If Bill goes to the UN, Hillary will have to forget about White House

THE Clintons - they haven’t gone away, you know. This week, Bill made yet another visit to Ireland. Last Friday he was in the Vatican, reporting on his work to promote international solidarity with victims of the tsunami.

And next year? That’s when Kofi Annan steps down as secretary general of the United Nations. The word is that Bill wants to succeed him.

It could make sense. For Bill, at any rate. He’s 58 and in relatively good health despite his recent bypass surgery. Globetrotting suits him. The adoring crowds would still turn out to greet him in his new UN role. And although he would miss the pay cheques (he currently makes up to a hundred grand on a single speech), he surely misses the big stage.