A new book out by David Plouffe, Obama’s former campaign manager, claims that Hillary did not get the V.P. nod because of concerns by Obama that “there would be more than two of us in the relationship.” The “two of us” including Bill Clinton, of course.
If I were Hillary, I would be giving Bill a big hug right about now. Or at least a pat on the shoulder.
Now, instead of being embroiled in the Democrat’s lose-lose health care mess (a debacle that she no doubt would have been smack dab in the middle of as Vice President or as a senator), she has mostly been isolated from the political misfortunes of the Democrats.
Those political misfortunes could very well cost the Democrats dearly in 2010 and could force Obama out in 2012 unless he is able to recover quickly. If Hillary can make it through the next few years without any major foreign policy blunders, she can launch a political comeback and tout these years as ‘invaluable’ experience.
The million dollar question, of course, is will that political comeback be launched? Can she wait until she is almost 70 to become commander-in-chief in 2016? Her age alone certainly does not disqualify her. Ronald Reagan was 69 when he took office.
Or could she stage a coup in 2012 like she threatened to do at the Democratic convention last year, especially if Obama’s presidency continues to head south? As crazy as it sounds, I would not put it past the Clinton political machine.
Clinton has emphatically states that she will never run for president again on at least 5 different occasions even going as far as to suggest that she is looking forward to retirement. But if the Clintons are good at one thing, it is making denials; just like Hillary denied for a long time that she was interested in running in 2008.
Most likely, Hillary herself has not yet decided what is in store for her political future. But those who think that she is in the twilight of her political career should realize that it is not Obama who has muzzled Hillary Clinton. She is waiting. She is calculating. She will return. And so will Bill Clinton.
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Stage a coup? Get real. The Bush administration WAS a defacto coup. It’s ridiculous to suggest that she would stage a coup. People hate Hillary enough as it is.
Since I’m not familiar with your blog, were you concerned about political machines for the last 8 years or is it only now that you’ve awakened to the danger? Just curious.
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Nathan Hale Reply:
November 1st, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Just like President Bush, she is a very polarizing figure. People hate her and people love her. She failed in 2008 but I think that she still wants the presidency badly. I wouldn’t put it past her to go for it in 2012, especially if Obama continues down the path he is on now.
I didn’t write anything about the danger of the Clinton political machine. In fact, I really did not write anything negative about the Clintons at all so I am not sure why you are asking whether or not I was concerned about political machines for the last 8 years.
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