Will There Be a Job For Hillary?
Now that the jubilation of the Democratic Party convention in Denver has peaked with Barak Obama's acceptance of the party's nomination, the question arises of what to do with Hillary Clinton.
Defeated for the nomination and ignored for the Vice Presidency, how can she be best used by the Democrats in a future Obama administration?Or indeed is there a substantial role for her inside an Obama cabinet? Hillary of course is not a pawn on a chess board to be moved around at will.
Despite her loss she is an immensely powerful political figure in her own right with a strong grip on her New York senate seat and membership of powerful senate committees.
Unlike many other candidates, her campaign has not left her in political limbo.
She could run again for President with a strong chance of victory if Barak Obama fails in his campaign or even if he succeeds and serves two full terms.
The risk for her in such a scenario is that time will pass her by as new faces emerge.
She would undoubtedly become a stalwart of the senate and a Democratic Party icon, not unlike Ted Kennedy, but would never rise again to successfully reach for the main prize, the US Presidency.
That achievement in itself would be no mean feat and would represent a significant political career.
But would it be enough for Hillary? With this in mind would she accept a role offered by Obama?I doubt if she would.
Undoubtedly she would make a fine Secretary of State, but she wouldn't be the first woman, only the third, so there would seem little chance she would demean herself to accept that role when she can happily interrogate an incumbent in a Senate sub committee.
To me the only role in a future Obama administration that might appeal is Secretary of Defence.
And not only because she would be the first female to head that department but also she would have responsibility for the military in a time of war in Afghanistan, the disentanglement from George Bush's Iraq misadventure and the ongoing management of the worldwide fight against the terrorist threat.
As vital as this role will be in the next administration, I'm not sure Obama will offer Hillary that or any other job in his administration or that she would accept it or anything else for that matter.
The only other role that might intrigue a defeated Presidential candidate with an outstanding resume, is an appointment to the US Supreme Court.
While this would be a high profile vindication of her talents, such an appointment would remove Hillary from the main game of Washington politics.
It seems unlikely that she could ever again contemplate a run for President from such an arcane institutional base.
Still, who knows?She might be tempted if the offer were to be made.
After all it would cement her place in US history quite apart that is from her current significant achievements.
For Hillary, I have no doubt, her achievements to date, for right or wrong, still smack of her husband's influence.
She needs to be vindicated as a historical figure in her own right.
If Barak Obama goes on to win the Presidential election in November the future career of Hillary Clinton may be one of the most interesting developments to watch.
Defeated for the nomination and ignored for the Vice Presidency, how can she be best used by the Democrats in a future Obama administration?Or indeed is there a substantial role for her inside an Obama cabinet? Hillary of course is not a pawn on a chess board to be moved around at will.
Despite her loss she is an immensely powerful political figure in her own right with a strong grip on her New York senate seat and membership of powerful senate committees.
Unlike many other candidates, her campaign has not left her in political limbo.
She could run again for President with a strong chance of victory if Barak Obama fails in his campaign or even if he succeeds and serves two full terms.
The risk for her in such a scenario is that time will pass her by as new faces emerge.
She would undoubtedly become a stalwart of the senate and a Democratic Party icon, not unlike Ted Kennedy, but would never rise again to successfully reach for the main prize, the US Presidency.
That achievement in itself would be no mean feat and would represent a significant political career.
But would it be enough for Hillary? With this in mind would she accept a role offered by Obama?I doubt if she would.
Undoubtedly she would make a fine Secretary of State, but she wouldn't be the first woman, only the third, so there would seem little chance she would demean herself to accept that role when she can happily interrogate an incumbent in a Senate sub committee.
To me the only role in a future Obama administration that might appeal is Secretary of Defence.
And not only because she would be the first female to head that department but also she would have responsibility for the military in a time of war in Afghanistan, the disentanglement from George Bush's Iraq misadventure and the ongoing management of the worldwide fight against the terrorist threat.
As vital as this role will be in the next administration, I'm not sure Obama will offer Hillary that or any other job in his administration or that she would accept it or anything else for that matter.
The only other role that might intrigue a defeated Presidential candidate with an outstanding resume, is an appointment to the US Supreme Court.
While this would be a high profile vindication of her talents, such an appointment would remove Hillary from the main game of Washington politics.
It seems unlikely that she could ever again contemplate a run for President from such an arcane institutional base.
Still, who knows?She might be tempted if the offer were to be made.
After all it would cement her place in US history quite apart that is from her current significant achievements.
For Hillary, I have no doubt, her achievements to date, for right or wrong, still smack of her husband's influence.
She needs to be vindicated as a historical figure in her own right.
If Barak Obama goes on to win the Presidential election in November the future career of Hillary Clinton may be one of the most interesting developments to watch.
