Chelsea Clinton, daughter of Hillary and Bill, recently accepted a job as a NBC reporter. It’s the latest step in her move to a more public life, says Amy Chozick in this fascinating NY Times profile.
Bill Clinton
Political snippets: A demo too far for Abbott
I’m sure it was a mistake for the Opposition Leader to associate himself with the blockading truck drivers around Canberra’s Parliament House this morning.
Budget wars in America: there’s more to it than money
In between worrying about what to do about the chaos in the Middle East, the political world in the United States is mostly occupied this week with the debate over the federal budget.
Crikey Says: Words do matter
Details are still coming to hand about the alleged Arizona shooter, but that hasn’t stopped the speculation, especially when you throw Sarah Palin’s now infamous crosshairs map in the mix.
Letter from...: Letter from: San Francisco, and Bill Clinton on instability, sustainability … and WikiLeaks
“The great thing about being a former President is you can say whatever you want. The sad thing is, nobody cares anymore,” said Bill Clinton to Stilgherrian and 15,000 others in San Francisco last night.
The rise of the titan vegans
Mike Tyson may have once nibbled on somebody’s ear, but now he’s a vegan - just like other high profile members of the non-diary no-meat club including Bill Clinton and Steve Wynn. Joel Stein discusses the latest craze for the rich and powerful.
The most popular graduation speakers
It’s a rich tradition in the US that celebrities from world leaders to movie stars deliver the graduation speech at universities. Listen to the speakers — Bill Cosby is most popular! — inspire the youngsters.
Lessons in History: Getting off on the public buck is Kryptonite to pollies
As Troy Buswell knows, a political career can survive the odd bit of biff. It can (unfortunately) survive the occasional outbreak of sexist or racist behaviour. But it rarely survives a sex scandal.
A history of US Presidential bookworms
Barack Obama is well known as a “reader” — but he’s hardly the first US President to bury his nose in a book: Nixon loved Tolstoy, Reagen studied the ideas of Milton Friedman, and Clinton liked the “cheap thrill” of a mystery novel.
Did Bush wipe his hands after shaking with a Haitian?
Right now the interwebs are going mad at the footageof George W. Bush wiping his hands on Bill Clinton’s shirt after shaking the hand of a man in Haiti. But is that the real story or is Bush being unfairly mocked for being punctual? You be the judge.
How much dough can you make off a political memoir?
Sarah Palin’s made millions from Going Rogue and Bill Clinton got a US$15m advance for his memoir. Boston Globe examines just how many big ones penning a political book can bring US pollies — doubtful that Battlelines brought in that much.
Bush and Clinton: Why we’re joining forces for Haiti
In a joint op-ed for the NYT former US presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton put their differences aside to “spearhead private-sector fund-raising efforts” for Haiti.
Bill Clinton: Haiti needs your help
Former US President Bill Clinton pens an op-ed for the Washington Post, appealing for cash donations for Haiti — not just to fix the immediate damage caused by the earthquake, but to continue building the country well into the future.
US hasn’t dodged the banking bullet … yet
The revolutionary war fought by the Americans was rooted in part in the overthrow of a banking order imposed on the colonies. That war continues to this day, writes David Hirst.
Politicians behaving badly: all the juicy news from Game Change
Washington has been in a frenzy all week as sordid political rumours spill forth from the new book on the US ‘08 presidential campaign, Game Change. From affairs to racist remarks, what were the spiciest revelations?
Criticising the Clintons
Hillary and Bill Clinton usually come out guns ablazing in a counterattack to any vicious political rumours floating around the traps. So why aren’t they this time in response to the gossipy new political book Game Change? Because, it was Clinton’s staffers that leaked all the info.
Throw ‘em a bone: why pollies must love dogs
Forget a wife and 2.5 smiling children, the best political weapon is a dog. Just ask Nixon, Churchill, Clinton or Rudd, says Paul Daley. Plus, an exclusive preview of Abigail and Jasper’s children’s book. They are as troublesome as expected.
Monica Lewinski’s back
It’s the political scandal that never rests: Monica Lewinsky is back, accusing Bill Clinton of lying under oath about their sexual encounters in an explosive new book about Clinton’s impeachment trial.
PHOTO GALLERY: Beauty queens, bowling and bunnies: US presidents like you’ve never seen them before
From President Truman’s summer wardrobe — mainly Hawaiian shirts and pastel shorts — to Reagan surrounded by 80s supermodels and LBJ singing to his dogs, take an inside peek inside the secret world of US presidents.
Bill and Hillary’s worlds collide
She’s the Secretary of State, he’s a former President; both spend their time flying around the world to lobby and negotiate with world powers — can the Clintons keep their worlds from colliding?
15 years later, can Clinton finally reform US health care?
Bill Clinton has paid a visit to Capitol Hill Democrats, urging them do what he never could: pass a health care reform bill. Don’t miss the audio of the speech: “It’s my Secretary of State calling!”
Clinton and Bush to face-off
Billed as “The Hottest Ticket in Political History”, former US Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush will face-off in a public debate in February next year. A ringside ticket will set you back US$1250, but the slugfest promises to be worth every penny.
Dowd: Gandhi wuz robbed! Bono too!
Maureen Dowd’s got the real story of what went down when Bill Clinton and George Dubya Bush heard about Barack Obama getting the Nobel Peace prize. It wasn’t pretty.
Papa Clinton: What is Bill like as a dad?
The secret Clinton tapes have uncovered lots of tidbits about the Clinton presidency, but they also reveal Bill Clinton’s biggest political weakness: his daughter Chelsea.
