Blair, Bush, Clinton advocate cooperation at forum

[webfact]

Blair, Bush, Clinton advocate cooperation at forum
ANDREW DeMILLO, Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Tony Blair and the two U.S. presidents he worked with as Britain's prime minister said Thursday they're worried about the growing divisiveness that is making it harder for people to work together to find solutions.

Blair swapped stories with former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush as the three former world leaders addressed graduates of the Presidential Leadership Scholars program. Sixty-one people graduated from the program, which is a partnership among the two former presidents' libraries along with George H.W. Bush's and Lyndon B. Johnson's.

During a question-and-answer session moderated by former Labor Secretary Alexis Herman, Blair said he worried that technology is making it easier for people to remain fragmented.

"One of the first things you learn as a leader in politics is those who shout loudest don't necessarily deserve to be heard most," Blair said at the forum at Little Rock Central High School. "But the way our debate goes at the moment is there's a lot of loud mouthing in the way the debate takes place."

The three avoided commenting directly on the presidential race, which pits presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. Bush's brother, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, ran unsuccessfully against the billionaire for the GOP nomination and the former president has been critical of Trump.

And Blair, who planned another speech in Little Rock on Friday, didn't mention a British inquiry that sharply criticized him for his role in leading the country into the Iraq war advocated by Bush.

Clinton, who planned to headline a fundraiser for Arkansas Democrats on Friday night, complained about the way he said people are being demeaned by others if they don't agree on certain issues.

"You can never run a successful society based on the de-legitimization of people as people just because they disagree with you," Clinton said.

Bush said he believed it was important to strengthen institutions, citing the presidency as an example.

"One of the things I admire about the presidency is the presidency is more important than the occupant because, believe it or not, both of us have got strengths and weaknesses," Bush said. "And yet the institutional protections against the weaknesses are important for our country."

Blair praised the former U.S. presidents, citing Clinton's leadership during the war in Kosovo and Bush after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"One thing I observed about both of them is at the supreme moments of test they put the interests of their country and the broader interest of the world above anything else," Blair said.

The former world leaders also swapped jokes, including when Bush warned about letting presidential libraries get dull.

"I mean, have you ever been to the Franklin Pierce Library?" Bush asked.

When Clinton raised his hand, Bush quipped: "No wonder you carried New Hampshire."

___


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-07-15

[neverdie]

All the Criminals gather in one location. Perfect, now gas the b@stids.

[dick dasterdly]

All the Criminals gather in one location. Perfect, now gas the b@stids.

Let's face it when Bush and Blair espouse about topics (and to a lesser extent Clinton) - we all know that the opposite way is correct .

[Laughing Gravy]

The three top politicians who should be on the terrorist most wanted list. They alsoshould have the forum in the Hague where these three belong.

[Kiwiken]

The architects of the current middle east crisis.

[elgordo38]

All the Criminals gather in one location. Perfect, now gas the b@stids.

As my old grandmother used to say "Birds of a feather flock together"

[up2u2]

Blair and W Bush the cause of all the problems have a solution do they. Both of them can piss off and the idiots who believed their BS can piss off with them.

[Jonmarleesco]

'Blair praised the former U.S. presidents, citing ... Bush after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.' That would have been after it had been pointed out to him that actions would speak louder than reading stories to kindergarteners.

'"One thing I observed about both of them is at the supreme moments of test they put the interests of their country and the broader interest of the world above anything else," Blair said.' Coming from Blair, that merely reinforces the suspicions of much of the intelligent world over his and Bush's (Cheney's) questionable leadership, and even more questionable motives.

Edited July 15, 2016 by Jonmarleesco

[DaddyWarbucks]

Blair and W Bush the cause of all the problems have a solution do they. Both of them can piss off and the idiots who believed their BS can piss off with them.

Spot on.

The Pussy, the Poodle, and the Chickenhawk are advocating cooperation.

Nothing is changing in the Middle East - it's perpetual conflict that the war-based economies have become dependent on.

History will judge the American leaders and the spineless dupes who supported them.

What happened to the spirit of resistance that was seen in the '60s during the Vietnam War?

[Andaman Al]

Why are Bush and Blair even being given a voice? Wasn't it bad enough that Bush started doing a hoedown at the police officers funeral the other day?

Here they are

[sgtsabai]

All they needed was to resurect Reagan from the grave and we would have the 4 most destructive leaders in recent US/English history. Oh damn, I forgot that tricky dicky guy that got so many killed in Vietnam, Nixon. Scum of the earth. If there is a heaven, they will never get in. As our old Marine Hymn goes, US Marines are guarding the streets of heaven, and they are the ones they killed. May all 4 of those scum rot in a special hell.

[dageurreotype]

Blair and W Bush the cause of all the problems have a solution do they. Both of them can piss off and the idiots who believed their BS can piss off with them.

And yet, and yet, another 'installation' awaits his/her turn. Because, who's going to have the guts to stop them? That's right ..

[dageurreotype]

All they needed was to resurect Reagan from the grave and we would have the 4 most destructive leaders in recent US/English history. Oh damn, I forgot that tricky dicky guy that got so many killed in Vietnam, Nixon. Scum of the earth. If there is a heaven, they will never get in. As our old Marine Hymn goes, US Marines are guarding the streets of heaven, and they are the ones they killed. May all 4 of those scum rot in a special hell.

Um, Kennedy sent them in, Nixon got them out.

[sgtsabai]

No Nixon didn't get them out. Kennedy sent in advisor's. Two of my DI's were there in that capacity early on. Johnson increased the troops. Nixon sabotaged the peace talks and continued the war until forced to withdraw. Johnson didn't have the balls to withdraw or to reveal Nixon as a traitor although he knew. His excuse was the American people couldn't handle the news. Nixon was scum, wanted to invoke the Huston plan when it became apparent he couldn't stop the demonstrations, the anti-war Vets and the GI Movement. Bush is responsible for the deaths of 100,000's and the displacement of millions and the unquenchable fire in the Mid-East. Cheney/Bush et al, Blair should be tried by a Nuremberg War Tribunal for war crimes in a blatantly illegal war.