I’d like to tell you that this doesn’t qualify as news beyond the confines of the Clinton family but the recent Jeb boomlet reminds us that America is sliding further towards monarchy as a symptom of late-stage imperial decadence. Looks like we’re on track for eight more years of a Clinton or Bush, then possibly a reprise of Michelle Obama, followed perhaps by a term or two of Biden. Then we’ll be ready for Bush/Clinton III between George P. and Chelsea (who’s now open to running for office, don’tcha know), and after that the law of averages suggests that the Kennedys will have once again produced a political talent who isn’t a total embarrassment.

George P. Bush had his first son last year, by the way. I figure it’s destiny that his kid and Chelsea’s kid will end up married or running against each other in 2068. Or both.

“Mark and I are very excited that we have our first child arriving later this year, and I certainly feel all the better whether it’s a girl or a boy that she or he will grow up in a world full of so many strong young female leaders,” [Chelsea Clinton] said. “So thank you for inspiring me and inspiring future generations including the one that we’ll be lucky enough to welcome into our family later this year.”

Clinton insiders have said a Chelsea pregnancy is the “big wildcard” for whether Hillary Clinton will pull the trigger on a 2016 presidential campaign.

The daughter of former President Bill Clinton and former First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has been in public life for more than 30 years, nodded to her parents as role models for her own parenting. “I just hope that I will be as good a mom to my child and hopefully children as my mother was to me,” she said.

She told a magazine last year that she wanted to have a baby this year, and now here we are. Congrats to the mom-to-be and her family. Maybe having a little one around to dote on will convince Billary to take retirement earlier than expected? Or will this be more of a “we can turn Chelsea’s old room in the White House into a nursery!” sort of thing?

Incidentally, grandma’s favorable rating is currently lower than it’s been in six years. Via the IRJ, here’s HuffPo reporter Sam Stein trying and failing to find something impressive on her resume that would justify handing her the presidency.