President Barack Hussein Obama (Scooter) and former President William Jefferson Clinton (Bubba) held an impromptu press conference after their private meeting Friday afternoon in which  Bubba endorsed Scooter’s proposed tax deal.

That’s not all that Clinton did.  As the late, great Paul Harvey used to say:

And now, you’re going to hear…the rest of the story.

Bubba grabbed ahold of that podium and wouldn’t let go, like he was snuggling with Monica.

A slack-jawed press corps watched as Bubba took a painfully slow Friday Afternoon and turned it into Elvis at the Las Vegas Hilton.

For a half-hour yesterday, it was like America rode in Prof. Emmett Brown’s DeLorean back to the 90s.  Clinton lectured about economics and nuclear arms.  He bit his lip and fielded questions flawlessly, like Elmer Gantry firing up a bunch of believers in a tent revival…and all without a teleprompter.

Here’s the way this slice of American History happened:  After their private meeting Friday Afternoon, Obama and Clinton decided that it would be a great idea to hold a presser. The only problem was, the door was locked to the briefing room. They couldn’t get in. The Press Staff were at their annual holiday party in the Executive Mansion.

Scooter went to a press aide and asked her if she knew how to open up the press room. White House Press Secretary Baghdad Bob Gibbs heard a familiar voice outside his office.  He came out and asked Obama and Clinton:

What are you guys up to?

They said:

We’re looking for some reporters.

And that’s how it happened. The reporters came running from their party, little knowing what was in store for them.

Scooter introduced Bubba as “the other guy” and lauded Clinton for his leadership through tough economic times in the 90s.  Then, Scooter explained that he wouldn’t be staying long — another White House Christmas party was waiting, as was his wife, Michelle (ma belle).

Apparently, for Obama,  Michelle’s wrath takes precedence over his subjects, errr, I mean the American public.

It was then that Bubba took over.

He said:

I feel awkward being here, and now you’re going to leave me all by myself.

Yeah, right.  About as awkward as a Mississippi hawk about to swoop down and grab a field mouse.

Bubba went on to detail the proposed plan, including Obama’s compromise on the wealthy’s tax rates:

There’s never a perfect bipartisan bill in the eyes of a partisan. But I really believe this will be a significant net-plus for the country.

At the end of what turned out to be his opening remarks, Bubba said:

So, for whatever it’s worth, that’s what I think.

Scooter chimed in, saying:

It’s worth a lot.

Bubba was asked what advice he had for Scooter, who is now in a similar situation to the one Clinton was in after the Midterms of 1994. Clinton said:

I have a general rule. Which is that whatever he asked me about my advice, and whatever I say should become public only if he decides to make it public.

Obama decided not to. Instead, he left, saying:

I’ve been keeping the First Lady waiting for about half an hour, so I’m going to take off.

Scooter then left the management of the Press Conference in the capable hands of Baghdad Bob Gibbs.

That was all the opening that Bubba needed.

Gibbs watched helplessly as the former president pontificated about subjects like credit markets, Haiti, principled compromise, and structural deficits.

Someone asked Bubba if he was happier being there as a guest than he was during his time as president.  He replied:

Oh, I had quite a good time governing.  I am happy to be here, I suppose, when the bullets that are fired are unlikely to hit me.

All Gibbs could manage to mumble when the show was done was:

It was as spontaneous as it could be.

Translation: I can’t believe that he just showed up Obama.

Heck, Bob.  It doesn’t take much.

I have seen Obama do a lot of less-than-presidential things in the past looong two years, but, this was remarkable.  Do he and his minions understand just what kind of message he sent yesterday afternoon?

To the people of America, he sent the message that a White House social event was more important than a discussion of the looming guillotine blade that is hanging over the heads of every single American taxpayer, scheduled to drop on January 1, 2011, unless we receive a reprieve by the representatives we elected to serve us.

To our enemies, he sent a message of weakness and immaturity.  Somewhere, in their dark, dank caves, our enemies are watching their satellite TVs, emboldened in the knowledge that this American President either can’t handle or chooses to not give the appropriate priority to, issues affecting the domestic well-being of his country.  The only thing barbarians understand is strength….and this president showed none of that by walking away from that press conference yesterday. 

Petulance, yes.  Strength, no.