Arianna Huffington spit-takes her morning java this morning, scalding her tongue in the process:
What the hell was Bill Clinton thinking, inviting Laura Bush to deliver this morning's keynote address at his latest Global Initiative conference? Talk about speeching with the enemy.
Well, yeah - see, that's the point. I'm at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York the next three days, blogging it for my day-side gig (you can read the posts here - warning: no political vitriol will be found) and I can't help but buy into former President Clinton's premise that yeah, there can be forums and venues in which even the most politicized Americans can occasionally discuss changing people's lives.
Continues Arianna:
I realize that the goals of the Global Initiative -- tackling poverty, AIDS, religious intolerance, and climate change -- are noble, and that the conference aims to avoid partisan politics. And I've heard Clinton's lofty pleading: "Shouldn't there be some forum where Americans and citizens of the world can put aside there differences and find common ground."
But this is not a time for Bill Clinton to be acting like a former president, floating above the political fray. This is a time for Bill Clinton to be acting like a Democratic former president. There is a world of difference between the two.
Yeah that peace, love and understanding stuff is great, but this is politics! Look, I want Democrats to throw the incompetent bums out. I think Mrs. Bush's husband is the worst President in the lifetime of anyone now living - and their grandparents. But a commitment of $10 million to something like PlayPumps matters. And the $2.5 billion that this Clinton conference - which requires commitments from participants or they're not invited - has pulled together in two years matters. Moreover, the partnerships matter - breaking down some of the barriers between governments, NGOs, and business is worth the time.
So, blogging here will be light the next few days so I can concentrate on blogging there, with my buddy Susan.
Also, this place is basically set up for bloggers and there are a bunch of great ones here, including Barbara, Peter, Jill, David, Jude, Jessica, and Amanda.
