Commenting on the ex-president's surgery this week, the Newsweek scribe added: "Everybody wishes him well. He's almost reached the beloved stage."

Writing on Newsweek's Web site two days later, Fineman still sounded like the president of the Bill Clinton Fan Club.

"I imagine it’s tough, even for Clinton’s enemies, to hate the guy anymore," said Newsweek's top political reporter, apparently without consulting Paula Jones, Kathleen Willey or Juanita Broaddrick.

"The sense exists, perhaps grows more vivid, that Bill Clinton somehow embodies us all," he insisted.

Despite the ex-president's terrible record on terrorism, the Newsweeker suggested that President Bush might consider "turning over Middle East diplomatic portfolio to him." Clinton, said Fineman, "knows the history, indeed he has helped shape it."

Of the recent thaw between the Bush family and Mr. Clinton, he posits:

"Who knows? By 2009 the Bushes and Clintons could be together at the White House again - with Hillary as hostess."

Editor's note: