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Reporting and analysis from ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent and "This Week" Host George Stephanopoulos

George Stephanopoulos reports on events in politics, Congress and the White House for ABCNews, on the air and online. He interviews top newsmakers, discusses the events of the week and looks to the week ahead each Sunday on 'This Week.'

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A Debate That Never Was, or Never Will Be?

November 04, 2009 3:00 PM

Earlier today we were surprised to see promotion for a ‘debate’ between former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton at Radio City Music Hall in February.

It was billed as a debate with topics “ranging from the economy, to foreign policy, to the current administration," according to a statement released  by MSG Entertainment.

Really? The two former leaders of the free world, head to head? That might be worth the price of admission, which incidentally was pretty steep, ranging from $60 to $1250.

But now we are hearing that this event has been cancelled by the former presidents who say they never agreed to a debate, but back to back speeches.  Clinton and Bush have done the joint appearance thing before – last spring in Toronto.  

But a true Clinton v Bush debate? Don’t think we’ll ever see that – at any price.

- George Stephanopoulos

November 4, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (23)

User Comments

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Yeah, but you can get people to pay $1200 for a showdown. It's all marketing.

Posted by: Liz | Nov 4, 2009 3:03:12 PM

I would not want to hear from either of them, they are both yesterdays news. We have plenty to worry about now days......quit living in the past!!

Posted by: david | Nov 4, 2009 3:32:04 PM

I was planning on seeing them, but I don't want a debate, I want a lecture with respectful questions and answers like when we had guest speakers in college. So tacky someone tried to market this as something from WWF.

Posted by: Lila | Nov 4, 2009 3:35:04 PM

The Intimidator vs Mr Charisma.

Posted by: John Hay, Jr. | Nov 4, 2009 3:40:25 PM

why listen to yesterdays idiots for $1000 when you can lsiten to the curent one for free.

Posted by: fmi200 | Nov 4, 2009 3:42:50 PM

Bush is too stupid to ever try that. He can't even read a telepromter

Posted by: Jim Bob | Nov 4, 2009 3:48:06 PM

It would never be because the one side could never even present a competent comeback side.

Posted by: Ron | Nov 4, 2009 3:51:29 PM

Bush debating Clinton is like bringing a knife to a gun fight. Clinton would wipe the floor with Bush.

Posted by: Mike M | Nov 4, 2009 3:56:34 PM

Clinton will be there if the Rockets will be there.

Posted by: jim | Nov 4, 2009 3:59:51 PM

They are both useless and sell outs to blue bloods. Our nation is in disarry because of these two morons.

Posted by: cony007 | Nov 4, 2009 4:01:23 PM

Clinton and Bush's administrations were so similar, it kind of makes a debate pointless doesn't it. Add that to the fact that Bush called Clinton "Brother" when the two met not too long ago in Toronto -- a comment made after Dubya's mother, former first-lady Barbara Bush, said that Bill Clinton was "like a son" to her since he was spending so much time traveling with former president George H. Bush.

George and Bil aren't really rivals except in the minds of the media.

Posted by: hey | Nov 4, 2009 4:03:53 PM

It would be great to see about a month or so before the mid-term elections. Such a debate would be a refresher on which change would be more fruitful.

Posted by: TX_MBell | Nov 4, 2009 4:09:55 PM

"I grew government more."

"No, I did!"

"No, you're wrong... I did!"

What a snoozefest.

Posted by: QuestionBHO | Nov 4, 2009 4:21:24 PM

What would the debate be about? They both agreed that Saddam had WMD"S. Clinton passed the resolution and signed it in to U.S.A. law to remove Saddam from power and Bush backed it and removed Saddam from power. So whats the debate?

Posted by: John Demeter | Nov 4, 2009 4:33:55 PM

I thought that torture was prohibited in the US. The only thing worse than a visit to Saddam's fun rooms is being forced to listen to America's third and fourth Progressive/Socialist presidents justify their willful destruction of our Republic.
"I violated the Constitution more than you did." "Did Not!" "Did so."

Posted by: Frostbyte | Nov 4, 2009 4:50:12 PM

Bush was set to debate the book, "My Pet Goat."

Posted by: David | Nov 4, 2009 4:52:47 PM

I'd pay 100 dollars to watch if it was bare knuckle boxing. Clinton vs Bush two men enter one man leaves, followed by the other on a stretcher.

Posted by: Bill | Nov 4, 2009 5:10:22 PM

There would be little point in such a debate, by guys who are done and over.

Posted by: Rick McDaniel | Nov 4, 2009 5:11:40 PM

Republicans don't debate, they put their fists in the air then take the ball and go home

Bush probably knew he would have to argue with Clinton and knew he could never win so decided to back out

Posted by: k | Nov 4, 2009 7:20:57 PM

What a snore.

Bush was Clinton light. I would not pay a nickel to hear either one of them ramble on.

Empty suit professional politicians with no grounding in the reality of the common citizen.

Posted by: samadams | Nov 4, 2009 9:51:41 PM

That sounded totally bogus, from the git-go.

Posted by: Rick McDaniel | Nov 5, 2009 10:15:08 AM

First step, explain to Bush what a debate is. He probably thinks its the worm at the end of a fishing pole.

Posted by: Ron | Nov 5, 2009 12:33:42 PM

It's easy and a bit cynical to say that
all politicians are the same. But if
that were true then education, experience and intent would be meaningless. I believe(gulp) that G.W.
Bush was well meaning in some ways.
(imigration)but dead wrong on....well..
everything else. And "W" was the most
unremarkable President of the 20th/21st
century.
Bill Clinton has a similar tendency of
men from the recient past, who viewed
women as some kind of plaything.
But as to brain power, a Rhodes Scholar
trumps a frat boy, party animal from Yale any time.
If the Republicans want to be taken
seriously, they have to put forth
candidates that are intelligent and who
will not knowingly lie when they have
idealogical differences.
Every soldier is not a hero, every
politician is not a crook, Not all
cleric's are Godly. Some people have
good intetions, some get currupted, but
there have to be a few good people in
every field....or we're in TROUBLE.
PS Except for radio talk show hosts...
they're all EVIL....lol.

Posted by: Blackie | Nov 5, 2009 4:22:30 PM

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