Bill Clinton: Hillary wants me to restore image of US

[T_i_B]

Source: Guardian

If Hillary Clinton wins the US presidency, Bill Clinton will be given the job of repairing America's damaged international reputation, the former president tells the Guardian in an interview today.

Mr Clinton, 61, reveals that his wife has said she would ask him to "go out and immediately restore America's standing, go out and tell people America was open for business and cooperation again" after eight years marked by unilateralist policies that have "enrage the world".

For the first time in his political life, Mr Clinton says, "ordinary US voters in the heartlands are concerned about who would be most likely to restore America's standing in the world" in the wake of the Iraq war, lack of action on climate change and other policies.

"The average American knows instinctively that we have almost no problems in the world that we can solve all by ourselves," he says. "And that, I think, is helping her candidacy, because people believe - I think rightly - that if she were elected she would quickly move to restore our standing in the world, and tell people there may be a few occasions when we have to do something on our own, but our strong preference is going to be to be cooperative."


Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2184177,00.html

[w4rma]

1. I would hope that he would do that for any U.S. President who asked him to. (nt)

[Gman]

2. I've no doubt he would

[liberal renegade]

4. I second that.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

3. Of course he would ...

... he's in the driver's seat as far as his legacy goes, and that naturally appeals to him.

After twelve years of Reagan-Bush, the Clinton administration worked hard to improve our image and relations with the rest of the world and was very successful. Many outside the U.S. tie that to him, not his policies. They handed a country in the best fiscal condition and best world standing it had been in since ... I dunno, 30 years? ... to Jr., who led us right down the crapper in most every way.

The next president - Democrat or Republican - would be a complete moron to NOT grab Clinton, massage his ego, pack his suitcase and send him out on a Bob Dylan-like never-ending tour (same goes for Jimmy Carter). I think Clinton would jump at the chance to get back in the spotlight and continue to repair his legacy at home.

[Raster]

5. Bill Clinton: US Ambassador to the United Nations

Pimp him out for the "Help Us Heal" tour.

[Chomskyite]

29. Bill Clinton

Secretary of State.

[juajen]

14. I, personally, don't believe his legacy needs repair.

I do believe he would be a wonderful ambassador to repair America's image; not his own.

[Amonester]

19. If the next prez - Democrat or R - does not restore the Constitution...

does not restore Habeas Corpus, does not condemn and ban stupid (and criminal) torture, does not stop the privatization of the military, does not end the illegal and immoral occupation of a country for oil (a country that not only NEVER attacked but also NEVER was a credible threat to the U.S.), does not ban "proprietary software" in the ballots, does not "reform" election financing, does not take care of the health problems of its poorest citizens, does not SERIOUSLY address global climate change (Kyoto), and many more of *'s "criminal negligences" then, it doesn't matter who will be sent out there because ACTIONS speak louder than any words...

That's quite an amazing task to begin with...

Maybe if Dennis Kucinich is the President by then, or John Edwards is POTUS and Kucinich is VP...

[martymar64]

24. Agreed

The answer is secession. Time to end the Empire. The next president will be our Gorbachev.

[Amonester]

20. Or if only President H. R. Clinton does all that (#19) and more...

then:

If she does none of that, "poor" Bill will sure get his ears full...

[Doctor_J]

6. He would, but no Repuke will ever ask him

With every new pile of shit that Stupid steps in, the Repukes hate Clinton even more. Every day that goes by the contrast between real, bright, people-oriented leadership and GOP divisiveness and hate-mongering gets starker. Even the right-wing media monopoly can't do anything about it.

[HamdenRice]

7. I say NO to Bill & Hillary Peron

We don't need an ex-president's wife being president in order to bring the ex-president or his cohort back to power. We are not Argentina. We don't need Juan and Isabel Peron.

It is getting so ridiculous that I also have to state that I do not want, after they die, the bodies of Bill & Hill to be embalmed and permanently displayed somewhere in Washington, D.C.

I do not want to see Chelsea Clinton as president in 2016-2024, nor do I want to see Chelsea as president in 2024 after an interregnum of co-presidents Jenna and Barbara from 2016-2024.

Bill should retire from governmental public life and focus on his foundation, like Jimmy Carter.

No more Clintons. No more Bushes. We are not Argentina or India or Congo or Syria. We don't need political dynasties.

[aquart]

17. There's that moron meme again.

Which, ever so oddly, only affects one person: the only viable woman candidate for president. Isn't it a cool way of getting around total sexism? PERON????

What a completely vile and unjustified, disgusting smear. What filth factory did that come from?

[HamdenRice]

22. What an astute well thought out analysis

I think it is obvious and clear for all the world to see which of our posts comes from a "moron."

In fact, I'd go further. You should never, ever use words like "moron" while posting a post like yours, because the irony just becomes overwhelming.

[geek tragedy]

8. Will he visit the graves of the Iraqi children who

died because of his sanctions regime against Iraq?

[aquart]

18. Did Saddam have the remedy in his hands?

Bill Clinton is loved around the world. My guess is, your candidate ain't.

[madrchsod]

9. i thought she could stand on her own...

[hatrack]

10. How about restoring the Constitution of the United States first?

Or maybe the substance of the United States?

Every time I hear "image", I see Karen Hughes and splatter my shoes with puke. Enough.

[Beetwasher]

11. Bill Clinton: US Ambassador At Large

Man, I like the sound of that. WHOMEVER is the next Pres. should appoint Bill to that position, regardless.

[Larkspur]

12. Is Bill going to try to restore our image abroad as Hillary keeps fueling the Iraqi insurgency

and possible handling any blowback from a military strike on Iran?

Talk about triangulation, global style.

[woodsprite]

13. I hope he wouldn't take Poppy with him, after being 'best buds' and all. n/t

[Josh]

27. I know, wasn't it terrible when they got together and raised all that money for Trunami relief?

Bastards.

[robcon]

15. That's a terrific job for Bill Clinton,

using his talents to their best effects.

[PATRICK]

16. As predicted

and this IS inevitable besides being announced. the problems will increase for the poor Secretary of State and the actual Veep, and just keeping Bill out of DC for a while- unless Hillary really cuts him adrift- will not totally resolve an overshadowing role over her presidency. Nobody is thinking of the Bill effect reversing in this strange role, much more a potential effect than hillary was during his term.

Despite all this carefully prepared foreign influence(not at all accidental these past years) like other spouses he might do well to counter the normal image. For women it would be to more of an ambassador and an activist. In Bill's case, he might do well to take up knitting, despite the formidable thing she has to contribute.

Appoint him to the Ambassadorship of Britain or something, or even the UN. But in reality, what he just said is the only and best thing that can be done for the First Husband's role.

Nuts. Just make him Secretary of State. The fallout will be no worse and it sounds more workable, especially if you keep him on the road.

[Orsino]

21. If anyone can sugar-coat America's imperialist ambitions, Bill can.

Wouldn't it be nifty, though, if Hill made substantive changes in the way we run the world AND dispatched Bill as, say, UN Ambassador?

[martymar64]

23. He'll be Official Turd Polisher for the American Empire

It didn't work for Karen Hughes and it won't work for him.
This country needs alot more than a PR campaign.

[Solly Mack]

25. How to restore America's "image" without holding America's war criminals accountable?

Certainly part of restoring America's "image" includes accountability...

I'm fairly certain "America's ready and willing! (if you forget we allow war crimianls to go free) just won't quite cut it.

and this applies to anyone wanting to be President

[Lost4words]

36. Spot On SOllyMack! nm

[hedgehog]

26. Good luck with that when people claim that he would allow torture.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-dershowitz17oct17,0,7881821.story?coll=la-opinion-rightrail

[fujiyamasan]

28. I think we have more than just an "image" problem

[Richard Steele]

30. Dropping out of the race would be a good first step. nm

[Orsino]

31. Why don't you help her restore the *actual* US, while you're at it, Bill?

It's going to take a lot of work. Meanwhile, the MSM will spend the first year of her term trying to figure out what to call you.

[martymar64]

33. The US is too far gone

It's time for secession. The federal system need to be dissolved and let the states form their own countries. Any other option is just more of the same old shit.

[lumpy]

32. Funny. The American people had no problem with

Eleanor Roosevelt working in the public interest alongside her husband, FDR. Bill Clinton has ultimately been an asset to this country. In spite of Bill Clinton's judgment errors he still maintains tremendous respect throughout the world.

[Lost4words]

35. Whats your point? He also had no problem handing the country to the GOP

[Lost4words]

34. really Bill? I would like you and your wife to move to Paraguay! n/t

[Myrina]

37. ... wouldn't that sorta be part of HER job description as POTUS?

:shrug:

[Skittles]

38. I'd like him to have that job no matter who wins

yes INDEED