Settle down Bill, settle down!

It would make sense for him to be willing to assist Obama in whatever way he can, but to remain behind the scenes unless Obama asks him to do otherwise. It would be foolish to waste what Bill Clinton knows and can do for the country still.

it's funny to me that we're talking about this so much. this isn't the first time that there's been a family member that has the chance to be involved to some extent. i think that the media is making it seem like he wants to be more involved than he really is - but that's just my take on it all. i think that he'll just continue to be the supportive husband, and the person that people can look to for advice on how to handle things just like they would go to any other past politician who held an office.

I don't see him "staying behind the scenes" for very long, if at all.

It's BILL CLINTON, for goodness sake. It will be hard for him to stay in the background, but it is Hillary's turn now, and he owes her. So maybe he will behave, and play the role of statesman. Obama could possibly use him "for something specific" from time to time.

How about a story about how his wife can't serve as Secretary of State?

I see Bill being charge of keeping the secretarial pool's spirits up. Once a filanderer....

How about looking into internet rumors more deeply before you pass them on? Dave mentioned the Hillary can't serve story the other day and I looked it up - there's not much reason to stress over it, but here's from Gawker today:

"Senator Hillary Clinton is forbidden from being the nation's Secretary of State—by the Constitution! All the hope in the world can't get around that little document, you monster. Here's the Constitutional bit in question, Article I, Section 6:

No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time.

"Emoluments" is an old-tymey Constitution word for "scrill." And hey, wouldn't you know, between Clinton's 2006 reelection and now, the salary for Secretary of State went up to $191,300!

This has actually, as you might imagine, happened before, lots of times. Usually Congress just passes a bill cutting the salary. But what is different about this nomination, as opposed to the times this has come up in the past? Crazy obsessive anti-Clinton bloggers!

“There’s no getting around the Constitution’s Ineligibility Clause, so Hillary Clinton is prohibited from serving in the Cabinet until at least 2013, when her current term expires,” said Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch. “Barack Obama should select someone who is eligible for the position of secretary of state and save the country from a constitutional battle over Hillary Clinton’s confirmation.”

Clinton flack Philippe Reines' response is pretty choice: "This is a Harvard Law grad nominating a Yale Law grad here, so all parties involved have been cognizant of this issue from the outset." BURN."

Undave, you are bad...

So in other words, there is a question about her eligibility, but you take this blogger's statement as the final word in the matter. It's not an "internet rumor", it's a legitimate concern that has to be addressed before Mrs. Clinton can take the position.

Burn!

I don't see it as much of a problem. I'm betting they remove the increase until 2013, and then there isn't a problem.

This sort of thing was vehemently opposed by democrats when Nixon did it.

I suppose this will be the first internet rumor rectified by an act of congress, right stephley?

How did they not figure this out ahead of time?

The clause pretty much makes it impossible for any Senator or Representative to be named to a cabinet position (or any higher office)...so they have found ways to work around it in the past. This time will be no different.

As for the subject of the thread...
I think that Bill will help only when he knows he will come out looking good. I don't see him taking on anything that could potentially mar his legacy.

bill looks good here!

See, this is why I don't think the "oversimplification" of Bush's "legacy" is so insulting when people keep talking about Clinton's man bits as if that's the only thing he should be known for. We know, he cheated. We got the memo, we have the t-shirt, we Tivo'd the after-school special.

No Mich, I just didn't feel like wasting my time finding a full news story; I gave the Gawker info for people who didn't know what the ineligible claim was about - people kept slipping it into threads without offering any details. I've read about it in a number of places and the only people who seem psyched about the story are the same people who still question Obama's birth certificate.

What does his being a philanderer have to do with how awesome he is as a politician? ...

I do think he'll stay in the background, but not so much for Hilary, but for himself. I think he is tired of the game. It's why I think he would only be interested in doing "something specific."

I wish he didn't stay in the background, so hopefully he won't.

Bill, your years in the executive branch are OVER. Quit trying to take the spotlight.

There was an after school special? was monica played by Kristy McNichol?

He will stay in the shadows if she is appointed, munching on his Big Macs and "heh heh heh"ing .

All the better to grope the girlies, eh Bill? Wink wink, nudge nudge?

Sorry.

Was the first thing that popped into my mind, and I don't particularly dislike the guy. Just..well, heh. Bill Clinton + shadows = OOH ER, MATRON!

I think he should continue his work with his foundation rather than get back into political life--I've found I like him better and feel he stays truer to his ideals that way.

Every time I pass by this post I start to sing that Bette Midler "Wind Beneath My Wings" song. Ugh.