Bush, Clinton Appear Together In Toronto

TORONTO — Former President George W. Bush called former President Bill Clinton "his brother" and the two rarely disagreed in their first-ever appearance together on stage.

The Republican and Democratic ex-presidents defended each other at a Toronto forum on Friday, disappointing some in the crowd of 6,000 who expected a more heated debate.

Bush said that he never liked it when previous administration officials criticized his government but said Clinton was respectful and never did.

Bush declined to criticize the Obama administration, in contrast to former Vice President Dick Cheney, who has been a vocal critic of Obama. Bush, who wasn't asked about Cheney, said there are "plenty of critics in America."

Bush and Clinton did differ on Iraq. Clinton said U.N inspectors should have been given more time to conduct the search for weapons of mass destruction and Bush should have concentrated on Afghanistan. Bush disagreed.

"I don't buy the premise that our attention was diverted," Bush said.

Bush joked about how much time his father, former President George H.W. Bush, and Clinton spend together. He said his mother, Barbara Bush, "said President Clinton and Father share the stage so much, he's like a son to her."

He said, "So brother, it's good to see you."

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Clinton and the elder Bush have worked together to lead fundraising after disasters such as the southeast Asian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and last summer's Hurricane Ike.

While both men received polite applause from the audience at Toronto's convention center, a couple hundred protesters demonstrated outside. The organizers declined to say how much the men were paid for the event, called "A conversation with Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton." Ticket prices sold for C$200 to C$2,500.

Bush joked about the speaking fees, which are normally lucrative for former presidents.

"President Clinton and I used to believe in free speech," Bush said before pausing. "So thanks very much for coming _ we are glad you're here."

The two made speeches before taking questions from moderator Frank McKenna, Canada's former ambassador to the United States.

Asked why he didn't stop the killing in the Rwanda genocide when he was president in 1994, Clinton said he had no excuse or defense.

"It's one of the two or three greatest regrets of my presidency," Clinton said.

Clinton said the U.S. could have saved 250,000 or 400,000 of the 800,000 people who died had he sent about 20,000 troops. Bush defended Clinton, saying 20,000 troops could not have been mobilized quickly.

Clinton praised Bush for his AIDS initiatives and also hailed the racial and ethnic diversity of his cabinet choices.

Christian Darbyshire and Andy McCreath, partners in tinePublic Inc, organized the event. They hosted Bush for his first speech since leaving office in March and have also hosted others like former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan.

Comments

[frappe]

Seeing Bush in that picture, smiling and looking smug and relaxed, just irks me to no end when you consider the extent of the damage done to this country during his miserable administration. If he had any brains, he'd be feeling too embarrassed to appear in public, given his astoundingly pathetic performance while in office....But I'm sure that his ego has already managed to rationalize and smooth over the catastrophe that was his presidency.

[ThoughtAboutIt]

Connect the dots/web

CIA -> Yale -> G. H. W. Bush & Bill/Hill Clinton -> S&L deregulation -> Whitewater S&L -> Air America/Iran Contra flew through Mena, Arkansas airport while Bill Clinton was governor

G. H. W. Bush & Bill Clinton likely go back to when Clinton was recruited by the CIA while at Yale Law School. Rhodes Scholars are often targeted. Cecil Rhodes, ardent believer in colonialism and imperialism, had a world view that comports nicely with the CIA's puppetmasters. The Carlisle Group has its tentacles in all kind of CIA dealings. Clinton & Carlisle were all for selling key US port operations to Dubai. Wonder why?

Little George Bush and Billy Bob Clinton are tight because its a family thing. Obama now appears to want to join the family. Way too much continuity­/cominglin­g between Bushes, Clintons & Obama to be change I can believe in.

[Lilith33]

I knew there was no good to come of bill hanging with the bushs.Helping legitimize the war criminal?I wonder what hes being payed.

[RasAlula]

"Clinton said the U.S. could have saved 250,000 or 400,000 of the 800,000 people who died had he sent about 20,000 troops."

He says passing up on the chance to save 250-400,000 human lives is "one of the two or three greatest regrets" of his presidency???

How about it should be THE BIGGEST regret of your LIFE, not just one of many regrets as president. I can't believe he said that.

[ANTIverson]

Except we aren't the world police.

[RasAlula]

You don't have to be the police to stop a crime.

[Elagins]

The diversity of Bush's cabinet proves only one thing: you don't have to be white and male to be stupid and insane.

[sherwoodforest]

At least Bush said the right thing about critics, meanwhile his party is blaming everything on Obama, and he got a free pass for 9/11. To this day, ditto heads blame Clinton for 9/11. even though it was 9 months into the Bush administration. Under those guidelines- Obama has another 4 or 5 months before anything is his responsibility.

[winstonian22]

Despite the lefts weird obsession with hating Bush, you will probably see these types of events for a long time. The Ex-presidents a la Saturday Night Live is a VERY elite club, and they all know what the others have been through. I'm guessing when Obama is out of office in four years he too will jump on the "coffer filling" bandwagon.

[blueskybigstar]

There must be justice. They are both criminals.

[PC Contrarian]

Why don't you forward all your evidence to the proper authorities.
I'm sure they will appreciate your clearing up the case for them.

[jhm1953]

"I'm guessing when Obama is out of office four yeas he too wil mumpon the 'coffer filling' bandwagon." That's very interesting. I wonder who you think will have the support to defeat Obama in 2012.

[openhand]

Politics as usual, they are more concerned with their legacy rather than their responsibilities. Shudder to think what would have happened if Hillary or John had won.

[ANTIverson]

What exactly are their responsibilities as ex-presidents?

[popart]

sort of sad to see those two cozy up together in their elite little world of ex Big Cheeses...they come off as a little too smug for my tastes...Jimmy Carter is more of an expresidental icon to me....i dont think you would see him sitting there with the other ex presidents looking smug and blowing smoke and damning each other with faint praise.

[MacQ]

So you think they should be off meddling in foreign affairs and undermining the sitting president instead (like your icon)?

[Marilynleigh34]

Carter did do speaking engagements with Gerald Ford. They became very close friends.

[bongstradamus]

Yea but Carter has been full throated about how jacked the situation is in Israel, and that alone gives him a moral authority that the other Presidents dont even come close to.

At least on the big issues, Carter doesnt take the easy wrong over the hard right.

[partyofone]

I heard Carter and Ford in a joint appearence at a university for free. If they were compensated it was modest. They spoke as former presidents in service to the nation, not as highly paid performers like Bill Clinton, Inc.

[jeffp26]

I pity the people of Toronto, who do not deserve visits, not to mention pure unadulterated bs, from these two clowns.

[partyofone]

The press reports say Bush and Clinton got a standing ovation. It is very hard to understand that.

[Ohsherri]

Ha!
They had a hard time even selling those tickets!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!
No one wanted them in Canada peroid!
The only people there were obviously dye-hard fans.
There was huge protesting for having a w@r criminal in Toronto.
Read the news!

[Bcasey11]

evidence of false left-right paradigm, inform yourself and other plz

[blueskybigstar]

Two words about this event of men who should be enemies.

Collusion and conspiracy.

They both belong in jail.

[ANTIverson]

How ridiculous.

[NotMcCain]

Re: Bill Cllinton. It reminds me of the old "joke":

"Now we kow what you are. We're just haggling about the price."

[jeffp26]

Bill clinton never paid. If a woman said "no," he just went ahead and raped her.

[sherwoodforest]

Right- and Bush and Co just raped the country.

[naschkatze]

Just curious as to how many of our tax dollars went into this stupid event. They both have secret service contingents, and how did they travel to Canada and who paid for it? Who paid for the lodging and food? Yet Bush and Clinton are the ones the profits will be going to, if there are any.

[MacQ]

They have secret service no matter where they are.
Why don't you go find out whether taxpayer money paid for their appearances. I doubt it.

[partyofone]

But isn't there a larger cost for the Service if they do an Arena appearence. Did tax dollars help pay for event security beyond the personal detail assigned to the two former presidents?

[GingerCan]

I was at this event, and although some tickets sold for $ 2500 most of the tickets were $200 dollars, which is what I paid.

I am certainly no fan of Bush, but it was very interesting to see these two men discussing what its like to preside over the most powerful office in the world. While of course it was not a ``debate`` and it was hardly confrontational, it was not without some tough questions, on Rwanda and Afghanistan for example.

One thing that struck me as odd was that neither ex pres (including the one who was in office when this decision was made) knew anything about the changes happening on the US - Canadian border. People will now need a passport to cross, where before any valid ID would suffice. Both men looked honestly surprised when this was brought up by the moderator.. which has been in the news in Canada for quite a while. To me its not a big deal, but given that the percentage of American`s who do not have a passport is higher in the states than it is in Canada, it might be more restrictive to american`s visiting canada than the reverse. Not sure the impact on trade ... still interesting that this decision was made under Bush`s white house, and he seemed to have NO clue. (guess i shouldn`t be surprised... another Cheney call probably)

Anyways, it was an interesting event, regardless of your political leanings, and I`m glad I went.

[Bcasey11]

and after the speaking event bush and clinton pleasured each other in a skull and bones black magic ritual

[MacQ]

It was apparently congress who required the passports, not the white house. Perhaps you're Canadian and didn't know that the white house doesn't make law (untill recently). Certainly not the evil Cheney. Not to worry- lots of Americans don't know it either.

This is not new however. Sometime in the late 1990's Canada was requiring passports from US travellers. Again, it wasn't Cheney. You'll have to find something else to diss him about.