AH, THE BRITS – AT 7:55 P.M. ET:  We've said it before:  Some of the best writing about American politics is coming out of Britain.  Now, Toby Harnden of London's Telegraph observes Bubba in action, and understands what he's about:

Speculation about Hillary Clinton's continued presidential ambitions is rife. Husband Bill is back on the campaign trail, offering thanks to those who backed her in 2008 – and laying the foundations for another try in 2016.

Fear and loathing in the American body politic is not confined to the anti-tax Tea Party. Across the spectrum of the Democratic party, every hue is feeling it too.

With a fortnight to go to the midterms, moderate "Blue Dog" Democrats are in big trouble. The party's left-wing "Yellow Dogs" are up in arms about being taken for granted by the White House "hippy bashers". Even black bloggers are warning President Barack Obama they won't be "pimped" for him.

In this febrile climate within the party, there is one Democratic figure whose soothing tones can help calm things down – the Big Dog himself, former President Bill Clinton. I caught up with him in Española, New Mexico, site of the first European colony in America, last week and he was on vintage form.

Gone was the red-faced, finger-wagging Bill who I saw in South Carolina in early 2008, when he exploded with anger at being accused of racism by Obama allies as the Democratic nomination slipped from his wife Hillary's grasp. Instead, Española saw Chilled Bill, a man vindicated by events and who knows he was right to warn of Obama's shortcomings.

COMMENT:  Does anyone have any doubt about Hillary's intentions?  Why, we understand that Bill already gave her 2016 wall calendars.

But why wait 'til 2016?  While Clinton could never run a primary campaign against Barack Obama – the black community would never forgive her – she could be found camping out on the White House lawn if the chief executive decides that a 33% approval rating forces him to look for other work when his term expires.

My guess, however, is that Obama will not withdraw, that Clinton will resign after one term and become a university president or somethin', and will run in 2016 as "the most experienced candidate in history." 

It never gets dull.

By the way, in 2016 Monica Lewinsky will be 43.

October 16, 2010