"We're still very fond of Sidney and very appreciative of his talents and deeply want him to continue to have a relationship with Salon," Talbot said.

But he did note that "people at Salon" initiated the departure discussions a month ago.

That would be around the time Blumenthal offered a behind-the-scenes account of President Bush's arrival at the opening of President Clinton's presidential library in Little Rock:

"Bush appeared distracted, and glanced repeatedly at his watch," the former Hillary-aide reported. "When he stopped to gaze at the river, where secret service agents were stationed in boats, the guide said: 'Usually, you might see some bass fishermen out there.'

"Bush replied [according to Blumenthal's unnamed sources]: 'A submarine could take this place out.'"

The supposed comments prompted the Saloner to wonder feverishly:

"Was the president warning of an al-Qaida submarine? . . . Or was this a wishful paranoid fantasy of ubiquitous terrorism destroying Clinton's legacy with one blow?"

Blumenthal will continue writing a column for London's Guardian newspaper which will also appear on Salon. He also may have more time to work on a Hillary 2008 race.

Editor's note: