The meaning of "is"
You know, I was against the impeachment saga back when it was happening. I genuinely liked Bill and saw it as just a Republican ploy to attack his political legitimacy. And I don't think that's wholly wrong. But when I read articles like this, it makes me think. Commenting on his much cited criticsms of Obama, the former president says:
"I think the mistake that I made is to think that I was a spouse like any other spouse who could defend his candidate."
Um, Bill? Reality check here. You're a former president. Claiming the rights of "any other spouse" doesn't fly. By saying stuff like this, though, the Clintons can claim the "victim" mantle that served them so well in the 90s. Poor Bill. Furthermore, he comments that while everything he said was "factually accurate," reporting was "factually inaccurate." That's mostly true--he didn't really lie. Jesse Jackson did in fact win South Caroline in 1988. But why bring that up in reference to Obama? It's an obvious reference to race, and while there's some truth to it (look at the margins among black voters), it's certainly also attempt to make Obama into the "black" candidate.
One last quote: "I think whenever I defend her, I, A, risk being misquoted, and, B, risk being the story. I don't want to be the story." Bill Clinton doesn't want the limelight? Note that he's making this statement in a context that is all about his story--him talking about his role in the campaign. There's a certain irony there.
In any case, I'm glad that things have gotten toned down a bit in the last couple of weeks. I've actually warmed to Hillary a bit. I certainly appreciate the expertise she would bring to the office. At the same time, the political drama that would accompany the Clintons' return simply outweighs those positives.