Planned Clinton-Bush 'Debate' Cancelled

(USA TODAY) -- Update at 4:59 p.m. ET:  A February "debate" between former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton "has been nixed because the promoter overhyped it as a death-match faceoff between the men," the New York Post is reporting.

"This event ... was supposed to be a discussion between the two former presidents, and has been canceled because it was not being billed as such by an overeager promoter," said Clinton spokesman Matt McKenna.

He said the appearance was going to be a moderated panel discussion, not a debate.

No comment yet from the Bush camp or the promoter.

Original post:

Bill  Clinton and George. W. Bush have agreed to a smackdown at Radio City Music Hall.

Well, there is not likely to be any head butting, but the two former presidents have agreed to debate foreign policy, economics and other issues of the day on the same platform on Feb. 25, 2010, according to MSG  Entertainment, which bills the event as "The Hottest Ticket in Political History."

The debate, which will include a question-and-answer segment with an as-yet unnamed moderator, is part of MSG's speaker's series known called "Minds That Move the World."

Melissa Ormond, MSG's chief operating officer, says the event  will be "an informative and empowering experience" that will also " encourage people to engage in continued dialog surrounding the most significant current events of our day," The New York Daily News reports.

While the two former presidents have shared a stage before, in Toronto in May, the Radio City Music Hall will be their highest profile venue.

Tickets will range from $60 to $1,250, with the upper-end including a cocktail reception before the event.