Bill Clinton. What Happened..?

Remember how the Clintons blew their long-held cred with those of us the media flatters by labeling 'progressives' during the 2008 election? It's a sucky thing to remember how they crushed our dreams... Throughout that long, dark night of Bush power, we'd missed Bubba and even dreamed of Hillary for prez. And then it all went turd-shaped when they actually began campaigning.

Man, those Clintons were lying and clawing their way toward the goal like Republicans. WTF? Where did Ma n' Pa Macchieveli come from? What happened to happy-go-lucky, sax-playin', chubby-chasin' Bill with all his laptops for kids, budget surpluses and universal healthcare plans?

And I guess there were many who felt the same. Including Liberal Grand Pu Bah Ted Kennedy. As Ben Smith at Politico says:

"One of the enduring mysteries of the 2008 campaign was what got Ted Kennedy so mad at Bill Clinton. The former president's entreaties, at some point, backfired, and the explanation has never quite emerged."

But an explanation is now at hand - at least according to John Heliemann and Mark Halperin in their new book "Game Change":

"The day after Iowa, [Bill Clinton] phoned Kennedy and pressed for an endorsement, making the case for his wife. But Bill then went on, belittling Obama in a manner that deeply offended Kennedy. Recounting the conversation later to a friend, Teddy fumed that Clinton had said, "A few years ago, this guy would have been getting us coffee.""

Ouch. If true, America's second black president must be pretty pissed with America's first black president round about now.