Two Ex's Play Nice: Bush, Clinton On Stage

(AP)  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.

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

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

The two former chief executives did differ on Iraq: Mr. Clinton said U.N. inspectors should have been given more time to conduct the search for weapons of mass destruction and that President Bush should have concentrated on Afghanistan. Mr. Bush disagreed.

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

Mr. 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."

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.

(AP/Jim Ross, Canadian Press)

(Left: A man throws a shoe at an effigy of George W. Bush in front of the Metro Convention center in Toronto on Friday, May 29, 2009.)

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

"President Clinton and I used to believe in free speech," Mr. 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, Mr. Clinton said he had no excuse or defense.

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

Mr. 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. Mr. Bush defended Clinton, saying 20,000 troops could not have been mobilized quickly.

Mr. Clinton praised Mr. 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 Mr. Bush for his first speech since leaving office in March and have also hosted others like former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan.
By Associated Press Writer Rob Gillies

[rememberthis]

These orders were all pertaining to Railroads and strikes to keep from crippling the country. None were companies such as GM and Chrysler or Banks, Railroads have always operated different from other enterprises and very close to the government from the very beginning of Railroads.

People are free to believe what they want to, but they should take a very good look at what is going on in this country today.
Posted by d7767w at 2:47 PM : May 31, 2009

THE OWNERS OF THOSE PRIVATE RAIL ROADS WOULD STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH YOUR LIMITED DEFINITION OF PRIVATE INDUSTRY NOT TO INCLUDE THEM -- uNTIL AMTRAK IN 1991 largely for passenger service there was no more government involvement in Railroads than say the Auto Industry or Wall street (Ir's called REGULATION). RAIL TRANSPORT OF FREIGHT IS STILL LARGELY AN ACTIVITY CONDUCTED BY PRIVATE COMPANIES AS IT HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY IN THIS COUNTRY. Furthermore the quantity of goods transported still is reportedly increasing - "Despite the difficulties, U.S. railroads carried 427 billion ton-miles of cargo annually in 1930. This increased to 750 billion ton-miles by 1975 and doubled to 1.5 trillion ton-miles in 2005." You also failed to recognize the significant restrictions accepted by Chrysler years ago when they successfully submitted to and emerged from government control in a bailout 40 years ago. And the successful and profit making involvement of the Government in the mortgage market during the great depression -- crossing all participants in the mortgage markets with government control. -- Sorry your argument remains as flawed as when it was initially presented

[stn_sage]

I don't as a rule, try to be derogatory when I make comments---but, in this case I can't help but make the following criticism---but I think most, if not all posters, will understand my frustration!

Seeing these two men on the same stage, "evaluating" one another and the result of their respective administrations; is like watching Al Capone and Bugsy Moran agreeing that they will each respect and obey the Prohibition Law(s)! Point: you're not going to hear a lot of truth coming from either one of these two ex-presidents!

Besides lying, the most you can hope for is one man telling how he broke most laws, and the other, how he broke his marriage vows---repeatedly!

They got a "free ride from the public" when they were in office---it's absolutely outrageous that it continues now that they're out of office! It's so very sad!

[whosaid1]

All of the blogging here proves one thing, Americans have very poor taste when selecting U.S. Presidents.
Posted by clancy49 at 3:09 AM : May 31, 2009

I'm surprised that you would think that the blogging here represents what AMERICANS think....It's my opinion that most of those that blog here are extremists....LEFT and RIGHT

[starleo146]

All of the blogging here proves one thing, Americans have very poor taste when selecting U.S. Presidents.
Posted by clancy49 at 3:09 AM : May 31, 2009

The voting machines did it

[starleo146]

It's good they can get along with each other. Nice to see a sexual predator and an idiot on stage together. I wonder how much clinton paid cheney for the monkey?
Posted by nor-one at 2:04 PM : May 31, 2009

LOL

[starleo146]

They both would sell their souls for a dollar .

[nor-one]

It's good they can get along with each other. Nice to see a sexual predator and an idiot on stage together. I wonder how much clinton paid cheney for the monkey?

[ajjaxtheleast]

Understandable,,,,,the last thing you want to be is LOWER
than Bill Clinton when he's sitting in a chair.

[whosaid1]

Haaha. I've been by here a few times and I just now noticed the position of the 2 chairs. I wonder whose idea it was for Clinton's chair to have what appear to be shorter legs. He seems to be sitting closer to the ground and Bush seems to be a larger man in comparison at first glance. Interesting....
Posted by IrishWench01

Must be a Bush team conspiracy....bet he had his people slip in before that show and modify the chairs.....

[whosaid1]

I'll give G.W. Bush credit for one thing, he has maintained Presidential protocol and does not actively speak out against the current President, unlike blabber mouth Dick Cheney!
Posted by cbsantispin at 10:55 PM ......

I agree.
Posted by IrishWench01

Intresting....this thing about Presidential protocol. Yeah, I think Bush has displayed some "class" in observing protocol. Would you then say that Obama should do the same ?? Not trying to start anything.....just curious......