The title "The Choice" can be taken to refer to the political decision voters will make in November between Bill Clinton and Bob Dole (as well as to the primary process by which they were selected). Woodward also has choice opinions about Colin Powell, claiming on the Larry King show (June 26) that Powell would make a highly qualified Secretary of State.
Well, hopefully for Woodward's sake the book will become a best-seller before both Clinton and Dole drop out of the race. And the notion of putting a thief like Powell into the office of Secretary of State, where he can continue to plunder our military resources and perhaps also put diplomatic secrets up for sale, is as ludicrous as any political proposal gets. Woodward hasn't begun to do his homework, and the book deserves to be trashed.
Despite any public protestations to the contrary, behind the scenes the Democratic bigwigs have begun the process of finding a Clinton replacement. ("Democratic bigwigs" refers to people like the new head of the Democratic Nationa Committee and to politicians like John Glenn and Ted Kennedy.) Perhaps the mantle will fall on Al "Unabomber" Gore if anyone thinks he is bright enough (put together two Al Gores and you get one Dan Quayle). In Ten Predictions I forecast Gore would not be the nominee either, based on the belief that the bigwigs wouldn't think he could carry the load. But on this point we shall have to wait and see.
The resignation of Clinton is not far away. Air-head political commentators keep saying "Whitewater has not hurt Clinton in the polls", as though polls mean shit in a court of law. Clinton is going to get indicted if he stays around, although his indictment will come after that of Hillary. But the national security establishment has to be concerned about Clinton's recently-developed chronic use of cocaine.
No one really cares about Clinton's party lines while he was Gov. of Arkansas (at least I don't). But now the drug seems to have taken over, and no one needs a cokehead President. ("Mr. President, North Korea has just invaded South Korea." "Well, let me do a couple of more lines, then I'll come take care of those mothers!") The drug is incompatible with the job.
If all the scandals surrounding the Clinton administration, such as the FBI files, suddenly seem to be sticking, it is because Clinton's days are already numbered by the powers that be. Clinton will be asked to resign and that request will be an ultimatum, a prelude to an "accident" (like that of Colby) if it goes unheeded. Like it or not, that is the reality of the U.S. political process today.
Dole? Dole has received one Fifth Column information package already (hence his resignation from the Senate), and another will be delivered at the appropriate time - --though not nearly as soon as some other politicians would like.
But there is nothing to cry about in all this. The country deserves better than a Clinton or a Dole. That's something to think about this July 4.