WASHINGTON -- The adage about these being "the best of times and the worst of times" could not be truer as we await the second inauguration on Thursday of President George W. Bush. We read in the papers about the destruction of wonderful coastal villages and towns in Asia together with a mind-shattering loss of lives by a series of tsunamis. Then we read moronic nonsense of how the Democrats in Congress attempted to derail the electoral results in Ohio and deny Bush the presidency using a 1877 ruling. On the positive side, Hillary Clinton displayed her nature by pretending to believe that there were "legitimate questions about the accuracy and integrity of the election." Having received some publicity, Bill Clinton's wife then pulled a John Kerry. She went into reverse and voted positively for the president. Let's hope that "accuracy and integrity" were in the forefront of Hillary's mind when the indictment of her campaign finance manager, David Rosen, was announced -- for fixing contributions to her Senate race. Then, on the darkest side, we turn the pages to Iraq and see more and more American casualties and increasing threats against our forces by Saddam's renegades. Joining those heaping contempt on our president, John Kerry took himself to Baghdad. There he confined himself to spewing out trash about the "horrendous judgments" and "unbelievable blunders" made by our commander-in-chief. But, when you use words like "horrendous" and "blunders," some of us became fixated on two former blossoms of the Democrats, just beginning to go to seed. Adjuncts to the Clinton family, they are daughter Chelsea, 23 this year, and the former president's (for a short time) dearest friend, Monica Lewinsky, just past the big 30. First girls While Mother Clinton was wailing about electoral fraud and her financial manager's indictment and Bill was raising money for tsunami charities, Monica and Chelsea were loose in Manhattan, "together" at 29-35 9th Avenue, once the meatpacking center of New York. No, they were not looking for a union card from the packers, but relaxing at opposite ends of a very private club, the Soho House. This very expensive and exclusive club was opened by a giggle of Brits from London in 2003; membership costs are at least $1,000 a year. This entitles high society members to a restaurant, bars, a cinema, a heated roof top swimming pool and a spa. There also are 24 luxury bedrooms called ""playgrounds," "playrooms" or "playpens" available from $250 and up. Soho House has a sister-club in London, whose license renewal called for regular hand-bag searches and a bathroom patrol. However, we can feel sure neither Monica nor Chelsea would frequent what was once called a "fire and brimstone" place, should such an establishment still exist in New York City. Liberals regroup But, considering some of the horrendous happenings in our world, it is not surprising that the Democratic Party is seeking new policies. By now they should know that they lost the 2004 election and that they will never gain control of the White House or control of the Congress until they change. Democrats want to believe their loss was because they supported liberal moral values in areas of social life such as race, immigration, trade and welfare. There is no discussion. Some younger, smarter Dems are placing the blame squarely on Bill Clinton's "third way" and his approach to merging liberalism with some conservative ideas. It was enough to win Clinton two terms, with Democrats adopting the "third way" as their own. In every election, Clinton was most concerned about his own personal fortune to the detriment of the party -- when he won -- the party controlled the Congress and a majority of governorships. By the time he was defeated, the Democratic Party had nothing. Suddenly, the Democratic Party is realizing that the Clinton presidency was not an unqualified success and that it is time to retire his concepts from public display. Many Democrats are clinging to the Clintons -- if not Bill then Hillary. But Al Gore, John Kerry and all the candidates who were part of the Clinton regime and ran in 2004 were defeated. Clintonisms and his associated skills cannot be passed on. Suddenly, people are asking what the Clinton beliefs were and are. They won't admit it, but it is just two words -- getting elected. As President Bush is inaugurated for a second term this week, we should remember that there are principles and policies in government other than Clinton's belief that it is better to be "wrong and strong" than "right and weak." It is time for a Clinton retirement plan. Dateline D.C. is written by a Washington-based British journalist and political observer. Additional Information:

Coming Sunday

The 'Rathergate' fiasco: CBS vs. us! Read about it in Sunday's 'Dateline D.C.' column, a Tribune-Review exclusive.

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