The Anchoress

So, Bill Clinton says that when Hillary is president, she will send him and Bush 41 around to restore America’s image. (Meanwhile France and England fight about who loves us more!)

“Well, the first thing she intends to do, because you can do this without passing a bill, the first thing she intends to do is to send me and former President Bush and a number of other people around the world to tell them that America is open for business and cooperation again,” Clinton said in response to a question from a supporter about what his wife’s “number one priority” would be as president.

This seems just staggeringly, breathtakingly arrogant to me - does it to you, or am I wrong?

Gateway Pundit asks the pointed question that needs asking:

Who does Hillary intend to apologize to? Germany, the UK, France, Denmark, and Eastern Europe, are all equally or more friendly with the US than they were when Bush started his presidency. Saddam Hussein and the Taliban are gone and democratic governments are set up in Iraq and Afghanistan in their place.

So who does Hillary want to apologize to? Venezuela? Iran? Libya? Syria? Russia? It would be a good question to ask the Clintons some time if the media was not so much in their pocket.

Yes, beyond dictators large and small, exactly who is Hillary going to “mend fences” with? Eastern Europe loves Bush and the US. Iraq wants us to stay and help them grow; Iranian students want us to come in and liberate them. France and Germany are palsy-walsy with us. Japan just sided with us in Bali - against the Church of Global Warming - and they and other Pacific nations have been quietly working with Bush (because in today’s press, co-operation with Bush gets no headlines) to move beyond the unworkable Kyoto accord, so no apologies needed there. I guess we’ll apologize to…Canada? N. Korea? For crying out loud.

The “narrative” is “the world hates America because of Bush. The reality is quite different. I’m frankly glad to see the Chirac’s and Schroeder’s off the world-stage. Back in 2004 John Rosenthal wrong in the Wall Street Journal, The Myth of Squandered Sympathy* soundly refuting that narrative. Do the Clinton’s know what year it is?

As I’ve noted: I’m more and more convinced that Bill Clinton does not want his wife to win - that he does not want his presidency compared to hers - not when her presidency will immediately and forever be more compelling because she will be a “woman” president and a “war” president. He doesn’t want a close scrutiny of his library donors and daily pocket-liners. I’m not sure he wants to give up his freedom - he seems to fly every day - for the constraints of a “first gentleman” role. If I’m wrong and he really does want her to win…he’s going about that in a strange way.

My big fear? That in trying to “humanize” Hillary (hint: it can’t be forced, guys) they’re going to tell Hillary that she has to be seen, at some point, crying. That will be ghastly. And it won’t help her, either. It will just get the right, and some feminists, moaning that she’s resorting to “crying like a girl” because she’s not getting her way.

This whole campaign feels like one long, extended exercise in lunacy. In Hillary’s campaign boomer worlds are colliding. Clinton/Clinton worlds are colliding. Hillary/Feminism worlds are colliding. Goldwater Girl Hillary seems to be colliding with Historical Hillary. It all feels too forced, too insistent, too panicked…disingenuous. Jonah Goldberg senses it too.

All I know is, what I read in my email, and hear in conversation - at church, at Christmas parties, even at the nail place is, “why won’t they just go away?” I hear it from both Republicans and Democrats. And I’m sort of starting to feel the same way. I’m so tired of the Clinton soap-opera and the press’ unending fascination with it. And too, nobody seems to want a Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton hootenanny. I personally think America needs to go for a good long while without electing anyone named Bush or Clinton. Too divisive.

Obama is doing well because Hillary is a poor campaigner and Clinton fatigue is rampant, while Barack is smart, quick and funny. There isn’t much difference between them, otherwise. And the GOP candidates seem to be swimming in molasses, to me. I both dread and look forward to ‘08 and the serious election season.

Meanwhile, President George H. W. Bush says he has no idea what Clinton is flapping his gums about. I wonder if the press will even bother to ask Clinton what the hell he is doing? Both Clintons are SO LUCKY the comedy writers are on strike right now.

*Thanks Siggy - the human file cabinet.