Hillary Looking for a Way In

Byron York notes that Bill Clinton is looking to burnish his reputation in comparison to Obama (hey, he doesn’t need to convince me!):

While the political world obsesses over Chris Christie, Rick Perry and the rest of the Republican presidential field, something is up with Bill Clinton. On Nov. 8, the former president will publish a new book entitled Back to Work: Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy. Judging by pre-release publicity, the book resembles nothing so much as a campaign tract for a third Clinton term. Of course Clinton is barred by the Constitution from being elected president again, but “Back to Work” still seems the product of an author who’s gearing up for something.

Instapundit wonders cheekily, “whatever could it be”?

York reports:

The book’s publicity materials say Clinton will offer “specific recommendations” and will propose “how we can get out of the current economic crisis and lay a foundation for long-term prosperity.” The former president will argue that political warfare in Washington “has produced bad policies, giving us a weak economy with few jobs, growing income inequality and poverty, and a decline in our competitive position.”

All that would sound perfectly reasonable from a candidate running against Barack Obama. Or maybe a man whose wife is running against Barack Obama. But Democratic insiders are adamant that there is nothing going on there, that Clinton’s new book does not foreshadow any challenge to the president.

“I don’t read any political motives in any of the things he’s been doing recently,” says a well-connected Democrat. “I take him at his word.”

“I think he wants Hillary to be president maybe more than Hillary wants to be president, but that’s secondary,” says another Democratic insider.

That is utter nonsense. Clinton does not want it more than Hillary; they are partners in ambition and appetite and the giveaway that Clinton’s book is wholly meant for Hillary’s sake is right there in the subtitle of the book, Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy

“Smart” is Hillary’s signature word; it is the word that precedes all of her adventures: she is a “smart woman”, who plays “smart politics” and who suggested that her presidency would demonstrate “smart power” (she was still flogging “smart power” last month) and who as Secretary of State declared we would enter an era of “smart diplomacy.”

Hillarian engagement is always signaled by the word “smart.” Clinton’s book title indicates to me that she’s looking for a way into the Democrat nomination process.

As I’ve said elsewhere, no one is going to primary this president. So, this should be interesting. There are only so many options.