Brain Fertilizer

Perhaps it is just because I don't receive faxes from the DNC, but while this article says people are lined up to be Kerry's Veep, it seems to me like no one is really eager for the slot. The only leading Democrat figures I've seen make the national news are Al Gore and Howard Dean. The rest all seem to be keeping a low profile, at least from my perspective. Maybe they're hoping if they stay rather quiet, Kerry won't pick them? Because despite current opinion polls and smug liberal Op-Eds about President Bush being on the ropes, I think 2004 will be the Kiss of Death of future political hopes for whichever Democrats run. Kerry may linger as an incumbent Senator for a few more decades like Tip did and Teddy has, but he is following directly in Bob Dole's footsteps.

How can I be so sure? Watch Hillary Clinton. She wants to run for President. But more than that, I think she wants a legacy. Being the first female Vice President would do it. Then she could shoot for more to burnish the star further. She's rehabilitated her image somewhat, a Veep position could probably finish it off. If Kerry could win as not-Bush this year, his lack of integrity could probably make for a weak term, leaving him ripe for a takeover from within the party. A sitting President doesn't automatically get the nomination, and being Veep would get Hillary in the news much more. If she thought Kerry was close to winning, I think she'd be taking her shot at getting there through the Vice Presidency. But she's not taking a step in that direction, not even trying. Conclusion? She thinks Kerry's gonna lose.

...and maybe she'll take steps to bring that about. Some people think she's scheming to get a shot at running in 2008, anticipating Kerry will lose and she'll get a free shot at someone like Jeb Bush running without the incumbent advantage. It's possible. But aside from some actions earlier (like possibly encouraging Gen. Clark to run to help derail Howard Dean's candidacy), she's been quiet lately. Conclusion? She thinks Kerry's gonna lose without her help.

I'm just musing aloud. But if Hillary Clinton is really looking for a legacy, she's got to do more than merely make a credible run for President. Liddy Dole already beat her out of that. She can't merely make a credible run for Vice President, because Geraldine Ferraro did that long before Hillary was even a national political figure. Being a Senator probably isn't enough, either, and I don't think her ambitions have subsided at all.

In any case, she seems to think Kerry is going to lose and lose bad. I see no reason to disagree.