They gave her a standing ovation for lying to them? Are the lies more compelling when she tells them, or was the audience simply relieved to be hearing them from someone other than her daffy husband and his odious henchmen?

I have to take issue with his assertion that the former president’s current endeavors represent “a profound rebuke to the policies and priorities of the Bush administration.” It seems to me that Bush has been all about the very privatization of efforts to deal with the same issues (poverty, AIDS, global warming, third world development and the like) with which Mr. Clinton now engages himself through his privately funded foundation.

I would suggest that Mr. Clinton’s post presidency has not only failed to offer any meaningful rebukes to the current administration, but that it also resembles his presidency insofar as it features his endless devotion to the notion of a “kinder, gentler” corporatism.

Please do not parse this to shreds. Bill Clinton joins Jimmy Carter as a former US President who does something worthwhile. Good news!

Jerry Ford is an okay guy, and he is old and sick now, but is he known for ??? since he left the White House. And what have we heard about George Bush Senior lately? Compare these guys with Jimmy (Habitat For Humanity + international election monitoring + high-level diplomacy +) Carter. And look at what Billy C. is doing now.

Also, (Holy Schnitzelbank!) look at the living former Vice Presidents: Al Gore, Environmental Heavy-Hitter. Walter Mondale, Retired Japan Ambassador. Dan Quail, Who???

Democrats 4, Republicans 0.

Those of us who are starved for good news this year are, of course, happy that someone is trying to do something concrete, and Clinton is the ideal figurehead for the endeavor. All cynicism aside, he IS good at this particular process, and he will get the press that something this ambitious requires.

The SEIU (Service Employees International Union) had a pretty cool online contest called Since Sliced Bread, which solicited common-sense solutions to today's pressing issues, and they did get alot of decent ideas, (everyone has two or three), 22,000 in all. Yea, there was alot of dumb ideas, but it was a cool way to generate some excitement for solutions to problems that the administration obviously doesn't give a shit about.

However, they got no national press, and somehow all of the winning ideas focused on problems that mostly affect workers, surprise, at the union level. I have not heard a thing about implementation either. In the end, too narrow a vision, no follow-through and lack of aggressive PR made the project a dud.

Here's hoping that CGI does a better job; We could use more good news.

not all public-private partnerships are this cynical, and unlike Bushite privitization Clinton and the others involved with him actually want govts. to do something too besides give away resources to right wing cronies.

As a non-American, I am always slightly uneasy when Americans talk about 'leading' the world. Americans don't seem to grasp that the world generally does not want to be led - countries want to do what they perceive works and is good for them. It may well be that the example set by America in various fields - culturally, economically, etc - is a model some countries admire and would like to copy, but, equally, there are other areas, e.g. foreign policy, many countries want little to do with.

Personally, I admire Bill Clinton and also admire Joe Conason's writing, but when there is talk of America 'demanding' that governments round the world do something, I think 'here we go again...'. In my view, if America wants to lead it should do so by example and not by fiat. If other countries like what they see, they'll follow; if not, they won't.

Every time I read about Bill Clinton or see him on TV I'm sorely reminded that intelligence and real leadership are missing from the current president. I remember seeing BC on C-SPAN Books talking about his autobiography and thinking "I miss that guy and I miss someone with a brain and some depth as President".

NO, Bill Clinton wasn't and isn't perfect but compare his record (now and in the future) with GWB's and history will not look favorably on George W. Bush. It bares repeating -- what did we get from GW Bush? A needless war, thousands dead, fake democracy, a civil war, a nearly unrepairable distain towards the US, a huge debt and a major quagmire in Iraq that we will be paying for, for a long, long time.

'EF the war on terror -- Democrats need to run aginst the Bush record and pummel him and the republican lemmings.

The subheader for this article reads:

It may be naive, but Bill Clinton's initiative to solve the planet's biggest problems is raising the prospect of a world where America can lead again.

I don't know about you, but I could use a little naive optimism right about now.

Right about now, our congress is normalizing torture. It is authorizing the United States to violate the Geneva Conventions.

Right about now, corporations and industry trade groups own our government lock, stock and barrel. Lawmakers and policymakers are less responsive to, or even aware of, the needs of ordinary citizens than at any time in my life.

Right about now, the United States is engaged in the occupation of a country that we invaded, but which never attacked us.

The fates and fortunes of 6 billion people rise and fall on the whims of a handful of potentates who control the flow of a rapidly diminshing supply of oil. The Bush regime refuses to commit any serious resources to the development of renewable and sustainable energy.

The chief strategist for the Republican Party is reportedly assuring GOP supporters of a devastating October Surprise which will throw the fall elections their way. The president himself has alluded to the same thing.

Public trust in the integrity of the electoral process has never been shakier. People have begun to assume - to assume - that their votes will be discounted by the machines built to count them.

I could go on and on and on.

Sure, it is probably naive to think that Bill Clinton's efforts can lead the way to solutions to at least some of the world's most difficult problems. But it was naive to the point of insanity to believe once that we could leave the earth and fly to the moon. Look how that turned out.

I could use a little bit of that right about now.