Wednesday, Rupert Murdoch's New York Post announced its endorsement of Barack Obama in the presidential election, complete with a stinging screed against the Clintons. But wait, hadn't they all made nice recently? While Murdoch's rag skewered the pair throughout their White House years, referring to Bill as the "horndog-in-chief," and it was no kinder to Hillary in her early Senate days, Rupe and the Clintons reached a much publicized détente a few years back. Murdoch went on to host a campaign fundraiser for Hillary's senate reelection in 2006 and became increasingly involved in the Clinton Global Initiative and efforts to combat global warming. But with yesterday's Obama endorsement, those Hillary/Murdoch '08 jokes don't play. What happened to this less-than-beautiful political odd coupling?

A look back at the Clinton-Murdoch relationship since the beginning of the century ...

2000
• During Hillary's senate campaign, liberal journalist Michael Tomasky tallies 212 "negative" stories about her in the Post, against a seven "positive" and 17 "neutral" stories.

• One Post editorial warns that "to vote for Hillary Rodham Clinton is to affirm double-dealing and deception." (Makes yesterday's endorsement read like a reprint.)

2002
• After being trashed by Rupert's rags for years, Bill Clinton meets Murdoch for the first time, as arranged by News Corp. EVP Gary Ginsberg. Rupe immediately falls prey to Bill's charms, finding himself weak in the old Aussie knees.

• Hillary and Rupe enjoy a cordial lunch together in the midtown News Corp. building. (Getting to know you, getting to know all about you...)

2003
• Bill Clinton tours the Post newsroom and dines solo with Rupert.

• Bubba delivers a recorded tribute at the birthday of Fox News' Roger Ailes.

2004
• News Corp. and the Clintons bond in a battle against Nielsen over how TV watchers are counted (enemies against the bigger enemy that is Nielsen and low ad revenues).

2005
• The New York Observer reports on a burgeoning détente between Hillary and Rupert. They speak fondly of each other through mouthpieces. "Senator Clinton respects him and thinks he is smart and effective," says a Clinton spokesman. "Rupert has respect for her political skills and for the hard work that she's done as a senator," says a Murdoch spokeman.

• Post editor Richard Johnson needs a quick passport to get to a P. Diddy party in Saint-Tropez and calls Senator Hillary Clinton for a favor. (It's times likes these when it's really helpful to have a senator in your pocket.) Hillary records her favor in a special diary, saves it for a day when Page Six has an item on Bill's latest shenanigans ... or an upcoming tell-all book about her.

• Edward Klein's tell-all, The Truth About Hillary, comes out. Rather than play up the juicy bits in typical Page Six fashion, the Post works with Hillary's people on a story against Klein.

• Bill Clinton includes Murdoch on his list of 14 "distinguished attendees" at the first annual meeting for the Clinton Global Initiative.

2006
• Rupert announces a growing involvement with Bill's Global Initiative. Likely successor son James spearheads a carbon neutral policy for News Corp.

• Hillary attends a Washington party celebrating the 10th anniversary of Fox News. Many people are very confused.

• Rupert announces that he will host a campaign fund-raiser for Hillary. More people more confused; many outraged. WaPo columnist Richard Cohen says, "Hillary, help us. Who the hell are you?" of her fraternization with the vast right-wing conspiracy.

• Hillary defends her cuddle party with Murdoch, saying, "He's my constituent and I'm very gratified that he thinks I'm doing a good job."

• The Observer reports that Page Six items unfavorable to the Clintons were killed. A former Sixer says Hillary Clinton was "fellated in print" to earn Murdoch favors. (Can a lady really be fellated?)

• Murdoch hosts a fund-raising breakfast for Hillary in News Corp.'s midtown tower. Fox News' Roger Ailes and Post editor Col Allen attend. The event raises $60,000 for Hillary's senate campaign.

• Rupe attends the second annual Global Initiative annual meeting, crusades against global warming, and donates $500,000

2007
• John Edwards refuses to participate in a Fox-sponsored debate, and Obama and Hillary begrudgingly follow suit.

• Rupe gives $2,300 to Hillary's presidential bid. A few weeks later, Murdoch spawn James gives $3,400.

• Murdoch attends the third annual meeting of Bill Clinton's Global Initiative, and deftly dodges questions about political partisanship in media.

2008
• The Post catches Bill Clinton falling asleep during an MLK Day event and chides him on Page Six.

• The Post (not exactly from left field but not super-obviously, either) endorses Obama for president and in the process takes assorted jabs at the Clintons.