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

[kwinyan]

What an odd couple they make. Can't say I care for Bill Clinton, the one with significantly more credibility (which actually isn't much), bolstering the image of GWB.

[MacQ]

Mr. Clinton owes a great deal to Mr. Bush and his father for helping restore his tarnished image.

[partyofone]

the 2008 primary campaign brought some tarnish back

[Yermammy]

Two corporate owned Presidents whoring for dollars. Neocon and Neocon-Lite. If we don't stay on top of President Obama, he's going to go down the very same path. Let's not let that happen- what say you?

[truthartbeauty]

I love Bill Clinton but it is a new world now and neither of them are in the spotlight now. of course I never want to hear another word from bush

[partyofone]

many people would like for them both to stay out of the limelight and keep quiet

[ANTIverson]

And many people would disagree with you. What's your point?

[tippydog11]

On Canadian news could not sell or fill the house with sold tickets...­lol lol Had to sell tickets at low market value just to fill the house....l­ol lol bush still cannot fill the seats with out Clinton...­I ask.bush cheney cannot travel to far out side the country? Can they caught on war crimes?...­..Is that why even cheney goes back and forth even from faux news to faux news?....I ask does not have to be asked hard questions and scared to be rebuke on facts now?
I ask do they not, just let cheney get air time to spew his bull, like John King did, never came back at him with facts, truth etc. why?

[Colmore]

Probably what happened is that GHW called Clinton and said "Can you help "my boy"? He can't get speaking engagements, and he needs to "replenish the ol' coffers." " Then he cried, and Clinton did this as a favor for an old, broken, disappointed ex-prez., who has seen one of his sons take the USA to the edge of a precipice. Clinton is welcome anywhere. Georgie speaks to high school kids, and jr. high kids. Facing the consequences of his own actions is something he has NEVER had to do in his entire life. He is probably depressed and drinking heavily. The joke about picking up after Barney is old already. I do not believbe he would do that, do you??

[MacQ]

Boy you have a real penchant for just making stuff up don't you?
If I saw anything but hatefulness there (like talent), I'd tell you to write stories. But judging by this, they wouldn't be very good.

[Colmore]

What is made up? He has taken the country to the edge of a cliff. He IS having trouble getting speaking engagements to "fill the ol' coffers' as he said. GHW does cry a LOT. Georgie calls high school kids, and visits jr. high schools. Guess being out of the limelight is not sitting too well with him. Have you never seen the photos of him DRUNK at the Olympics? YOU need to get out from under YOUR rock, and face reality. The man has been a colossal failure his entire life. Name ONE thing that can be called an accomplishment by him, just ONE. Truth hurts, sorry to tell you that about your hero.

[Marilynleigh34]

Colmore...­It's time to slip back under your rock.

[JimLarkin]

I was truly expecting a WINSTON CHURCHILL vs FORREST GUMP style beatdown , so the events in Toronto seem a bit surreal to me. If events like this continue in this vein it will be no more than a touring exhibit of Elvis stage costumes..­...talk about lost potential.

[EducatedObserver]

It is I think, entirely appropriate and progressive (in the true sense of the word) that we should have the opportunity to witness these presidential tete-a-tetes. The conversation could have done with a bit more oomph, but at least it was a beginning.

These two men have had the opportunity to reflect - one a bit more than the other - on their eventful (tumultuous?) tenures, and thinking people the world over benefit in countless ways from this rare chance to observe two two-term presidents from opposing parties go head to head - albeit collegially.

As far as I am aware, this has never happened before.

[partyofone]

One of the objections to the event is that it was not public and, thus, we did not "have the opportunity to witness" it.. It seems to have been a staged commercial event for private gain, not public benefit. It gave Bill Clinton a stage on which to pontiricate, gave George Bush a lesson in how to cash in Clinton style, and tested the model for a George and Bill Road Show. I believe the public good would be much better served if Bill Clinton was quiet, and George Bush was sharing under oath in a court of law.

[partyofone]

pontiricate* = pontificate

[PC Contrarian]

Good over all comments.
Perhaps we'll see a more public format with Bill & George later.

As for President Bush "sharing under oath in a court of law.", this fantasy will fade away and end up in the dustbin of history.

[PC Contrarian]

Your name befits you.

[EducatedObserver]

Thank you, PC Contrarian.

[jhamm1]

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

Translation: Clinton is an a@#h#le

[wagthedog1001]

WTF??????????????

[PC Contrarian]

Substitute Carter for Clinton and it would be more fitting.

[Mohanna]

Who paid to hear 2 marginalized politicians from the US?

[LeftLeanWing]

Clinton is hardly marginalized .... he would have done better on his own.

Bush, well he's another story all together.

[Yermammy]

This just in: Slick Willie is marginalized when he decided to do this. More than he already is. Daddy Bush and Slick are BFF's. Get a clue.

[richdibo]

I love Toronto - a great city, described by the United Nations as the most ethnically diverse city in the world (more-so than NYC). It became a much nicer city after these 2 went home.

[BikeFreak]

Back stage conversation:

Clinton: "I got oral in the Oval Office."

Bush: "So. I screwed the whole world in the Oval Office."

[TJCole]

"Hey George; it's Bill; yeah me Bill...tha­t's right that Bill, Hey George I'm puttin the band back together, and we got a gig in Canada...!­"

[Ohsherri]

I don't believe any of this.
Chnney has friends and goes hunting with members of the Supreme Court.
He has lots of friends in high places....­ie Halliburton friends.
He is the hero to all the profiteers of the w@r industry..­..he's made a k/-//ing for everyone.

[Acidic]

That's why I don't blame Bush per say, he was a puppet. Cheney was the man behind the curtain.

[truthartbeauty]

It's per se

[richdibo]

For $250,000 I would praise anyone. As president, Clinton even praised Nixon after he died. I'm sure he would praise Gingrich in a propitious setting. After saying he has no grudges against Newt, Clinton remarked something to effect that his sentiments would be different if he met him in a dark alley.

[PC Contrarian]

Even though I demonstrated against Nixon's inauguration in 1969, what Clinton said about Nixon was true.

Did you know that he expanded US voting franchise by lowering the age from 21 to 18?
Those of you who are 18 - 20 and voted for Obama; you can thank Nixon for that opportunity.

Did you know that Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency?
If you're an environmentalist, you can thank Nixon for getting the Feds involved.

Did you know that Nixon established diplomatic relations with "Red" China?
If you believe in world peace, this was a huge break through.

So yes, Nixon was flawed and made mistakes; I have been aware of that for over 40 years.
OTOH, partisans in general, and leftists in particular, have a nasty habit of demonizing the opposition, without considering their positive contributions.

As an elder statesman, it's appropriate for Clinton to take a more balanced and positive position toward the opposite party, than he did as a politician.

[jeffgolin]

read body langage in legs in photo says all. clinton dislikes ush but bush likes clinton. go figure.