North American solidarity

Oh my, I just love a hint of scandal. I especially like it when I am not a participant in the scandalous behavior, and then I can act all morally superior and not feel even slightly hypocritical.

And, while homegrown scandals are fun in their own right, it's when you get a scandal with potential international complications it really gets inspiring. The couple pictured to the right are, for example, already setting tongues a-wagging on both sides of the border. For Americans who might not be aware of whom the babe on the walkabout with Bill is, please let me enlighten.

Her name is Belinda Stronach. She is the gazillionaire hottie who, for a few brief minutes in the time of the universe was the 'resident hottie' of the Canadian Conservative Party. She, still wet behind her pretty little ears, even made a stab at the leadership of the party. She tanked. She then stamped her pretty little Gucci-shod foot and crossed over to join the Liberal Party, wherein she saw her bright future as resting. The Liberals were very excited. Now the high end (in a few respects) Belinda was their hottie. Alas, the Liberals got smoked at the last federal election, Belinda's decision to switch-hit just might not have served her so well in terms of her political future.

OK -- that's who she is.

And, we all know who Bill Clinton is. We even know a little bit about Bill's former problems with his zipper. The scandal is, however, that Belinda and Bill seem to be great pals. They have been pals for quite a while. If he's in Toronto, he and Belinda, it is reported, step out and break bread together. Just recently Belinda was in New York, and she and Bill linked up yet again.

New York (the state, not the city per se). Isn't that where Hillary does a job of work? Isn't that where Hillary has been honing her political creds? Isn't that where her late-night planning to run for the presidency on behalf of the Democratic Party next go-around is taking place?

Bill's suggested shenanigans with Belinda are taking place pretty close to her turf. Not quite as close as Monica in the White House, but you get the idea. Others have gotten the idea, too. It has become newsworthy, not just in scandal crap like the Daily News, but also the august New York Times has sent a good-sized team to follow the madcap kids around.

Of course, it could all be quite innocent -- of course, Bill said that about Monica for a time there, too -- and it could be we're being quite unfair about it all. I mean, I have female friends with whom I might break bread on occasion, yet it's all innocent. Innocent, I tell you! It might be just the same with Bill and Belinda.

The only thing is, Bill has a birthday coming up. If Belinda goes on stage in a white dress and, in breathless voice, scarcely above a whisper, croons "Happy birthday Mr. former President," then Hillary would be right to be left with a feeling that perhaps she should have worn Depends that night.