Ya know, I distinctly remember warning The Chief Stumbling Block that recruiting Bill Clinton as a campaign surrogate wasn’t the hottest idea he’s ever had.  One, because he hates Barry’s guts; (2) because Hillary hates Barry’s guts; and (3) because he’s incapable of promoting anybody but himself.

In this instance, though, he is touting one of the presidential tickets - just not the one The One intended:

Mr. Clinton, acclaimed even by his enemies as one of the most consummate American politicians in recent history, said he did not agree with Republican vice presidential pick Mrs. Palin on politics, but warned fellow Democrats not to underestimate her.

“She’s an instinctively effective candidate and with a compelling story,” Mr. Clinton said in an interview with CNBC.

“I think it was exciting to some that she was a woman,” said Mr. Clinton.

“I think she, I get why she’s done so well. It’s a mistake to underestimate her. She’s got good intuitive skills. They’re significant.”

Mr. Clinton said he thought Republican presidential candidate John McCain, a Vietnam war hero and veteran lawmaker, was a “great man” and that the election on November 4 would be close, but he predicted Democrat Barack Obama would emerge triumphant.

I can just hear Mr. Bill on the phone with an irate False Messiah: “Hey, ah said ah disagree with her politics and ah predicted you’d win.  What more do you want?  Oh, by the way, can you get her phone number from your hacker friend?  I’d like to see if I can’t set up a “one on one” interview with Governor Palin myself.”

Not to say “I told you so,” Teacher, but I told you so.  Bill doesn’t consider you to be a worthy successor to his “legacy,” and Hillary wants his throne in 2012 even more than she did before.  This time she thought it was hers by divine right and would fall right into her lap like overripe fruit.  You caught her in her complacency and by the time she started fighting for the Dem nomination, you already had that narrow lead your party’s peculiar rules ensured you’d never lose, and the right skin color to intimidate the superdupers into not flipping.  Next time she won’t take anything for granted; and as far as she’s concerned, “next time” has already begun.

The biggest irony of this script-departure?  Clinton actually spoke the truth about Sarah Palin.  And on an NBC-owned cable channel to boot.  Has he made his last appearance with the peacock?

[h/t: HA]

[cross-posted at ]