1/20/01 8:40 a.m.
The Last Clinton Story
As if!

By Robert A. George, an editorial page writer
for the New York Post------------------------------------RAGGEDmail@aol.com

ontrary to conventional wisdom, for Bill Clinton, it was never about the fat lady. It was always about the dead canine. In the midst of all the pre-departure media nostalgia over Bubba, more than a few stations have shown the footage of Clinton in New Hampshire in 1992. As he was working to save his campaign after the twin revelations of his draft-dodging and Gennifer Flowers.

Answering one question in the middle of a rally, Clinton defiantly vowed to stand by his supporters, “‘til the last dog dies,” he said in that hard-edged Arkansas accent that he can pull out when the need arises. That line seemed to stand out in particular for the Clinton years — though “I did not have sex with that woman” clearly leads the pack. His farewell address was on Thursday; he was talked about all Friday. This plea bargain comes down late Friday morning, we are still talking about him. The fat lady may be warming up, but the dog is still woofing to his hearts content.

As the sun sets on his presidency, Clinton still stands. On the very eve of his inauguration, Bush found himself upstaged once more by a Ghost of Clinton Scandal Past, as Robert Ray announced a deal with the president. So, Clinton loses his law license for five years and he must admit — in writing — that he “knowingly” misled prosecutors in the Paula Jones case and he must pay a fine of $25,000. That last figure is added to the $90K contempt of court fine that Judge Susan Webber Wright levied on Clinton. However, considering that Clinton stands to make, by one estimate, $7 million in the next year (his and Hillary’s combined net worth may end up being close to $15 million) this looks like a drop in the bucket when all is said and done.

But, considering all the spin heard over the last couple of years, especially, “I fought impeachment to save the Constitution,” it’s wonderful that everyone now knows that all the lying and deception had nothing to do with the Constitution and everything to do with saving the hide of William Jefferson Clinton. It’s upsetting that Clinton gets one more day to bask in the glory of being talked about, but it would have been infinitely worse had Robert Ray gone ahead and indicted Clinton. There would have been a trial eventually. Clinton would be a martyr for the left, win or lose. Worse, Bush’s agenda would be ignored as the country watched yet another “trial of the century.”

If the new president had to take the trade, he will ignore these minor annoyances — including waiting until actual inauguration day to determine who gets pardoned, while firing Linda Tripp from the Pentagon — with a comfortable understanding that most of this will be all over pretty soon. No, Bill Clinton — perfect archetype for the generation that refuses to leave the stage, even as its clearly over-stayed its welcome — will be finally pried from the levers of power.

His innate pettiness will remain, but at least his finger will not be on the button. He will finally be seen as a thing of the past — at which point it will be time to find that last dog and shoot it.