42 is available, too

04 December 2008 |permalink | email article

The former president told CNN International that he’s open to the possibility of a role in the Obama administration but said he otherwise plans to be deferential to both the president and Hillary Clinton, his wife, soon to become secretary of state.

Clinton could be named as sort of a super-ambassador on a specific issue like India, or restoring U.S. goodwill abroad. Otherwise, “I’ll just try and be a helpful sounding board for her, but I don’t think I’ll do anything more than that. Unless he asks me to do something specific.”

It reminds me of the old Clintonian slogan, “Buy two and get one free.” In this situation the former president will inevitability be perceived as a shadow diplomat without portfolio.

Case in point: Clinton was interviewed Tuesday in Hong Kong, where the William J. Clinton Foundation convened a Clinton Global Initiative Asia meeting with current and former heads of state from around the region.

Odd Couple

The national press ignored it but San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phil Matier and Andy Ross had a gem of an item about a lively post-presidential election debate between former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards and Republican consultant Karl Rove as part of a Commercial Finance Association’s convention in the city.

They reported that Edwards was booked well before the tabloid scandal involving his extramarital affair surfaced. Edwards and Rove each commanded in the neighborhood of $50,000 for their joint appearance.

88