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Still talking after all these years? He'll Be Right Back After ThisBy Rick Horowitz The president's advisers are deeply divided: Does he take the plunge or not? It's no wonder they can't agree; there are so many factors to consider. If he makes the move now, he could seem overeager, even headstrong. But if he waits too long, it may just get more difficult. If he goes ahead with it, will he have the support of the American people? Not just at the start, but as the months and the years grind on? For that matter, is he willing to make the commitment himself? Make it, and stick with it -- day after day, in good times and bad? Advisers can only advise. Eventually, the decision lands on the shoulders of the man at the top. Meanwhile, the whole world waits for the answer to the question on everyone's lips: Will Bill Clinton be a talk-show host? You probably thought we were done with this stuff back last spring, when the idea first bubbled up, and bubbled right down again. Back then, it was Clinton's people talking to NBC, and the conversations never quite became a contract. Now it's Clinton's people talking to CBS, and the conversations -- Well, who knows? And if CBS doesn't work out, there's always ABC. Or Fox. Or A&E, or MTV or BET or QVC or... Where were we? Right -- we were feeling nostalgic for the Clinton years. Or we might, if only they'd stay out of sight long enough to let us. No such luck. Sometimes, it's Bill or Hill chasing the spotlight. Other times, it's the spotlight chasing Bill or Hill. And other times, it's mutual -- sort of a "You scratch my ratings, I'll scratch yours" kind of thing. You have to admit, they make good copy, which is why even certain columnists who really wish they'd go away (and I'm not naming any names, you understand) find themselves spending perfectly good ink on one or the other of them. Or both. For instance: You've seen all the recent speculation, haven't you, that the junior senator from (and I use the term advisedly) New York is already gearing up for a White House run in 2008? Nothing like planning ahead, right? After all, she's held elective office for almost 20 months now; why shouldn't she think of herself as a future president? And for that matter, why should anyone be surprised that her spouse, the former president, is back on the prowl, looking for something new to do? They say he's tired of the speaking circuit, poor dear. They never said he was tired of speaking. So why not an afternoon talk show? Why not some multi-year deal at 30 or 40 or 50 million per? If he pulls in enough eyeballs -- all the people who love him, plus some of the people who loathe him -- he could be worth every penny of it. Not to mention the public-service aspects. You don't want to forget the public-service aspects. "You think maybe he could be a force for good," said one NBC exec who'd been plugged into the earlier negotiations. "In between playing the sax or singing with Carly Simon or whatever he's going to do, maybe he could do some great things." Maybe. I'm thinking health tips. Family counseling. Third-world debt. I tell you, the man is magic with a microphone. Or maybe he'd decide that playing the sax or singing with Carly Simon (or whatever) was great enough all on its own, and that he didn't need to add any yawners to the program -- no disarmament debates, no Kofi Annan drop-ins. Just entertainment, pure and simple. Who knows? They say he hasn't decided yet. Hasn't decided how to do it. Hasn't decided whether to do it. The world holds its breath. Posted 8/22/02. Enjoy
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Rick Horowitz
