The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

p> YOU PAY, YOU LOSE br> Ex-President Bill Clinton couldn't have been happy with the thumping his party took on November 5. But he certainly didn't take it as hard as many of his Democratic colleagues who were fighting for their jobs. To be sure, Clinton campaigned for many Democrats, but on his terms. /p>

Now that the election is over, some of Clinton's travels are coming to light. Take Hawaii, normally not a state where national figures venture given the costs and risk entailed in appearing in a distant locale that above all evokes luxury vacations, boondoggles and the like. But Hawaii had a tight gubernatorial race going, with Republican former Maui Mayor Linda Lingle running neck and neck with Democratic Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono. This left the Hawaii Government Employees Association worried that their traditionally Democratic state was shifting. So they invited Clinton to rally the troops. The HGEA covered all of the expenses for Clinton and his entourage.

"It was classic Clinton," says a DNC staffer. "He hit Honolulu, did his usual shtick and then bolted."

In all, HGEA staffers estimate that Clinton campaigned for Democrats for about four hours, while he played better than a day's worth of golf, also on the HGEA's dime. What bang did it get for its buck? Republican Lingle beat Democrat Hirono by five percentage points.

p> FRIST IN FINANCE br> Some in the Senate were surprised that Sen. Bill Frist , coming off one of the great political success in recent memory, would walk away from his post as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. But Frist has his eye on bigger prizes, and after playing a pivotal role in the GOP's retaking of the Senate, he's looking to tackle policy. /p>

topics:
Health Care, Bill Clinton, NATO