2016 - President Hillary Clinton?

As the popular and widely admired Secretary of State Hillary Clinton cedes the reins of the State Department to Senator John Kerry, speculation is rampant regarding a potential bid for the presidency in 2016.  I believe many Americans have come to develop “voters’ remorse”, wishing that Secretary Clinton had been nominated by the Democrats and elected in 2008 rather than President Obama, a man who has demonstrated the knack for disappointing conservatives, liberals, and those in the middle of the ideological spectrum.

The Secretary has stated that she is “not inclined” to run and  has said, “I am not thinking about anything like that right now”.  I read between the lines to conclude the translation to be, “If I think I can win, you bet I will run!” My conclusion is buttressed by the thoughts of Clinton family friend, the “tell all” former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, who stated his belief that Secretary Clinton may declare herself a candidate for president as soon as early 2014.

What happens in 2016 will be contingent to a great extent on what happens over the course of the next four years.  The economic rebound is currently moribund.  Although the crumpled national housing market is rebounding, unemployment and underemployment remain high, consumer confidence low.  Uncertainty is the order of the day with elected officials that cannot reach a meeting of the minds on any significant, long-term legislation or even the passage of an annual budget. If President Obama is seen as derailing the economy recovery through massive spending and an acceleration of the accumulation of debt, it could be difficult for any Democrat to hold the presidency should the Republicans nominate an appealing and articulate figure like Florida U. S. Senator Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants.

The next battle for the presidency is light years away in the world of politics, but if the conventional wisdom at the time that the 2016 race ignites is that a viable Democrat can beat a Republican in 2016, Hillary Clinton would appear to be the individual that would be handed the nomination on a silver platter if she wants it, and impossible to defeat.