A Clinton dynasty criticising Putin for circumventing the Russian constitution. How interesting!

Fred Keeling, Almunecar, Spain

There is an inherent weakness in the American political system. How, on earth can you explain otherwise the appalling fact that Bush was elected not once but twice! I have followed all the twists and turns of the present presidential campaign and if the southern states are going to make it a black vote for a black candidate they are committing political suicide at this moment in time. I ask myself who do I want to be the leader of the "free world" this time next year. It certainly is not the smooth-talking vacuous senator with two years experience. I trust the American electorate will see through this hollow candidate but, and it is this that really worries me at the present time, this is the electorate that voted Bush into office for eight years!

Tom 0'Reilly, DERBY, Derbyshire

i am over the Clintons.

they have too many skeletons in their closet!
too many secrets and too many lies that I cannot trust
her nor Bill's judgement.

I cannot trust her ability to bring this country together.

please let me know what her 35 years of experience is.
and no, i don't see being a first lady counts.

an independant here and if she is elected, I will not vote DEM. and i am not the only one!!

ann, grand junction, CO

Bill looks like he's drunk on the campaign stump. It is amazing and sad to see. His legacy is dying before my eyes. I am disgusted with the Clinton's and turn off the television everytime either one of them comes on which is too much. Everyone is feeling weird about how they have conducted their campaign of shamelessness. The problem is if she gets the nomination tens of thousands of people are not gonna vote for her including me. They are gonna have to beg Obama to run on the ticket with her because that is the only way the Democrats are going to win this year. They have completely turned off half off of the Democratic voters. It is unbelievable! And very sad. And the real funny part of it all is, he may say "Hell No!"

Sandy, Novato, CA

It was a petty, bitchy, sexist, weak comment by Obama, a rare slip of the mask of someone who reminds me of one T Blair: a brilliant populist, a master of the empty but statesmanlike soundbite. Americans should be careful when buying snakeoil.
It's depressing that America of all countries should have ended up mirroring Pakistan in its tendancy to select its presidents from a small dynastic elite. But I don't remember any of this anti dynastic bile being directed at George W Bush, whose woeful and evident lack of intellect or spine surely made him one of the least qualified sons of a President ever to succeed. Hilary, in contrast, is at least a tested proven character, like her or not. It seems to me that most of those now discovering a dislike of the dynastic/elitist nature of US presidential politics have done so purely because of their dislike of her - a dislike not to be detatched from the fact she is a woman.

Anne, London, UK

As a Brit, I am fascinated by this election because there is so much more than America at stake after the disasterous Bush administration.

Barack Obama may inspire audiences with 'hope', but is he the man who can conceive, execute and deliver the plans that will bring substance and reality to an ideal? A demoralised America may look to him for 'change', but in reality, it looks as if his feet are made of clay.

Hillary Clinton may not have the rhetoric to inspire - precisely because she knows it takes more than words to get the job done. Bill Clinton may be treading on a few toes and ruffling a few feathers during this campaign, but he knows how much there is at stake.

The Republicans must be desperate for Obama to get the nomination - he would be an easy target. If he's found the last few days up against the Clintons tough, he ought to be asking himself if he's the right man for the job.

I wish I could vote, I know Hillary is the right candidate for the problems ahead.

Melanie, Bagshot, UK

If Obama can't stand up to the fairly tame criticisms he is receiving from the Clintons, how will he deal with the Republican sleaze machine that will hit him if he wins the nomination? The idea that Republicans will "unite" under his noble leadership is pure naivete - at least Hillary is living in the real world, and one thing we don't need is another president who can't tell fact from fantasy.

Joe, Detroit, Michigan

It really suprizes me when i see so many more shots being thrown at Hillary than anybody else and it makes me wonder why we are so fasinated in attacking the so called "status quo". It's time people realize we are electing the person who is best fit for the job, and weather Hillary has more flaws than Obama dose in running her campaine, it doesn't matter because she is still the better choice.

Amit Dow, San Francisco, California

More interesting is that this mud fight has made an opening for John Edwards, who is finally gaining attention for his wits and apparent sincerity rather than his haircut. I think Hillary is the best qualified to lead from "day 1," as she says, but her smiling snarkiness is very unattractive (note to Hillary: watch West Wing's CJ Craig and then practice in the mirror). Send Bill abroad to mend fences. Honestly, I'll happily take any of the top three Dems over 4 more years of Republican arrogance. I wish Obama had taken a few more years of policy-making and committee experience under belt...his time will come, if not now, later.

rbm, Columbia, SC, USA

The sight of Bill being Hillary's attack dog is pathetic.
We just don't need Bill in the White House again.

Bruce L. Northwood, Washington, D.C., USA

There will always be something to be said against women in leadership positions. Our perception of this will not change until the numbers of women and men in leadership positions are more equal. I congratulate Ms. Clinton for her courage to do what she is doing, and I sincerely hope that more women will follow on her footsteps.

Anne, LA, USA

It's a pity the Clintons will happily sacrifice their own party in their desperate attempt to regain power. Hillary is arguably the most divisive (and corrupt) woman the US has ever known and will end all respect for females in high office. The Clintons, once tolerable, are now old Toxic to our country.

Lauren, San Francisco, Ca

The fish-slapping contest between Clinton and Obama is nothing compared to one to come between the Republican nominee and the Democrat when the real contest gets going. With everything to play for that will be down and dirty!

The Repunblicans will stoke fears about the return of the Clintons - will Monica endorse Hilary? - and will play the race card if Obama should become the nomineee, however unlikely that seems at present..

The Democrats will have an easy target in the incompetence and corruption that surrounds the present Administration. McCain, if he is the nominee, will undoubtedly shoot himself in the foot a few times as well.

Ten more months of the Greatest Show on Earth! Barnum and bailey would've loved it.

oldasiahand, Guildford, UK

The main problem here is, (if the present state of things within the Democratic Party continues unabated), after the nomination is worn, what is going to remain of the Party!

Ade, Leeds,

"....Dear God the thought of the Clinton's in the white house again makes me cringe. Everyone may dislike Bush and his policies and that is their right, but we don't need another run around with that crowd. I happen to like my country's capitalism, and dislike socialism. I am afraid that Hillary and her husband would try to turn our country toward . We need a person with intelligence and foresight to fix real problems, not make them worse. For me, I quote the stickers still seen on some NY plates "Go Home Hillary!"

Christie Cali, Richmond, Virginia, USA..."


What utter nonsense.

Regardless of other issues, Clinton's presidency was highly successful for its running of the economy and raising of prosperity levels in the US. So, whatever else you want to call the Clintons to call them "Socialists" is laughable and smacks of ignorance of reality..

Rick, London,

Pres. Bill Clinton has continued to demean the office of the presidency. As many of us in "fly-over" country (the mid-west) think: who will actually be the president if Hillary wins? I'm all for having a female president; just not Hillary

Andrea Abbott, Davenport, Iowa USA

''It was this fear of the monarchical tendency that persuaded Americans more than 50 years ago to limit presidents to two terms in office.'' - Shame that was, as that paved way for 'president bush' ( note the small case letters) the clown, to lead not just the great nation of American but the free World.

Face it, the Republicans haven't got a chance in hell and it's only a matter of WHEN not IF for Democrats return to the White House. I wish there are other 'better' Democrats candidates, but of f the two we are presented with, Hilary and Obama, anyone with iota of sense will DARE NOT contemplate the latter.

No disrespect to Mr Obama, a fine Senator and a very bright prospect for the future, BUT NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR ROOKIES!!

Robert King-Sarfo, London, UK

Dear God the thought of the Clinton's in the white house again makes me cringe. Everyone may dislike Bush and his policies and that is their right, but we don't need another run around with that crowd. I happen to like my country's capitalism, and dislike socialism. I am afraid that Hillary and her husband would try to turn our country toward . We need a person with intelligence and foresight to fix real problems, not make them worse. For me, I quote the stickers still seen on some NY plates "Go Home Hillary!"

Christie Cali, Richmond, Virginia, USA

As someone who was living in Washington DC during the Clinton and first Bush terms in office, I agree that the Democrats ought to look closely at an alternative to both Obama and Clinton, I don't think the Americans are ready for eitheer a Black/mixed race or Woman in the White House and will likely vote for the Republican candidate irregardless of who it is, It is time for the Democrat Party to review the candidates currently running for the President's job and perhaps they should put their backing wholly into an electable candidate - Bill Richardson, John Edwards come to mind!

Chips Westwood, Sarlat La Caneda, France

Ray Gurnee, do you have a middle name? What's in a name and what is your game? Hussein -- what is that to you?? I hope can respect others and yourself sometime soon.

FMcB, NYC,

I think the Obama campaign should bring this to the attention of the American people. These frenetic efforts from the Clinton couple to restore their dynasty into the White House certainly is not consistent with Hillary pledging she is a candidate for change. With her as president will have the same situation as in the 1990s. Only the formal roles of the two are shifted.

As to the Rezko connection: What about Whitewater?

Bernt Evensen, Stavanger, Norway

There's one firm belief of mine since before even this election cycle started in ernest and that's that the candidate to support in 2008 is simply "ABC", Anyone But Clinton.

They must never again get the keys to the White House.

Stan(expat), US, USA

As a conservative, I would love to see Hillary get the Democratic nomination. There is a deep mistrust of her in the American public, especially within the Mid-Western states. The Republicans lack unity right now. If Hillary/The Clintons get the Democratic nomination I believe the Republicans and Independents will unite to keep her out of office.

Jeff, Denver, CO

You can see the remarks here from people insinuating about Obama's name without actually saying anything.

You see the sort of cockroaches Bill Clinton has brought into the house with him? Maybe you can say they would have gotten in anyway, but here we have a former president of our own party who has brought them in, simply because he resents losing power for himself and his wife.

Christopher Hobe Morrison, Pine Bush, Ulster County, NY, USA

Bill is the only one who can put B. Hussein in a bad light. The US liberal press hides much from the public. A key financial backer goes on trial next month for questionable real estate deals. He entered into one that was very profitable to Obama about three years ago. Does our correspondent report on this sort of thing?

Ray, Gurnee, il.

This is an insightful article. I really believe that the Republicans will have a field day attacking the Clintons if Hillary Clinton is the nominee. So many Democrats have forgotten just how tired other Democrats and Independents were of all those Clinton scandals. "Clinton Fatigue" is the syndrome that caused Gore's defeat. With Obama, the Democrats would have a fighting chance to win the Presidency. But many of the Obama supporters (myself included) will never support the Clinton Dynastic return.

Jane Thomas, Shepherdstown , WV

Excellent article and factually true. Ive heard many people admit they are voting for Hillary just to get Bill back into the white house.Its the most astounding thing Ive ever heard. I pity the vice president or secretary of state in a Hillary administration. They will be nothing more than mere tokens as Bill will be the number 2 or maybe number 1 in her administration. And no doubt it will bring back the same bitterness and rancor that was a hallmark of Bill Clintons years as president. But i dont see any one stopping her. Obama is just too politically immature to put up a strong fight. And John Edwards is done. So world get ready for Clinton 2 playing in your Washington theater.

Al, Cburg, USA

Gerard Baker is right. Sadly, the truth is that Americans have a grudging respect for the street-brawlers from Arkansas. They are the classic "bad couple", simultaneously hated yet admired for their naked ambition and total lack of shame. Well, America, you deserve what you vote for.

Sinisa, Hamilton, Bermuda

What a shame Dubbya can't stand for re-election. I am going to miss his stand up comedy routine.

Jeremy, sydney, australia

The last person we need is Hilary Clinton. When investigations were being conducted about White Water, it was Hilary Clinton. When the booking hours for law work was being investigated it was Hilary Clinton. The problem with the travel office within the White House can be traced to Hilary Clinton. The Litany goes on and on and on. The last person we need is Hilary Clinton.

G Rollison, Fort Washington, USA, Maryland

Clinton is very smart, sure the most intelligent president of USA since Abraham Lincoln. What's the problem than he helps his wife ? The problem is Barack Youseff Obama.-

Joseph Marie Pena Puig, Buenos Aires, Argentina

What tosh. Hillary is just what America needs right now.

Duncan, London, England

Thanks for speaking out on this Gerard! It's been deeply disturbing to me to see Barack attacked with lies and distortions that you would typically expect to see from the Republican right.

I hope Democratic primary voters have the wisdom to choose a candidate that the whole country can get behind, instead of going for a Clinton redux, which as you point out, only looks good by comparison with 7 disastrous years of Bush II.

Mark, Berkeley, California

Excellent!!!!!... Couldn't agree more!

Alex, Los Angeles, CA