THE SCORPION ALWAYS REFRAINS FROM STINGING THE FROG -- RIGHT?

CNN yesterday:

Former President Bill Clinton said that Democrats were more likely to lose in November if Hillary Clinton is not the nominee....

Clinton ... suggested some were trying to "cover up" Sen. Clinton's chances of winning in key states that Democrats will have to win in the general election.

" 'Oh, this is so terrible: The people they want her. Oh, this is so terrible: She is winning the general election, and he is not. Oh my goodness, we have to cover this up.' " ...

And yes, according to electoral-vote.com, she's doing better against McCain than Obama is right now, though Obama's beating McCain, too.

Hmmm ... you don't suppose one reason for her lead is the fact that all recent Republican comments about the Clintons have sounded like this, do you?

... "Whatever else you might say about them [the Clintons], they have contributed to substantive dialogue and policy," says Mary Matalin, a Clinton-era Republican strategist. "Hats off to them substantively.

"They're really kind of giants in this world." ...

Nawww ... Hillary Clinton's good showing in the polls right now couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact that Republicans aren't attacking her and her husband right now, could it? (See also: Kristol, William, "Hillary Gets No Respect," New York Times, April 28, 2008; Limbaugh, Rush, Operation Chaos, ongoing performance-art installation, 2008). The treatment of Senator Clinton by the Republicans right now couldn't possibly just be a temporary ruse to sustain Democratic discord, could it? I'm sure it isn't that -- I'm sure it's perfectly sincere. I'm sure Republicans would talk about her exactly the same way if she became the nominee, because they've really developed a profound admiration for her and her husband. I'm sure the campaign would be conducted with more of the same words of respect. In fact, Republicans might just concede, right? They'd just sing her praises from now through November, because they love the Clintons, right?

Yeah, that's the way it is.