[mrsmith]

Maybe not. If Kerry gets in and has a "do-nothing" Republican congress to win off of, Hillary might see that Kerry is going to have a good time and win the congress back from the obstructionist Republicans.

So she might take the Chief Justice spot herself. Lots could happen before 2012 and she'd be pretty old by then anyway.

[Kevin Curry]

Listen: this is not a good time to be a liberal Democrat in the White House. Clinton understood this, and still understands it--which is why he is trying to get Wesley Clark shaped up for the run. Clinton is vile, but his political instincts on this issue are flawless.

Hillary may pretend to--or even be--a third-way adherent, but her candidacy will bring its own hugely divisive, ugly dynamic to the fore. She will be running in 2008. Better that she run a brutal campaign against a failed Democratic incumbent in the primary and display herself in all its hideous unglory than save her game face for a fresh Republican candidate in the general election.