Why?
Would Hillary end up as Secretary of State? I keep thinking this rumor is just somebody's stupid speculation, yet it persists and nobody denies, and apparently she met up with Obama to talk about it. This doesn't make much sense.

First, is there any doubt that John Kerry would be a better SOS, if he wants it like he seems to? Second, why would she give up a lifetime job in the Senate (wasn't she going to be the next Ted Kennedy?) for at most a term serving Obama? She doesn't even break any gender ground here as we have had not 1, but 2 women serve as head of the State Dept.

All I can figure, cynically, is this - and it may go equally to John Kerry's plans as Hillary's. The scheme has 2 parts:

1. If, God forbid, something happens to Obama during the first term, heading up our foreign relations would give her a good platform from which to run against Biden in 2012.

2. Even if she has to wait until 2016, she has a couple of years out of the public eye, raising money, and most importantly, not having to go on record with votes in the Senate they can use against her in a presidential campaign.

And she would give up her dream of leading health care and other domestic legislation through the Senate, at a time when Democrats have a solid majority? For this political calculation? Is there some other reason?

Could it be - don't roll your eyes - that she really means this: "I want to be a good partner and I want to do everything I can to make sure his agenda is going to be successful"?

Last thought: Does this Hillary story indicate that one of President Obama's most influential advisers will turn out to be...Doris Kearns Goodwin?