Secretary of State the end of the road for the Clintons?

[lapfog_1]

What does Hillary do in four years time if she becomes Secretary of State now?

Very few people have served out even 4 years as Secretary of State, fewer still go the distance for the full 8 years.

If she is gone after 4 or less in the Obama administration, what does she do then? A run against an incumbent that put you in his cabinet would be unthinkable.

Getting back into the Senate from New York might not be possible either. You would have to run against a friend and colleague almost no matter who is selected to take your place in the Senate. Run for Governor? Possible. Still, that has ethical problems as well.

Not to mention that all of these jobs would be a step backward.

Serve the Obama administration in some other capacity after being Secretary of State? Possible, but not likely.

Become the CEO of a charitable foundation? Not a good move if you want higher office later.

Just wait another 4 years and then run for President? That means being out of the public spotlight for 4 years. Something the Clintons have never done.

What does she do after 4 years as Secretary of State?

Very few former Secretaries of State run for the Presidency immediately after being Secretary of State. I can't think of a single one in the modern era.

The only likely "boost up" would be to serve on the US Supreme Court. A job that aides have indicated she does not want.

[aquart]

1. Thank for your concern.

[lapfog_1]

4. If you have a logical path forward for her, please post it.

It's simple speculation. I, personally, am not concerned.

I think it's a dead end for her.

[BootinUp]

2. How about retirement/working for charitable causes?

Supporting other politicians that she shes eye to eye with?

[lapfog_1]

13. My expectation for her path forward.

Somewhat like her husband or Al Gore.

Not a return to the Senate. Not Governor of New York. Not a run for President in 8 years.

Much to the disappointment of her supporters here, hence the rabid reactions to a legitimate question.

[BootinUp]

14. Bill is not the first to show what a retired statesman

can accomplish, which is quite a bit. I doubt Hillary will make her decision based on future political offices at this stage of her career. As a member of this Admin at this time in history she can contribute a great deal. And if she has a hankering for elected office again in the future she could probably find an opportunity if she wanted to as one of the unquestioned stars of the party.

[onehandle]

3. The Senate the end of the road for Obama?

What does he do after four years in the Senate? Run for President?

No African-American has ever been President.



We are talking about extraordinary people. Never say never.

[lapfog_1]

5. Senators can run for President. Former SecState

who have been out of office for 4 years do not.

If you have a counter example of a SecState who ran and won the Presidency in the last 80 years, please post them.

[onehandle]

6. You avoided my point.

I'm done with you.

[lapfog_1]

12. Actually I did not "avoid your point"

Your point was that Obama ran for President after serving in the Senate for 4 years, which is unusual.

However, it is not unusual for a Senator to run for President. It's rare, but it happens (JFK).

Given this years setup (no popular nationally known Governors, completely open primary, etc) it was not a surprise that we had 3 serious contenders for the Presidency, all of whom were Senators.

But we haven't had ANY Secretaries of State make serious runs for the Presidency in the modern era. Not one.

[Stuckinthebush]

7. I wonder if that is part of the plan

I have no idea why she would want that job over being a Senator. I think it is a brilliant move by Obama.

If she takes it, she is politically neutralized and the future of the party belongs to the Obama wing.

If she refuses it, it gives Obama cover with Clinton fans because he at least tried to get her one of the top jobs in the administration.

Great move.

[lapfog_1]

9. I was thinking that exact thing.

Now, when I played competitive chess, I had a rating of over 2100. I don't think I want to play chess with Obama.

[Winterblues]

8. Governor of New York would work

:shrug: Obama seems to be putting together a "Dream Team" and I don't think she will want to quit after four years. Unless she Bush*'s it somehow I don't think Obama would want to replace her. She is afterall a brilliant tactician as well as brilliant and likable person..

[lapfog_1]

11. I was trying to think of the last few SecStates that served more

than 4 years.

Cordell Hull ( FDR )

John Foster Dulles ( Ike )

David Dean Rusk ( JFK, LBJ )

George Schultz ( Reagan )

[RB TexLa]

10. I agree, I think she should have said "no thanks"

[karynnj]

15. If all rumors are believed (and that is a pretty risky unwise thing to do)

Her first choice was to get a powerful position in the Senate - but could not get eitehr Kennedy or Reid to give her a healthcare sb-committee, because Kennedy is doing it in the full committee. She also was (by rumor) rejected in her reguest that they give her one of the party leadership roles. This leaves her in a strange position - by her assignments, a junior Senator; but from her political base, a power who has to be considered. (This was true when Kerry returned to the Senate as well - but he had far more important assignments - but even there there was a gap.) Even after re-election in 2012, she still might not have a Chair of a full committee. (She is 8th on HELP, 10th on Armed Services, 5th on Environment, public works, 7th on Special committee on Aging.)

The weird thing is that with Obama as President, since June has been the first time since she decided to run for Senate that she s not seen as a very likely future President. That would explain why - even if there is no clear path - a high cabinet position might be seen as better than returning in actually a less powerful Senate position than she has had in the past.