“I think after 20 years — and it will be 20 years — of being on the high wire of American politics and all of the challenges that come with that, it would be probably a good idea to just find out how tired I am.” – Secy. Hillary Clinton
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton meets with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on January 25, 2012. State Department photo/ Public Domain
I tweeted about this likelihood on Tuesday. She’ll no doubt work up until the very last second on her very last day, for which Pres. Obama is no doubt grateful, as are we all.
We can only imagine that it’s “a little odd for me to be totally out of an election season,” as she also admits she “didn’t watch any of those debates.”
After she leaves State, Hillary Clinton will be able to rest, write, and then assess other options. This includes, come 2014, coming to grips on whether she’s ready to walk away from another run for the White House and possibly being the first female president of the United States.
There will be a different breed bidding for the Democratic presidential spot in 2016. However, no one in politics would be more prepared. She would, however, have to defend her continued militaristic foundation, whether it’s Libya or her continued belief in the war in Afghanistan. Her close relationship to the Pentagon and the U.S. defense industry would also be at issue. Mrs. Clinton’s closeness to Israel’s leaders and the trust built between them, would, however, hold great possibilities. Her involvement during the Libya bombing proved unparalleled, as she worked to convince Arab leaders to come on board. It would be a serious campaign, not a walk in the park, at least with progressive primary voters, though there would also be great emotions on the left to making a Democratic female a seminal part of American history.
Mrs. Clinton has also said time and again she will not run for president again.
TM NOTE: An international women’s foundation, raising money from all sides, like her husband’s CGI, and impacting women’s lives in countries around the world, is one very good bet, which I’d put money on myself.
Taylor Marsh is the author of The Hillary Effect, which traces the history of the near twenty years of press coverage and political events that followed Hillary Clinton into the 2008 presidential race and helped make her candidacy as impossible as it was part of her destiny.
She will run if she believes her country needs her. Her country will need her. Let’s try capable, experienced, and tough for a change.
I hate being the contrarian here, but no, she is not running for higher office. Stick a fork in her she is done. I just do not see her wanting to defend eight years of Obama, which is what she would have to do to run in 2016 if Obama gets reelected. I doubt she has the stomach for a run against an incumbent Republican president either. Vince Foster and White Water again? No thanks.
I really do believe her no to be the final answer; which is why she keeps repeating it.
The best that can be hoped for would be for her to be the Left’s Sarah Palin once she is out of office.
Lord knows they need one.
Hillary Clinton is so far above and beyond Mrs. Palin’s league you cannot really talk about them in the same context and be accurate. Just to a fine point on it. Sarah Palin happened BECAUSE of Hillary’s 2008 presidential run. She’s the first to benefit from the Hillary Effect.
However, Democrats absolutely do need an ideological leader, whether that will end up being Hillary is another thing all together.
More to my point, they need an idealogical leader who is neither running for office nor attempting to curry favor with those that are running for office.
Hillary will always be an important voice for as long as she lives. I can’t think of anyone who deserves a rest more than she does. Like Rick I do believe her country needs her but she has given service to her country for a long time and 2016 is a long way off. We will see.
International women’s foundation, raising money from all sides, like her husband’s CGI, and impacting women’s lives in countries around the world, is one very good bet, which I’d put money on myself.
I think a lot depends on what happens in the next few years. If she sees an opening, she might take it. She also might find that she really likes being out of politics and has no desire to reenter into that world. I would love for her to run because as of right now I’m not seeing any leadership in the party. Of course, 2016 is a long way off and a lot can change between then and now. Gillebrand is the only one I have seen who has shown any leadership as of late. Perhaps she might take a shot at the presidency.
Cuomo
Context?
Im betting Hillary backs Sen Gilibrand of NY in 2016. A hunch bc Gillibrand is one of 7 senators who has made the right votes against the debt deal, against extending bush tax cuts, got dadt on the map in the sen by pushing her male commrades to havve hearings, her active support and fundrasing for WI recalls and her new org helping get women elected. All of that and her age of 44 makes her someone to watch-
Perhaps she has what I have…….Obama Fatigue.
Plans change. People change. Whatever Hillary Clinton thinks right now about something like what she wants to do with herself is likely to be amended by events. I think it’s safe to say she won’t be running for office this year. Beyond that, I think even Taylor could be wrong trying to predict what will happen.
Cujo359,
Never say never, but I really do think that Hillary has made up her mind. She has been in the spotlight for thirty years; first in Arkansas, then nationally. That’s thirty years of some really hard knocks with the arc of a great life behind it. Time to push off from the table, and do some NGO work. Time to really enjoy a post-political life.
I would love to see Hillary run for President in 2016 – I thought her 2008 run was just as inspirational as Obama’s. But if she doesn’t, she’ll keep busy with some kind of work, just as Bill has. I like her quote by the way.
I, too, think Gillibrand is someone to watch. I think she has what it takes to get to the top.