Will Secretary of State really be Hillary Clinton's last political job?
The former First Lady says she won't serve a second term in Obama's cabinet, or run for president herself. Is she really leaving the Beltway behind?
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she's not interested in staying on for a second term if President Obama wins re-election in 2012. In an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Wednesday, the former First Lady also flatly answered "no" when asked if she would take a different cabinet position, such as defense secretary, or run for president again. "I'm going to be, you know, moving on," she said. Is she leaving politics for good?
No, she'll be back: "I'm disappointed" that Clinton won't stay put if Obama wins a second term, says Vanessa Valenti at Feministing. "She has been a really strong force as Secretary of State." But it's "hard to believe" this is the end of her political career.
"Secretary Clinton says no to second term"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It sounds like her mind is made up: No matter what Clinton says now, we're sure to hear a "healthy dose" of "Hillary in 2016" speculation in a few years, says Doug Mataconis at Outside the Beltway. But Clinton will be 69 in 2016, and "may not be in the mood for what would be another open race for the Democratic nomination." It's hard for many to imagine electoral politics without Hillary and Bill Clinton, but she sounds "rather emphatic."
"Hillary Clinton says no second term, no second cabinet position"
This is hardly a final answer: What Hillary might really mean is that she doesn't want to run, says law professor Ann Althouse at her blog. But "the presidency is a profound duty, never to be undertaken for personal satisfaction." She can always change her tune by saying that Barack Obama hasn't measured up "to the trust the American people have put in him." Then she's free to claim she's our "most able, best experienced" alternative, and that she can't turn away from her calling.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'A financial windfall for Iranian terrorism'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Orangutan heals cut with medicinal plant
Speed Read A Sumatran orangutan in Indonesia has been self-medicating to heal a wound on his cheek
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Turkey halts trade with Israel in latest Gaza rift
Speed Read The country plans to join South Africa's genocide case against Israel
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published