Clinton will not be too old in 2016

Look at the other women who've led their countries: Golda Meir, Margaret Thatcher, and Indira Gandhi. Old women all. When Hillary Clinton is their age, I think she will have an easier time being accepted as a leader.

Michigan and Florida

The Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws committee will decide whether and how to seat Florida's and Michigan's delegations on May 31st. Clinton is pushing them to seat those delegates and allow them to vote, as that would favor her candidacy.

But where was Clinton's tongue when the rules were being made? Had she said then that she would fight as long as it takes to seat the Florida and Michigan delegations, then, obviously, the other candidates would not have agreed not to campaign in those states, nor to keep their names off the ballot.

You see-- this is what really bothers me and a lot of people about Hillary. She acts like this is some important democratic principle, that every vote be counted. But can you even imagine her still making that argument if she had lost those states? Is that even conceivable to anybody? She'd be saying the same arguments that are so obvious to everybody else: that it's not fair to change the rules in the middle of an election. Election monitors condemn elections when they do that in other countries. And while I happen to prefer Obama, I would still hold this position, even if Obama had won these states, and even if he needed these states in order to win the election. Because it's right. It's so obviously right. How is it fair to anybody to tell people that an election doesn't count, and then let people vote or stay home based on that, and then decide that you're going to count the election after all? Is that really a democratic ideal in action? Hillary isn't fooling anybody.

But it's all neither here nor there. Clinton would only pick up a net gain of 56 delegates, even if those results were to stand. That's not insignificant, but it would still leave Obama with a pledged delegate lead of more than 100. She's alienating fair-minded people everywhere, and for nothing.

Why Clinton will take the job

I hear people tell me that Hillary Clinton won't take the job of Vice-President if Obama offers it. Those people are wrong. Here's why.

First, it's the only way she'll be able to run again. Next time, she can either be a losing primary candidate, or a sitting Vice-President. It's a no-brainer.

Second, it gives her the opportunity to still make history, by being the first woman Vice-President in history.

Finally, there's always the chance that Obama will die in office. And Hillary has made it clear that she has no problem becoming President without being elected President.

Thoughts on a Vice President for Obama

I dislike Hillary Clinton. I am happy that she has, essentially, lost the Democratic Presidential primary. But as bad a Presidential candidate as she would have been, and as bad a President as she would have been, I think she'll be an amazing Vice-President.

Here's why:

The main job of the Vice-President is to attack the Presidential candidate of the other party during the campaign. This is why Edwards was a terrible Vice-Presidential candidate, and, I believe, it's why Kerry lost. Clinton has shown that she can perform this function well.

Another important function of the Vice-President is to be a lightening rod to draw criticism that might otherwise land on his or her running-mate. Dick Cheney performs this function extremely well. Clinton will be even better.

Finally, people must believe that the Vice-President is reasonably qualified to be President if necessary. No one can doubt this about Clinton.

And, of course, it would be a great way to bring Clinton supporters on board with Obama's campaign. A large percentage of Clinton supporters say that they will not vote for Obama over McCain. Many of these people are, undoubtedly, just trying to game the survey, but some of them are surely sincere. But they will change their tune when Clinton joins the ticket. When they do, it will push Obama's lead into double digits.