Bill Clinton and George W. Bush to debate in NY

[JasonF]

Originally Posted by MinLShaw

I gather there's some confusion; the event has been canceled. As for Mr. Bush's willingness to participate, I too was surprised. Generally, presidents go into a sort of memoir-writing public hibernation after leaving office.

President Bush has already done one speaking engagement a few weeks ago. He spoke as part of the "Get Motivated!" seminar series, in which a crowd of thousands of audience members are exhorted to buy overpriced books and tapes from Peter and Tamara Lowe. To be fair, President Clinton has spoken at this seminar series at least once.

[MinLShaw]

Originally Posted by JasonF

President Bush has already done one speaking engagement a few weeks ago. He spoke as part of the "Get Motivated!" seminar series, in which a crowd of thousands of audience members are exhorted to buy overpriced books and tapes from Peter and Tamara Lowe. To be fair, President Clinton has spoken at this seminar series at least once.

Yeah, I forgot to include "hitting the speaking circuit" as part of the post-presidency transitional period back into a private life.

Incidentally, back in 2002 a friend of mine and I got tickets through a professor of mine to go see President Bush speak. Despite the temptation on some people's part to dismiss him as "Cheney's puppet" or some kind of moron, I found him to be a very engaging and charismatic speaker. He and I do the same math, but reach different solutions on a number of issues, but I would encourage citizens to go listen to him speak if he comes to town. I firmly believe that even a broken clock is right twice a day, and that applies to presidents, too.

[classicman2]

Cheney's puppet - no.

I think Cheney had a lot of influence on Bush - especially the first couple of years. I believe his influence became less & less as time wore on.

[DeputyDave]

Originally Posted by MinLShaw

Yeah, I forgot to include "hitting the speaking circuit" as part of the post-presidency transitional period back into a private life.

Incidentally, back in 2002 a friend of mine and I got tickets through a professor of mine to go see President Bush speak. Despite the temptation to dismiss him as "Cheney's puppet" or some kind of moron, I found him to be a very engaging and charismatic speaker. He and I do the same math, but reach different solutions on a number of issues, but I would encourage citizens to go listen to him speak if he comes to town. I firmly believe that even a broken clock is right twice a day, and that applies to presidents, too.

I may have disagreed with a lot of his policies but to call him a moron is simply lazy and dishonest. Just the same old song that has been sung since I've been paying attention to politics, everyone on the right gets painted as stupid. (BTW, I am not saying you are doing this here).

I've pretty much made it a rule that anyone who seriously suggests that Bush had a below average intelligence should have anything out of their mouths discounted. I know he wasn't our most skilled public speaker but Obama himself looks like a stammering fool when going off the teleprompter
.

[JasonF]

Originally Posted by DeputyDave

I may have disagreed with a lot of his policies but to call him a moron is simply lazy and dishonest. Just the same old song that has been sung since I've been paying attention to politics, everyone on the right gets painted as stupid. (BTW, I am not saying you are doing this here).

I've pretty much made it a rule that anyone who seriously suggests that Bush had a below average intelligence should have anything out of their mouths discounted. I know he wasn't our most skilled public speaker but Obama himself looks like a stammering fool when going off the teleprompter
.

One does not get to the presidency without being extremely intelligent. President Bush's folksy demeanor made it easy to pigeon-hole him as a moron, but I agree -- it's lazy and dishonest to do so.

I disagree with your assessment of President Obama speaking off teleprompter. He's a very cautious speaker, but to call him a stammering fool is as lazy and dishonest as calling President Bush a moron.

[MinLShaw]

Originally Posted by DeputyDave

I may have disagreed with a lot of his policies but to call him a moron is simply lazy and dishonest. Just the same old song that has been sung since I've been paying attention to politics, everyone on the right gets painted as stupid. (BTW, I am not saying you are doing this here).

I've pretty much made it a rule that anyone who seriously suggests that Bush had a below average intelligence should have anything out of their mouths discounted. I know he wasn't our most skilled public speaker but Obama himself looks like a stammering fool when going off the teleprompter
.

I fixed my original post to clarify the point that I did not, myself, dismiss Mr. Bush as unintelligent or easily manipulated. I will say, as someone who earned his degree in history (though obviously not at an Ivy League school such as the former president), I would seriously love to read some of his student work. I suspect in some ways we could trace the evolution of his ideology, and yet I would also expect to find much of his perspective and voice there all along. I think this is why I was so excited to hear him exchange thoughts with Mr. Clinton on these serious issues, and why I am so disappointed that the aggressive promotion has (apparently) caused it to be canceled.

[DeputyDave]

Originally Posted by JasonF

I disagree with your assessment of President Obama speaking off teleprompter. He's a very cautious speaker, but to call him a stammering fool is as lazy and dishonest as calling President Bush a moron.

I didn't say he was, I only said he looked like one. This is my opinion based on my experience. With his stuttering and "uhs" I can barely listen to the man speaking off the cuff. As a former Toastmaster I am very aware of how people speak and give speeches. Obama is fair when reading the lines but it's the "uhs" that make me wince.

[creekdipper]

So now we don't get to see the Ron Howard film version.

[MinLShaw]

Well, the New York "debate" is off, but the two former presidents have agreed to appear together and field questions in Chicago next May at the BIO International Convention. Article here.

[wendersfan]

Originally Posted by creekdipper

So now we don't get to see the Ron Howard film version.

Having President Bush lean over to President Clinton, just before the event begins, and ask him if he did "any fornicatin' over the weekend?" would be about ten different kinds of awesome.