The Clinton Administration, Part Deux

Just in case anyone had doubts, two new books, one by Carl Bernstein, confirm that Bill and Hillary have planned and schemed for decades their rise to power.

"A Woman in Charge: The Life of Hillary Rodham Clinton," by Carl Bernstein, reports that Clinton as first lady was terrified she would be prosecuted, took over her own legal and political defense, and decided not to be forthcoming with investigators because she was convinced she was unfairly targeted. While in Arkansas, according to Bernstein, she personally interviewed one woman alleged to have had an affair with her husband, contemplated divorce and thought about running for governor out of anger at her husband's indiscretions.

"Her Way: The Hopes and Ambitions of Hillary Rodham Clinton," by Jeff Gerth and Don Van Natta Jr., reports that during her husband's 1992 campaign, a team she oversaw hired a private investigator to undermine Gennifer Flowers "until she is destroyed." Flowers had said publicly that she had an affair with Bill Clinton while he was governor of Arkansas.

The book also suggests that Hillary Clinton did not read the National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq in 2002 before voting to authorize war. And it includes a thirdhand report that the Clintons had a secret plan after the 1992 election in which he would have eight years as president and then she would have eight years, although last night a key source disavowed the story.

I wonder if the plan also includes Chelsea's eventual rise the White house. Americans can then have the possibility of comfortably resting in the caring arms of Bushes and Clintons for a full half century. It could happen as follows: George W. Bush (1989-93); Bill Clinton (1993-2001); George H.W. Bush (2001-2009); Hillary Clinton (2009-2017); Jeb Bush (2017-2025); Chelsea Clinton (2025-2033); George P. Bush, Jeb's son of 1988 Republican Convention fame, (2033-2041). A thinking electorate no longer required.

[Photo by J. Scott Applewhite -- Associated Press]