Background information for our friends who don't live in the USA:  Earlier this week, former President Bill Clinton released a book about his life and his presidency.  It is nearly 1000 pages that (supposedly -I haven't read it yet) gives many intimate details about his life and times.

Since President Clinton has a new book, he has been spending a lot of time on various interview shows promoting (talking about something so people will buy) his new book.

President Clinton's interview on "60 Minutes" last weekend was "appointment TV" for me.  Clinton had a lot to say about a variety of topics.  Watching the interview was a good way to spend an hour.  Even if he may seem a bit "prepared" with some of his answers, I felt as if he came off as being pretty genuine with his answers.  (* See below.)

Since the "60 Minutes" interview, Clinton has been "all over the place" on television.  Each time I've seen him in an interview, he always has something different to say.  I think the promotion of his book has been really effective.

Last night, I caught Clinton on Charlie Rose. (I think that's his name.  It was on public television...)  I thought that Clinton came off pretty well.  It sort of played out like "psychotherapy with the former president."  The interviewer seemed to have gotten the president on a "stream of consciousness" a few times.  (Every once-in-a-while the President would visibly snap back into "prepared answer" mode.)  Kudos to Charlie Rose (if that indeed is his name...) for what he got!

I really like Clinton's point about making the people and the issues that he dealt with into "three dimensional beings."  It illustrates that whatever you wish to accomplish (or prevent,) there are always consequences, obstacles and (occasionally) unexpected results.

It is a rare opportunity for us (in the US) to watch these interviews on television and read the new book. Former presidents have a unique perspective that are fascinating to hear about. I am interested to hear Clinton describe the opposing forces that were at work related to his various undertakings.

(Another interesting interview subject along these same lines is Mikhail Gorbachev.  He was around during a REALLY interesting time, and he has a really unique perspective too.)

I haven't bought the book yet, but I plan to buy it and read it as soon as I am done wrapping things up for this school year.  That'll be next week.  Maybe I will pick it up on the same day that the new CD by Rush comes out (next Tuesday.)

*I believe Clinton's answer about his failed attempt to smoke marijuana.  Smoking takes practice, and if he was new at it, it certainly isn't inconceivable that he wouldn't know how to inhale properly.  Of course the smoking dope issue is a bit tame in comparison to snorting cocaine and drunken-driving now, isn't it? I doubt people care about that anymore anyway.