Yesterday, the Huffington Post reported that Bill Clinton was "severing" his ties with his longtime BFF, noted modelizer Ron Burkle. Today, the Wall Street Journal follows up with a quote from a Clinton spokesperson, who denied the former president was "severing" relationships but did say he "is taking steps to ensure that should [Mrs. Clinton] receive the nomination, there will be an appropriate transition for those relationships." Which if you ask us is just a fancy way of saying, "It's not you, it's me." Burkle and Clinton have rolled together since 1992; they met when Clinton was touring Los Angeles during the riots. Fifteen years of nonstop romance followed: weekends at Burkle's estate Green Acres; vacations in Paris with Burkle and Steve Bing; trips around the world on Burkle's jet, or Jeffrey Epstein's; oooh the flossy floss-ay, as Fergie would say. Good times! But Clinton has also been a longtime partner in Burkle's Yucaipa company, which has been caught in a number of awkward positions this year, including that whole mess with Raffaello Follieri, and frankly, the Clinton campaign doesn't need that kind of publicity. But is breaking up with Burkle really doing Hillary such a big favor? Her public image is already, let's face it, that of a shrew; now she's a shrew who makes her husband get rid of his fun friends. Great. Which member of the Clinton Perv Posse will be crossed off the Christmas-card list next? We're looking at you, Doug Band. Y'all go on without Bill, mmmkay?

Bill Clinton May Curb Ties to Burkle's Firm [WSJ]
Protecting Hillary: Clinton Severs Ties With Billionaire Buddy Burkle [HuffPo]