Bush Chooses Clinton for East Timor Mission

USA Today ^ | 05/06/2002 | Bill Nichols

[vin-one]

Chill out the master is at work, sending the toon on a trip to east timor
is masterful, and he gets to send the toon reporters on this miserable trip
can you imagine the accomodations in east timor,
Mr. X Toon, how would you like your dog cooked tonight.

[VRWC_minion]

Maybe Hillary will join him

[TLBSHOW]

I am waiting till this weekend to see if Arafat is a terrorist in the eyes of America.

[Mamzelle]

This is not a big deal. Don't see why it upsets you. By doing this, Bush looks like an indulgent fellow, and Bill looks like his eager Boy.

I don't suppose you caught the correspondent's dinner when he was next to a figure in a burqua and introduced it as "Hillary Clinton"? Now, that was edgy and pretty cold and insulting on many delicious levels. LOVED IT. Made lots of images of Clintonian perfidy flash through everyone's head, including the fact that Clinton could have gotten Osama but didn't.

If it wasn't for you, W, all us gals would be in burquas...

[carton253]

I agree. For crying out loud, you guys. Clinton is jockeying in the press for something to do. All Presidents in the past have used former Presidents to do this kind of duty. And Clinton wants to go to the Middle East, or to Ireland, or anywhere else his mug will fill the paper. Before the press turns it into something more, Bush dispatches him to East Timor. East Timor... some hole in the wall little country. Bravo and perfect President Bush.

Now Condi Rice doesn't have to have her press conferences filled with "why don't you send Clinton to the Middle East." Talk about strengthening Arafat's hand. He's on the ropes now. Send Clinton the other direction and keep him out of the Middle East and out of the Administration's hair.

[Think free or die]

How will poor Mr Clinton conduct Democratic fund raisers for '02 elections from East Timor?

[tcostell]

I'm a little sickened by this too, but one possible reason might be that East Timor is as far away from Washington as you can get without coming back the other way. To get there, you need to fly for 20 hours or so, much of it, on small inter-island planes offered by Merpati the Indonesian National Airline (they fly those little turbo prop planes that crash if the wings ice up). I can't imagine that Wild Bill will manage to get into the papers too much from there. Maybe he's trying to get him to shut up by sending him to the furthest, most remote corner of the planet (literally).

If nothing else, it shows that the Bush Administration has a sense of humor.

"OK, Clinton want an active roll in diplomacy huh?... fine.... lets send him to......East Timor. lol"

[BlessedAmerican]

I really disagree with Bush on this one. Clinton has been looking for an opportunity to join in the national fray once again and this gives him a foot in the door. How many talk shows, news briefs, Larry King lives, interviews, ad nauseum are we going to see about E Timor? No one can locate E Timor on a map today but it will become "the center of the universe with far reaching effects on America" as soon as clinton becomes involved. I just don't get handing him a platform. It was/is unnecessary.

[AmishDude]

Yeah, people aren't understanding what's going on here. With Clinton in East Timor, he won't be spouting off about the Middle East or domestic stuff.

To be honest, I'm surprised Clinton took the post. It shows how desperate he is to be relevant. I mean, even if he makes a breakthrough in East Timor: (a) None of the elites care about East Timor, only Christian activists care, and (b) People will be suspicious considering how Clinton fixed the Middle East.

Remember that in parliaments, the prime minister often makes his fiercest political rivals part of his cabinet. This keeps them on the same page.

[Focused Fury]

I just don't think it will do much good to send Clinton to East Timor, he'll probably just find hiw way back!

[TLBSHOW]

The officials say the selection is meant as a peace overture to Clinton, whose presidency has been criticized repeatedly by Bush and his aides.

[MJY1288]

Wow, what an important mission for Clinton, I hope he doesn't mess up our very important and vital interest in this super power of a nation. East Timor is so important to our economic and national security and East Timor could make the difference between winning and losing the war on terrorism. < /sarcasm > off

The State Department has always sent x presidents around the world for these kind of worthless missions. And East Timor is far from an important or significant mission. I mean WOW, he will witness a parade. X42 asked GHWB to do very simular things, It's customary in this country.

[carton253]

So what? Some peace offering. East Timor! Hope Clinton likes rats.

[Politicalmom]

Well, the cannibals wouldn't want him, as they are watching their fat intake, but the cannibals would have a field day. Imagine their pride when they shrink the biggest head they have ever seen. : )

[Politicalmom]

Of course, I MEANT the headhunters would have a field day...I need more coffee.

[carton253]

He volunteered to come to Cincinnati and help with our problems. Send him to East Timor, quick!

[Tuor]

He is going to lose the base that elected him.

He is already losing it. Every stunt like this he pulls loses him more of what is left. I think his handlers feel that conservatives will flock back to him when they see whom he is running against...prolly someone like Hillary Clinton.

Would you hold your nose and vote for Bush if Hillary was his opponant? I would not, but I think many people would. That is what they are counting on, IMO.

Tuor

[Miss Marple]

I don't agree either, IF it is true. The only possible explanation would be a trap to catch him getting money from Riady, but even Clinton wouldn't be that stupid. I don't like giving this guy any legitimacy, even an obscure place like this.

We will see. Sometimes there are reasons that aren't immediately apparent. This reason is REALLY obscure to me, however.

[VRWC_minion]

Just as I thought. There is more to this than meets the eye. Apparently, the East Timor people were not happy that Clinton continued to support Indonesia and was too slow to act.

"These changes should be welcomed, and in his remarks at UCLA Mr. Ramos-Horta did just that. "President Bill Clinton," he said, "has initiated some measures for which we are grateful. We believe he is taking positive steps, and we hope this will continue." At the same time Mr. Ramos-Horta made it plain that the government of the United States has not done all it could to bring a peaceful resolution to the occupation of East Timor. He pointed out that like past US administrations, the Clinton administration has so far been unwilling to make the sort of genuine diplomatic efforts that could help to bring this terrible chapter of 20th century history to a close."

[AmishDude]

Cincinnati? Naw, he was just there because of all the "Reds".