Bill Clinton stirs talk of possible Hillary Clinton presidential bid in 2016 race

[morningfog]

The 2012 election may be far from decided, but on Sunday all the speculation centered on the 2016 race, and whether a certain household Democrat name might once again feature on the ballot paper.

The prospect of a Hillary Clinton run for the White House gained momentum when Bill Clinton offered the broadest hint yet that she might go for it.

Hillary Clinton is due to stand down soon as secretary of state, probably in January, and take at least six months out to write her memoirs about her time in office. After that, she will make up mind whether she will run, according to the Clinton camp.

Aged 64, she is still young enough for a bid in 2016 and is, at present, ahead of any of her rivals in terms of standing and popularity inside the party. She retains a driving desire to become the first female president.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/23/bill-clinton-hillary-presidential-2016

[a geek named Bob]

1. This ought to either

rile up the GOP base... or have a run on razor blades and V and V...

[nobodyspecial]

2. My vision: She and Biden switch roles

giving her renewed exposure on the national stage. I really believe the Clintons and Obama have cut a deal. Bill's speech was a huge pivot point in the campaign. They are not walking away.

[Jennicut]

4. She is leaving as SOS. And Kerry or Susan Rice are duking it out for the job.

I highly, highly doubt that she will become VP. She has mentioned several times that she is exhausted from all the travel, she has gone non stop for 4 years. If she wants to run in 2016 she would be pretty fresh after taking a few years off. And I highly doubt Biden becomes SOS. One can win as President without having to be a VP. Biden is better as the inside track into the Senate and I think Kerry would make a very good SOS.

[Spider Jerusalem]

5. Huh? The convention's happened already.

Biden has been re-nominated as the party's vice-presidential candidate. As a successful secretary of state who's overseen a broad rehabilitation of the USA's reputation abroad at a time when the Democratic Party has managed to become the party of serious and credible foreign policy, and as the spouse of a hugely popular former president, Hillary doesn't need 'renewed exposure'. And honestly as far as 'switching roles', someone like John Kerry is a much better choice for SecState to succeed Hillary, I'd say.

[Beacool]

17. Hillary plans to leave the post in January.

She wants to rest and do other things with her life. Hopefully she decides to run in 2016, we'll just have to wait and see.

[redqueen]

3. She would have a better than decent shot at the office. nt

[randome]

8. I don't think so.

I don't think it will do Democrats any favors to nominate someone who has already failed at winning the nomination.

She LOOKS old. It doesn't matter that she's only in her sixties. Looks matter in politics.

We need to continue the trend set by Obama and nominate younger, fresh faces. Not re-nominate someone who didn't work out the last time.

It isn't fair. She should have had a shot. But I don't think she has a shot now.

[Bigmack]

11. She looks beat up... and that makes her look old...

Give her a 4 year rest, some decent non-diplomatic food, a personal trainer, a hair stylist...

...and she'll look younger than springtime.

Got that mental picture of her...?

Now.. imagine that Hillary going against the mental midgets and weirdos the Repubs can run.

She's a shoo-in if she wants it.

And Bill can really help, too. His positives are thru the roof.

(For the record... I supported Obama in the Obama/Clinton race for the nomination.)

[Ishoutandscream2]

12. You're on to something

Looking at her now, I see a woman who has really aged with her work. The stress has really caught up with her, imo. Like you said, she needs a break from politics for a while and maybe, just maybe, she may run. The age thing does bother me right now, but if she can get rested and ready, then I could be all for it.

[Beacool]

18. Again with that old nonsense???

I'll have you know that Hillary has more stamina than people half her age. Ask around, anyone who knows her can tell you that; including her traveling press.

As for failing in 2008, we can spend hours discussing caucuses and super delegates. You may want to note that in 2008 she did win more votes from registered Democrats than Obama. Also, she and Bill are the most popular politicians in the nation.

[cr8tvlde]

6. Oh, I knew it...she is too competitive to get as close as she did and not go ahead

and hot only is she looking better, she's now got the international creds, big time. I thought when Bill came out strongly for Obama, even hugging him onstage, that this would be turned around in 2016 with the Obamas helping the Clintons. Another Clinton Bush run. The families actually like each other, so it shouldn't be such horrible mayhem...hopefully.

[Historic NY]

7. I'll give credos to a now fellow New Yorker.

[Walk away]

9. Now she can spend 4 year running for President.

She will make mince meat out of Jeb, Christy and Marco Rubio. Every woman in the united States will vote for her. It will be the end of the Teabag Party and the we will drown the Republican Party in the political bathtub.

We'll have to find a new 2nd party.

[SheilaT]

10. First of all, it's about three years too soon

to be at all concerned about who is going to be running in either party.

And secondly, I agree with those who say that in four years Hillary Clinton will be too old to seriously consider running. I know, I know, 68 is not exactly wheelchair-bound elderly, but given how the job ages a person, I would not want to vote for anyone of that age, no matter how much I admire them.

Plus, keep in mind that in 2004 no one was considering Barack Obama as a serious candidate for '08. In 1988 no one could possibly have imagined that a Governor from a small southern state could conceivably even consider running for president. And so on.

I think it's sweet that Bill is so supportive of his wife. But let's not get carried away here.

[Bigmack]

13. (Gently)... You don't think you're being age-ist?

I'm 68, and I still have all my faculties. Good shape, too.

She could promise a helluva 4 years and out.

VP...? Elizabeth Warren.

I like older, smarter girls!

[SheilaT]

14. I'm 64 myself.

No I don't consider myself ageist, just practical.

And I do think Elizabeth Warren is a strong possibility for our first female president.

[Whisp]

16. Warren would be an excellent choice.

She has a great mind and a good heart. Would be very nice to have 2 prezzies back to back with those qualifications.

[Beacool]

19. So, Hillary is too old for you but Warren is OK?

Do you know that Warren is only 2 years younger than Hillary?

[SheilaT]

25. No. I did not know that.

She certainly looks a lot younger, which may simply be a result of how a job like being Secretary of State can age a person.

As for Reagan, I certainly know that not everyone gets Alzheimer's in their early 70's, but he clearly had it by the end of his term.

We all do slow down as we get older. In modern times, the office of the President has become an insanely high-stress job, and probably needs to be filled by people not in their late 60's or early 70's. That's just my opinion. Others will think differently.

[Bigmack]

27. FYI average lifespan of American white women is around 83. At 64 you are a child! nt

[Beacool]

28. Hillary's mom lived to be 93 years old and was still as engaging,

sharp and funny as she always had been. Pity that Western cultures throw away people when they reach a certain age. We could learn a lot from Eastern cultures and the respect they have for people who are older.

[cr8tvlde]

31. With all due respect from someone else born in 1948, my son is just getting out of college.

Broaden your horizons!!! Welcome !!! First feminism class ever in 1971 Summer School so I could graduate at at Whittier College, CA.

No we aren't old, and Yes We Can Vote. Let's Totally Rock the Elderly Vote ... LOL.

[HiPointDem]

21. reagan was the oldest president (inaugurated at 69). hilary would be on his heels at 68.

[Art_from_Ark]

30. In 1988, Bill Clinton gave the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention

and had previously served as chairman of both the Democratic Governors' Association and the National Governors' Association. He was also involved at a high level in many other Democratic organizations. It wasn't like he had just popped up from out of nowhere.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. Is this the same Hillary that voted for the IWR and supported that war?

No thanks.

[Beacool]

20. Yeah, because that vote defined everything in American politics.

Please...........

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

23. That and that she's a 3rd Way moderate neo-lib.

[Beacool]

24. Whatever floats your boat.

[spiderpig]

22. While I didn't support her candidacy in 08

I think she's been a fantastic SOS and would have no problem with her running for POTUS on her own merits.

(Maybe it's a personal thing - that she blinks constantly as a contact-lens-wearer. It just bugged me, and I'd rather have seen a big fat pair of ugly-ass horn rims on her face than that uptilted expression that I used to have when I wore tacs myself.)

[cloudbase]

26. Since she's said that SoS would be her final post,

I'll have to hold her to that.

[cr8tvlde]

32. Good luck with that one...something new and different...a politician changing their mind.

Go, Hillary.

[LongTomH]

29. Can we just get through the 2012 campaign before we start picking a candidate for 2016?

[cr8tvlde]

33. In a word, No. And why would you be invested in that? Someone else in mind?