" mechanisms that democracies are supposed to have will kick in on their own, without some sort of "presidential decree".

[midnight]

1. Is Jimmy Carter being asked to help?

[jobycom]

3. No one had to ask Carter. nt

[alsame]

6. Or VP Gore:

Dear XXX,

The earthquake in Haiti has been catastrophic. More than three million people have been affected, and estimates are that over 50,000 have died. The human suffering is unimaginable.

That's why I'd like to pause from our usual conversation and ask for your help.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with 85% of Haitians already living in desperate poverty. Now, with hospitals in ruin, dire shortages of even basic necessities like fresh water, and no way to find out whether family members are alive, the Haitian people urgently need our help.

A number of organizations are already engaged in critical relief efforts, and I urge you to support as many of them as you can. One of them, Oxfam America, has an emergency response team of more than 200 people already on the ground. The need for clean water and critical public health services is massive and immediate -- and our donations can help save lives.

Make a donation to Oxfam's earthquake relief effort in Haiti:

http://acp.climateprotect.org/oxfam

Or, for a list of other organizations to donate to and ways to make a difference, see http://www.whitehouse.gov/haitiearthquake_embed.

There are moments when we, as human beings, must come together as a global community and as stewards of each others' health and welfare. It is that sense of interconnectedness that brought each of us to the climate movement, and it is moments like this that bring out the best in us -- as individuals, as a nation, and as a movement.

Let's make sure the people of Haiti do not face this disaster alone. Thank you for taking action in the face of this tragedy.

Al Gore
Chairman
Alliance for Climate Protection

[jobycom]

9. yeah. Two of the best ever affiliated with our party. nt

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. Slight correction. That should read "President" Gore.

[alsame]

17. You're absolutely right. nt

[jobycom]

2. I like it. It gets money from people who might not give otherwise, and it isolates Limbaugh and

Robertson even more by making them look petty even to their base.

Anyone who thought Bush was going to jail hasn't been around long. Reagan skated when they caught him red handed and with a public admission to selling weapons to a nation that had declared war on us. If he didn't go to jail for proven treason, we can be sure nothing will put a president in jail.

[hughee99]

4. If he does accept the job...

he'll probably be asked to do the only thing he's ever shown any ability to do, which is to raise money. * has access to some potential donors that Clinton does not, and if he doesn't want to look any more like a complete failure (though I personally think that ship has sailed long ago), he'll have to try to at least raise as much money as Clinton does, which is still good for the cause.

[immoderate]

8. Yes. Obama pulled a maneuver on Bush.

Bush is worried about his reputation. And disaster response is one of the deep marks from the broad black brush that is the Bush legacy. Bush needs this for redemption. He would love the credit for delivering huge amounts of donated money.

All the more gratifying is the vision of Bush actually having to get off his couch and do something. Do you think the White House consulted him before Obama announced he was going to call on both Clinton and Bush to lead relief efforts in Haiti? Like they did, but he can't say no, and he probably hated it. :evilgrin:

--imm

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

5. There's even a chance that during a fundraising speech he'll

talk about the poor response to Katrina before he realizes what he's saying.

[reggie the dog]

7. It gives W. a chance for another photo op....

[timeforpeace]

10. Should have sent him to Copenhagen, and let him take the fall.

[Nikki Stone1]

11. Understand that "help for Haiti" is a Trojan horse.

"Donations" come with a thousand strings of the same type that has kept Haiti impoverished and defeated. Cheap labor, sweat shops. Seen in that light, it is no surprise that Clinton, Bush and, sadly, even Obama are on the same page.

[Warpy]

12. There are still a lot of idiots in this country who still want to have a beer with him

and, since those idiots will reject anything Obama tries to do, maybe Stupid can squeeze a few dollars out of them. Most of them are so damned dumb they'll probably think they're contributing to his library or another run for office.

Besides, who needs deodorant for a life ill spent more than Stupid does?

[Bobbieo]

13. Is it GW or his father who is being asked to help in Haiti?

[ChicagoSuz219]

14. W...

Who knows? maybe if he's surrounded by role models with compassion (like Presidents Obama & Clinton), he'll learn something new & surprise us all!

His previous role models - Cheney/Rumsfeld/Ashcroft, etc. just used & abused him; chewed him up & spit him out.

Pres. O & C will treat him with respect & maybe he'll rise to the occasion.

At least... that's what I'm hoping.

[GreenPartyVoter]

16. Not sure Poppy is in any shape to be down there and pitching in. Last time I saw

him he looked so frail.