Secretary Clinton?

The talking heads are wagging about Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. I think there is no question, she would take it, she would be excellent in the post, and it would keep her in a "presidential holding pattern," where she could easily emerge as the favorite for President down the road. Bill's financial dealings might pose some hard questions for her in Senate confirmation hearings, but she's got enough political clout to keep the worst of them unasked. It would also burn Nancy Pelosi's broom, which would tickle me pink. John Kerry is no doubt spitting nails over it, but his five minutes is up. Bill Richardson would be a good pick, too, but he isn't as strong a choice as Hillary, and he comes with the same "Clinton hangover" baggage as her. Hillary Clinton made a private visit to Chicago this week and met with Obama. They were either talking about a Cabinet post for her, or her campaign debt. As ebullient, although vague, as both Obama and Clinton camps have been since, I'd wager it wasn't a shake-down. Save for the few murmurs about Bill causing her problems in the confirmation process, the reviews of Hillary as Sec of State are glowing. That's got to burn Joe Biden a little bit, too. Hillary gets the real job. Obama's got a big stick right now, and he will get the Cabinet he wants. I hope she takes it.