Happy Mother's Day and a dose of politics for your Sunday

On a day when mothers across the country finally get the token of appreciation of which their daily commitment, love, and affection is so very deserving, we offer a bit of political commentary to go with your afternoon celebration. Hopefully, mom got the gift(s) she wanted for her big day, but, if this blogger is anywhere near the mark, for most mothers, spending time with loved ones represents the best gift imaginable. Mothers, this day's for you.

What's Next for Clinton:

Obama-Clinton?
With Barack Obama's victory in the Democratic nomination battle in the bag, political pundits on Sunday morning talk shows focused their attention on entertaining thoughts regarding what Hillary Clinton would do after conceding the race.

Some suggested she could have her sights set on becoming Obama's running mate, reckoning that doing so would leave her well-positioned to be the party's candidate come 2012, were Obama to lose to Republican John McCain in November.

Others, however, argued that Clinton has never been keen to sharing the spotlight, particularly in a subordinate position. It is also unlikely, skeptics maintained, that Obama would open the door to Clinton and all the baggage, both good and bad, that that name brings with it, even if Hillary expressed her desire to run as his VP.

Adding Clinton to his ticket could bring several demographics into the Democrats' camp come November that Obama might otherwise have trouble courting, including low-income, blue-collar workers, some of the New York Senator's most ardent female supporters, as well as those who, sadly, still cannot bring themselves to support an African American candidate for president. Indeed, a website has been launched encouraging whomever eventually captures the Democratic nod to choose their rival as VP for the sake of unifying the party (together08.com). Interestingly, however, the site gained a great deal of steam after Obama's victory and narrow loss in North Carolina and Indiana, respectively, last Tuesday, and this blogger suspects that the site's flood of signatures came largely from disgruntled Clinton backers finally reconciling themselves to the near certainty that she will not win the nomination.

Personally, the idea of an Obama-Clinton ticket, while somewhat appealing, just doesn't cut the mustard. I don't endorse the old-style politics that the Clinton campaign has played in courting support and, more recently, trying to wrestle it away from Obama. Moreover, I've viewed Clinton as chameleon-like at times, trying to be all things to all people in order to pick up votes. For example, she at once courts the backing of blue-collar union voters, a key constituency of the Democratic Party, while maintaining that it is perfectly legitimate for elite superdelegates to determine the fate of the party's nomination.

She's also, if indirectly, played upon people's fears of Obama's ties to Islam, with surrogates sending pictures of Obama in traditional Somalian garb to the Drudge Report, hoping this would stir fears in voters' minds that the Illinois Senator is, in fact, himself a Muslim. To me, this was and is inexcusable, largely resembling the smear tactics employed by Karl Rove and company in 2000 to remove Senator John McCain from the tough GOP primary battle. If you recall, the Bush Campaign, after getting trounced by McCain in the New Hampshire primary, launched push polling in South Carolina in which it suggested to voters that the Arizona Senator had fathered an illegitimate child with an African American mother. McCain subsequently lost that state's contest, erupted in anger at the Christian Right, and watched his chances of capturing the GOP nomination go down the drain.

The idea that Clinton would utilize a brand of campaigning in any way similar to these disgusting tactics both resembles the type of politics we need to get away from to progress as a country, as well as a critical reason why I find it extremely difficult to back the notion of an Obama-Clinton ticket.

Senate Majority Leader:
A more likely scenario, I think, and one that was articulated by a good number of pundits in Chris Matthews' roundtable discussion this morning is the idea that Clinton would take over the reins from Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). Reid is rumored by some to not like his position as party leader all too much, and his reserved personality has led many to question his leadership credentials. Moreover, despite entering the majority with big goals, Senate Democrats have failed to produce much of anything in terms of substantive legislation, let alone actualize the bold proposals they articulated upon taking control in January 2007. Reid, of course, is not entirely to blame for such failures, but, as Majority Leader, the buck must and does stop with him.

With that said, some surmise that a passing of the torch from Reid to Clinton is a likely scenario. There are even some reports that Reid has recently, in attempts to, as a good Democrat hoping to unite the party for November, told Clinton he'd be willing to give up his position and offer her a graceful exit from the primary race. Still, though an ardent proponent of the importance of Federal government, it is less than clear whether or not Clinton could content herself within the confining walls of the Senate Chambers. Her career, as some pundits have pointed out, has been one characterized by ascension: from First Lady to Senator to Democratic front-runner for the White House. Remaining in the Senate would represent a significant and perhaps unacceptable alteration in her political journey.

Governor of New York:
Some who question the likelihood of an Obama-Clinton ticket but still believe that the latter has her sights set squarely on making another bid for the presidency argue that she may make a run for her state's top executive position in the Empire State's gubernatorial election in 2010. Adding executive experience to her resume would further strengthen an already impressive track record and make her an even more attractive national candidate in 2012, were Obama to falter this November.

Still, a Clinton run for governor is unlikely for at least two reasons. First, Clinton has never been fond of state politics. Indeed, she's made a career of lobbying for change at the Federal level and, as many stated on this morning's talk shows, Washington is much more of a home to the Senator than Albany ever would be.

Secondly, New York's recently appointed Governor, David Patterson, is thought by many to have his sights set on becoming the state's elected leader come 2010. It is extremely unlikely that Clinton would challenge the charismatic and well-liked Patterson in a primary duel. Moreover, a loss in a primary contest at the state level would likely quash any notions of a future Clinton presidency.

Then What will she Do?
In this blogger's opinion, Clinton will not be Obama's VP in November. She will work vigorously for him during the general election campaign and seek to portray herself as a gracious loser and warrior for the Democratic Party, in order to win or maintain the good graces of party leaders and position herself for another run in 2012, if McCain defeats Obama. If Obama were to defeat McCain, which, given current political winds and the Obama Campaign's impressive and growing dynamism, is an extremely likely possibility, Hillary Clinton, at 67, would still be able to mount another bid for the White House. Moreover, after eight more years of dedicated service to the American people and Democratic Party in the Senate, as well as making possible eight years of a Democratic Administration by bowing out gracefully and enthusiastically supporting Obama, Clinton will have won herself many new supporters, including, perhaps, yours truly.

The path in front of Hillary Clinton is uncertain. However, she would be well-advised to conclude that the '08 presidential election is about more than herself. It is about a country desperately in need of new, forward-looking leadership and progressive solutions to its people's most vexing problems. It cannot be easy for someone who once thought it her destiny to occupy 1600 Pennsylvania to step aside in her quest for the White House, but one thing she has undoubtedly learned over the course of a productive and in many ways admirable career of public service is that life rarely follows a predictable path.