Clinton Speaks about Bush-

[PanTheMan]

Clinton launches withering attack on Bush on Iraq, Katrina, budget.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Former US president Bill Clinton sharply criticised George W. Bush for the Iraq War and the handling of Hurricane Katrina, and voiced alarm at the swelling US budget deficit.

Breaking with tradition under which US presidents mute criticisms of their successors, Clinton said the Bush administration had decided to invade Iraq "virtually alone and before UN inspections were completed, with no real urgency, no evidence that there were weapons of mass destruction."

The Iraq war diverted US attention from the war on terrorism "and undermined the support that we might have had," Bush said in an interview with an ABC's "This Week" programme.

Clinton said there had been a "heroic but so far unsuccessful" effort to put together an constitution that would be universally supported in Iraq.

The US strategy of trying to develop the Iraqi military and police so that they can cope without US support "I think is the best strategy. The problem is we may not have, in the short run, enough troops to do that," said Clinton.

On Hurricane Katrina, Clinton faulted the authorities' failure to evacuate New Orleans ahead of the storm's strike on August 29.

People with cars were able to heed the evacuation order, but many of those who were poor, disabled or elderly were left behind.

"If we really wanted to do it right, we would have had lots of buses lined up to take them out," Clinton.

He agreed that some responsibility for this lay with the local and state authorities, but pointed the finger, without naming him, at the former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

FEMA boss Michael Brown quit in response to criticism of his handling of the Katrina disaster. He was viewed as a political appointee with no experience of disaster management or dealing with government officials.

"When James Lee Witt ran FEMA, because he had been both a local official and a federal official, he was always there early, and we always thought about that," Clinton said, referring to FEMA's head during his 1993-2001 presidency.

"But both of us came out of environments with a disproportionate number of poor people."

On the US budget, Clinton warned that the federal deficit may be coming untenable, driven by foreign wars, the post-hurricane recovery programme and tax cuts that benefitted just the richest one percent of the US population, himself included.

"What Americans need to understand is that ... every single day of the year, our government goes into the market and borrows money from other countries to finance Iraq, Afghanistan, Katrina, and our tax cuts," he said.

"We have never done this before. Never in the history of our republic have we ever financed a conflict, military conflict, by borrowing money from somewhere else."

Clinton added: "We depend on Japan, China, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and Korea primarily to basically loan us money every day of the year to cover my tax cut and these conflicts and Katrina. I don't think it makes any sense."

[sleepyjeff]

Consider the source(bleh)

[scaeagles]

I find his criticism of Iraq laughable. Go ahead and talk about Katrina - everyone else is. Go ahead and talk about the deficit, and I agree to an extent, because the government spends too damn much money. But Iraq?

Clinton signed a joint resolution of Congress calling for regime change in Iraq. He talked about Saddam possessing WMD and launched attacks against various places in Iraq (and the Sudan) that supposedly were processing or had connections to WMD. And to talk of the UN inspections being incomplete....that would be because Saddam would not allow the inspectors to go where they wanted, which was what he was bound to do by the Gulf War I cease fire.

And GD - I didn't start the thread about Clinton, OK?

[Gemini Cricket]

Gosh, I miss Clinton.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

I
And GD - I didn't start the thread about Clinton, OK?

Yes, Pan has given us a great gift here

[wendybeth]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Gosh, I miss Clinton.

Me, too! I didn't really care much for him when he was in office, but I had no idea how messed up things were going to get, and it's really only just begun.

[Scrooge McSam]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

And GD - I didn't start the thread about Clinton, OK?

LOL You've been waiting for that one a long time, haven't you?

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

only just begun.

to live,
White lace and promises
A kiss for luck and we're on our way.
And yes, We've just begun.

[PanTheMan]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Gosh, I miss Clinton.

I miss him too. I remember going to see him speak on Halloween night 96 in Oakland just before the 96 election. I was given very close access to the stage got to shake his hand and even have a few words with him, as he gave me a lapel pin. They knew nothing of my background, weather i supported him or not.

During the Speech "Act Up" decided to climb the Speaker scafolding to let out a banner with some Anti-Aids Message. Not losing a beat Clinton turned toward them , telling them to be careful, not wanting to see security or them to cause anyone to get hurt. He left his speech to address them, and then went back to his topic brilliantly. He stood quietly when another guy started screaming about how he murdered Vince Foster. He told him to say "Hi' to Rush Limbaugh for him. Everyone laughed. He had a way of putting people at ease when he spoke.

I also was able to hear GW Bush in 2004 speak. He was strictly surrounded by supporters, in the front, in a seperate section, the general public was kept way back. ANYONE with any sort of Anti-Bush sign, shirt, or message that might get close was escorted out.

I have never seen a more uncomforable man in my life when Bush spoke it was painfully rehersed and stiff. He had some banter with well placed supporters, to the cheers and applause of the rest of the people in the front. ANYONE shouting anything from the back was INSTANTLY grabbed by security, and escorted out, some by force.

I know some is Security tightened from 9/11, but overall it wasnt. He only wanted to preach to the Chior.

I was AMAZED at how much things had changed in just 8 years.

[wendybeth]

Originally Posted by sleepyjeff

to live,
White lace and promises
A kiss for luck and we're on our way.
And yes, We've just begun.

Are you mocking me, mister?