Heir To the Throne

A pair of recent books about Hillary Clinton, including Carl Bernstein's "A Woman In Charge," have apparently speculated that she and her husband have been plotting a period of control of the White House in a scenario that would allow both of them to serve as President of the United States for eight years each.

It's easy to dismiss the idea that there is such a plot, since similar dynastic plots for the Presidency never worked out. Joseph P. Kennedy plotted to have his sons succeed each other as President through 1985, and we all know how that turned out. In fact, only one Kennedy ever became President. Yet we have had two Bushes, largely because the Bush family believes they're entitled to the highest office in the land, and they act accordingly - the smears against Michael Dukakis, the disenfranchising of black voters in Florida who gave Albert Gore the Presidency in 2000. The Bushes are a family that gets what they want, and heaven help the fool that stands in their way. (That includes you, John Kerry!)

Hillary Clinton has wanted to be President since her last name was Rodham, and maybe I wouldn't be so skittish if she hadn't married Bill. But she has been making connections all the time leading up to the 2008 campaign, which has actually begun in 2007. She's won friends and influenced people, and now she's ready to cash in her chips because it's her turn to be President, and those in her own party who attempt to deny her that office have signed their own political death warrants. (Hear that, John Edwards?)

I used to think America chose its leaders democratically, but lately we've fallen sway to the divine right of kings . . .

. . . and queens.