11/15/00 9:20 a.m.
The Missing Bill
Political frenzy sans Clinton.

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

n certain ways, we've been down this road before. The media frenzy is quite familiar. Along with others, this column has pointed to the impeachment parallel (albeit without the sex). It's also O.J. without the blood.

But what is quite unusual about this "constitutional crisis" is what's not here. For the first time in recent memory, there is no Bill Clinton in the center of the political drama. Yes, many of the supporting characters have popped up. Lanny Davis is back. Jesse Jackson, of course, is never far from the camera. But, the question is, "Where's Bill?"

The current state of affairs are, in a sense, the political legacy of Bill Clinton. It's no coincidence that in the wake of the most divisive president in a quarter century, America would experience the tightest, closest election in 40 years. The legacy of Bill Clinton is division. But, he is nothing more than a commentator on this fruit of his work.

Last Saturday, he visited Arlington Cemetery to commemorate Veterans Day. It was another one of the mindboggling discontinuities Americans have gotten sadly used to in the last eight years. Just as the draft-dodger got to be in France for the 50th Anniversary of D-Day. At another time, all eyes would have been on Clinton, especially as he was going to join Bob Dole for the groundbreaking ceremony of the World War II memorial. But, both events became afterthoughts to the ongoing drama in Florida. The best even Bill Clinton could do was get a few excerpts from his speech. He mildly joked about the recount, saying how much it taught Americans about the importance of one vote. On another occasion, he said — biting his lip — "The American people have spoken. Now, we just have to figure out what they said."

This must be killing Bill Clinton. He has set the entire agenda for most of the last eight years. Except for a brief period from late 1994 to late-'95, when Newt Gingrich was in his ascendancy, there has been truly no one to challenge Clinton's mastery. Even while under investigation (as he was for the most part), Slick Willie took the Hollywood celebrity mantra — "It doesn't matter what they say about you — just as long as they're talking about you."

The biggest political story of the decade is so odd because, unlike recent Clinton scandals — there's no "scandal" here in the classic sense. No money is changing hands (except for some cigarettes in Wisconsin). No sex. The story is extraordinary because it covers an election for all the marbles — the presidency. And, of course, there are lots of lawyers involved. But, in many other respects, this is a lot more "normal" than previous media frenzies. Make no mistake. What's going on in Florida on the part of the Gore campaign is grievously wrong. But there's no FBI files stolen (only votes!); no disappearing and reappearing law-firm files. The call for the hand-count is controversial and clearly made to help Al Gore win the presidency. But, strangely, everything is playing out in public. One of Karen Hughes' best arguments in her Monday press conference was that people at home could clearly see how arbitrary the "chad-selection" process was by watching it on television.

The full ugliness of the American legal and political process was indeed being shown live — and it certainly wasn't out of sight. This is probably one reason why the American public doesn't think that this has reached "crisis" level as yet.

Another decided contrast with the Clinton years is that both Gore and Bush have been reticent about appearing in public to discuss the issue, preferring to leave it to elder statesmen such as Jim Baker and Warren Christopher (and, occasionally Bill Daley). Bush emerged at his ranch briefly on Saturday; Gore had a quick statement on Monday. But neither are as confident (or vain) as Clinton to attempt to use personal charisma to help push their own argument forward.

Meanwhile, Clinton is off to Vietnam (finally!) and hardly anyone notices. This was supposed to be the final triumphant foreign trip of his administration — and it's making barely a ripple. Clinton is being overshadowed, at long last, by an Al Gore-initiated controversy! Bill can't like this.

At any other time, a First Lady being elected to the Senate would have meant headlines for several days, yet even Hillary Rodham Clinton's feat has been overlooked. At the moment, she finally steps out of Roundabout Town Bill aura, she suddenly finds herself pushed aside by the Bush-Gore Election Without End. Hillary must hate this. She even tried to get one headline for herself by calling for an end to the Electoral College. That was good for a one-day story.

Strange as it may seem, it may have taken an unresolved election or Al Gore to become his "own man"?

Even stranger, this huge political story may actually presage a return to a "normal" politics.