<p>During Oscar’s I watched Al Gore and something struck me. In my memory all the democratic presidents or VP or presidential candidates have done something useful for humanity after they have left office. Carter, Clinton, Gore…</p>
<p>On the republican side
Agnew - didn’t he go to jail
Nixon - hybernated
Ford - who ??
Reagan - some TV commercials in Japan
Bush Sr - ?
Dole - Viagra</p>
<p>Bush Jr - He will just sit on the fron porch and shoot beer cans.</p>
<p>If one were cynical, one might ask why Republican presidents and vice presidents don’t do anything useful before they’re ex. Though I honestly couldn’t have posed the question before the current crew. Even Reagan and Nixon were like broken clocks, right in what they did once in a while.</p>
<p>Because Republicans have enough class to step off the world stage voluntarily, without being dragged off with a cane. Dole was never President or Vice President, by the way. Richard Nixon was a foreign policy statesman of great wisdom, but it was appropriate for him maintain his life privately. Bush Sr. has done many humanitarian things (I guess Clinton only counts for their partnership for tsunami relief in your mind, huh?). Ultimately, it is appropriate for outgoing administrations to step aside and allow the current elected officials to govern without a shadow government. Clinton has spent the intervening years earning money and carousing (more power to him), Gore has spent the intervening years wallowing in hypocrisy and being the millennial answer to the apocalyptic prophets of old, while Carter has undermined the nation’s standing in the world and cozied up to dictators near and far. Yep, I’ll take the stepping aside with dignity any day.</p>
<p>I agree that Carter’s work with Habitat for Humanity is laudable, but what else has he done? Other than try to rewrite the history of his administration, I mean. I admire Clinton’s work with the victims of the Tsunami and Katrina, at the side of President Bush (41). I can’t think of anything else he’s done, except try to rewrite the history of his administration. Catching a trend, yet? </p>
<p>Did I miss an election where Dole was on the winning ticket? Finally, wasn’t Clinton 54 when he left office? I believe Gore was 52, while Bush Senior was 68 and Reagan was 78. What do you expect them to do? Aren’t they allowed to retire?</p>
<p>Come on Simba, there are probably a lot of republicans and democrats who view Dole’s viagra marketing as a worthy cause. ;)</p>
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<p>I know that he’s part of a group that monitors elections in countries where free and honest elections are problematic. Carter seems to have gotten much more respect for the work that he’s done after his presidency than for his presidency itself.</p>
<p>Clinton and Bush Sr. have worked together extensively on both the tsunami relief efforts and Katrina. I’m not sure why we have to denigrate one to prop up the other. The efforts of both are laudable. </p>
<p>Clinton has also worked extensively for ten years through his foundation in the fight against AIDS. They have worked closely with the governments of approximately 30 countries to institute testing for HIV, treatments, and education. He has also been instrumental in using his contacts and influence to broker deals which would allow for greatly reduced costs of necessary drugs for treatment. The people in dozens of countries have benefitted.</p>
<p>Habitat for Humanity hasn’t been Carter’s only humanitarian efforts since leaving the White House. His Carter Center works on human rights and global health issues worldwide.</p>
<p>"I know that he’s part of a group that monitors elections in countries where free and honest elections are problematic. "</p>
<p>He’s also been known to quickly certify elections that were, in fact, problematic, as well. He also did himself and the Clinton administration no good with his meddling in North Korea. It’s pretty clear that I’m not a Clinton fan, but the man was the duly elected President of the United States and Carter blindsided and hamstrung his administration vis a vis North Korea. It was inappropriate and, frankly, unseemly to hold a press conference about an agreement with another country before briefing the current administration. Former President Clinton was rightly furious.</p>
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<p>I think that some people read as closely as they pay attention to reality.</p>
<p>To be fair, the ex-presidents/-candidates on the Republican side have often been so old that there hasn’t been much room to do much after the fact:</p>
<p>Ronald Reagan
Bob Dole</p>
<p>Or they left office in such a cloud of infamy that there wasn’t much that could be done:</p>
<p>Nixon (Watergate)
Ford (for pardoning Nixon for Watergate, an act that was only recognized as having had a lot of positives only at the end of his life).
Agnew (I forget his particular crimes which caused him to leave office)
[The Democratic example of this would by Lyndon Johnson whose post-presidential ambit was set by Vietnam, to the extent that he lived.]</p>
<p>As was noted partially, Bush Sr. has done good things. As has Clinton.</p>
<p>Carter’s getting a lot of flak now because of his book on Israel, but to cast what he has done as an unwillingness to leave the stage or to rewrite the facts about his administration is just the sort of bilious partisanship not supported by facts that is so poisoning our political discourse these days. The Fox News-ification, if you will, of discussion.</p>
<p>The ex-presidents in particular have a stature that should be tapped as a force for good. It would be a waste for it not to be. It draws attention to issues and rallies resources. I do agree with zoosermon on North Korea and Carter, though.</p>
<p>George W. Bush, unfortunately, will more or less follow LBJ’s footsteps…Being a very visible public figure would probably just incite division and regret bringing back to people’s memory the misadventure in Iraq.</p>
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<p>Dukakis? Mondale? Johnson? Edwards? </p>
<p>I also think you are being more than a little selective. Reagan already had early-stage Alzheimer’s when he left office. Dole has been every bit as prominent as Dukakis (who?). By conducting his own foreign policy, Carter has on several occasions been in violation of federal law in ways a private citizen would not have gotten away with. His freelance meddling in North Korea and Haiti was a problem and embarrassment for the Clinton administration. If he’d stuck to Habitat he would be much more successful ex-Pres.</p>
<p>"The ex-presidents in particular have a stature that should be tapped as a force for good. It would be a waste for it not to be. "</p>
<p>But that platform should never be used to undermine a current administration of either party.</p>
<p>Some candidates had some remarkable accomplishments prior to holding office as well. Didn’t we have one VP who invented the internet? 
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<p>"Some candidates had some remarkable accomplishments prior to holding office as well. Didn’t we have one VP who invented the internet? "</p>
<p>You mean the one with the remarkable energy consuption?</p>
<p>I had forgotten that Gore “invented the internet!” But I DO think it’s fair to give him credit for Global Warming – all that hot air, you know…</p>
<p>ZM: I can’t wait for the Republicans to step off the stage voluntarily. That’s why I’m doing my darnedest to help them step off the stage involuntarily.</p>
<p>Btw, your PM box is full. Or it was yesterday.</p>
<p>Hey The Dad, you know what? I’m looking forward to the current administration stepping off the stage too. My personal prediction is that both Cheney and Bush will retire to their homes and live private lives. I don’t see either of them doing the shadow government thing. I’ve gotten a little sick and disillusioned by the current administration (but probably for reasons that others wouldn’t expect) and am at the point where I’m ready for it to end. As long as That Woman isn’t elected President.</p>
<p>I’ll clean out the PM box. Thank you!</p>
<p>"to cast what he has done as an unwillingness to leave the stage or to rewrite the facts about his administration is just the sort of bilious partisanship not supported by facts that is so poisoning our political discourse these days. "</p>
<p>In addition to his meddling as already mentioned, check out his role in attempting to undermine the coalition that Bush put together for Gulf War I. The man should have been issued a sock the size of his mouth when he left office.</p>
<p>You know forget AG for a second, look around you. What do your own eyes tell you?</p>
<p>Is the air better? is the water better? can you eat the fish? When you see dead spots in the oceans from space, does it matter? </p>
<p>I am sick and tired of people throwing barbs out just BECAUSE AG was the voice and face on a documentary. That’s just sad. Open your minds. Look at what is being said for or against environmental issues. Look at who is paying for the opinions. </p>
<p>Remember at one time “researchers” told us that tobacco was good for us and harmless. </p>
<p>We live on a closed bubble. Our garbage can only get pushed around so much before it bumps into more garbage. Stop be aching about AG house or travels and think about what you can do in your home and live to make a difference.</p>
<p>And let me pose a question to the rapture people who aren’t worried because Jesus is coming to take them to heaven. God created this beautiful place for man, yet he threw adam and eve out for eating apples and violating his trust. Do you think you’ll be admitted into heaven, when you throw ciggie butts out your window and make no effort to caretake what God created? </p>
<p>After God sees what you’ve done to earth, why “on earth” would he let you do the same to heaven? </p>
<p>But go ahead and do what you do, I’m sure I’m wrong about the caretaking thing. ;)</p>
<p>"But go ahead and do what you do, I’m sure I’m wrong about the caretaking thing. "</p>
<p>You are 100% right about the caretaking thing. Many on the right consider it a sacred duty. It can be true at the same time that pollution is a major issue in need of attention AND that Al Gore is a hypocrite.</p>
<p>WHy such harrasment of a man the brought global warming into the forefront…</p>
<p>There was a relgious leader who wanted to talk about taking care of the earth, he was basically told to shut up because abortion and gay marriage were the most important issues</p>
<p>As for caretaking by the right, yeah, let me see it.,I have seen little evidence of that claim on a leadership level, but if you need to say it to feel better, go ahead</p>