Swallowing his disappointment over the abandonment of his legacy by Barack Obama, not to mention the repudiation of his leadership throughout his presidency by the Democratic Party, Bill Clinton launched himself into the campaign to recall Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

I’m sure, as Mitt Romney, Artur Davis and Jay Cost have implied, that Clinton hates this chore. He will probably spend his time in the Badger State privately wishing he wasn’t carry the water for a party that has lurched massively into socialism since he left office (where its heart was for decades even before that). He may even send a text message or two to Scott Walker wishing him well on his “reform” agenda and assuring him it’s “nothing personal.” It’s a real shame that Bill and Hillary Clinton must rely on Republicans to fight for their legacy.

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Ed Kilgore is a political columnist for New York Magazine; a longtime contributor to the Washington Monthly; and a former policy adviser to three governors and a U.S. senator from his home state of Georgia.