Lewinsky's Hillary Favor

Maybe, although a more compelling reason may have come with the release a few months ago of notes by the late Diane Blair, Hillary Clinton's closest friend, in which she quotes the then-first lady describing Lewinsky as a "narcissistic loony toon."

Lewinsky's response? "Yes, I get it. Hillary Clinton wanted it on record that she was lashing out at her husband's mistress," Lewinsky writes. "She may have faulted her husband for being inappropriate, but I find her impulse to blame the Woman -- not only me, but herself -- troubling."

Lewinsky says it's time to stop "tiptoeing around my past -- and other people's futures." Other people? Hmmm, wonder who that might be. Here, though, is why her going public is good for Hillary 2016:

The Lewinsky affair never really came up in 2008; the subject was too raw and too fraught, and Hillary did not make it to the ugliness of a general election campaign. It's clear, though, that the subject will not be taboo in 2016. Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul has already raised the question of whether Democrats in general and Hillary Clinton in particular should consort with a "sexual predator" like Bill Clinton.

And Lewinsky's account makes clear that her affair with the president was between two consenting adults. "Sure, my boss took advantage of me, but I will always remain firm on this point: it was a consensual relationship," she writes. "Any 'abuse' came in the aftermath, when I was made a scapegoat in order to protect his powerful position."

So her piece defuses the Rand Paul sexual predator line of attack. And it does so before any Clinton presidential announcement.

If and when a Hillary presidential announcement comes, Lewinsky will be old news. "It's time to burn the beret and bury the blue dress," Lewinsky writes. That would be good news for both women.

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Ruth Marcus' email address is ruthmarcus@washpost.com.