Of scandals and teacups

AS BILL CLINTON, leg in plaster, was trundled into the White House this week, a Republican rival tartly remarked that donations would soon be sought in exchange for permission to sign the cast. That is the trouble with the giant fundraising scandal that has preoccupied Washington since Mr Clinton returned to office. Sometimes it verges on farce. Much of the time, it looks like politics as usual. Occasionally there are glimmers of something nasty. But has anything really happened here that Americans should be alarmed by? And, if not, could they please get on with the business of balancing budgets and keeping an eye on the world?