Preparing for the next presidential election:

Bill Clinton:

Former President Bill Clinton on Monday praised Senator Barack Obama's energy policy at the opening of the National Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas.

But Mr. Clinton also lauded Mr. Obama's rival, Senator John McCain, and said that either candidate would be progressive on the issue of climate change.

"Obviously, I favor Senator Obama's energy positions, and Democrats have been by and large the more forward-leaning actors," Mr. Clinton said. "But John McCain has the best record of any Republican running for president on the energy issue and on climate change." He added, "I'm very encouraged about where the presidential rhetoric is in this campaign."

What former president says nice things about the other party's nominee in a likely-to-be-close presidential election?

There is no way a Democrat could be encouraged by McCain's stance on energy - at least according to the precepts of the party's position: move away from carbon-based sources, encourage renewables, eliminate tax breaks for Big Oil).

Don't kid yourselves. Bill is willing to sacrifice a Democratic win in November - and all that goes with it (Supreme Court nominees, federal agency repair, economic and foreign policy) to give Hillary another chance for the White House.

Before the Democratic nomination was wrapped up there was a (barely) plausible explanation for Bill's antics - he wanted to help Hillary win the '08 nomination. Now, with the candidate settled, any positive statements about McCain by Bill Clinton will be cheerfully trumpeted by the Republicans (and, since it's quasi-bipartisan, David Broder will swoon). Clinton is hurting Obama's chances.

UPDATE: McCain's record on energy/environment here. It's not pretty.


posted by Quiddity at 8/19/2008 07:59:00 PM