When it comes to Hillary I think she has been one of the most transformative women for nearly 2 generations of women (her own generation and my generation). Time and again she has literally rewritten the rules for women, from what defines appropriate attire to what conversations can women be a part of to what can women accomplish. She has gone through more personal and professional phases than I can even imagine, and I truly believe through these last four years she has entered a new phase of herself and I think people are attracted to the image of this woman who just professionally told some snake in the grass politicians where they could go. I could be wrong, she could run, but she'll be the oldest candidate out there and she has the equivalent of a lifetime of public global appearances, public statements, voting records, photos, and hairstyles that can and will all be used against her. Since JFK, the old candidates don't win and she may be very wealthy and able to use some of that wealth to buy some manufactured youth (which can also be effectively used against her) but it's very hard to overcome the glare of the camera and the overhead lights (see the front page of the New York Post). I do believe she made it easier for someone in the future. But, I don't see, today, us electing an elder stateswoman with such a vast history and record. It makes it too damn easy to tear her down. The candidates of the future are going to be the young buddies who you can have a virtual beer with and who you can imagine playing sports with. They're going to be your bffs in your phone and in your virtual life. They'll be the ultimate actors with the real adults, the real professionals, behind them hopefully keeping the damn place from falling apart. That was what Hillary was to Obama and she is stronger today and he is a better president for it.

She's taking time off to recuperate, refresh, and rejuvenate. Plus, play some politics without the governmental restrictions and all the exhausting travelling.

I heard this from a source in DC who works for a cabinet member.

It means that the money will be there for her to run and "THE TEAM" will be in place and she will be compelled to run. She'd win, but she's up against a weak GOP and she would siphon a lot of right-center women, weakening the GOP even further, with her conservative Democrat chops.

Hmmmm...

Why? What's the upside? She's politically more conservative than her husband and that's about as far right as one can go and still be a Democrat.

I need a 2016 Clinton bumper sticker. She will run and win. She will take 6 months to a year away from the political scene. She will take time resting and thinking and consulting close advisers and then she will be in. She cannot wait longer than a year because others are waiting to see if she is running. She will need to make her intentions understood to clear the field. The President won in November because of the strong support from women. Women are putting the ignorant males to shame, especially the over 60% of white males that voted for Romney. Women make up a majority of the electorate now. We had the most women ever elected to the Senate and the house in 2012. This is just the beginning. The flood gates have opened and in the next several election cycles women will flex their muscles and finally start having tremendous clout in governing our country. It is the beginning of the end for male and WASP dominance of our country. Hillary will lead the charge for women candidates in 2016. My 85 year old mom, and millions of other women cannot wait to see the first woman President. Times are changing and this white male will be happy when the women straighten out some of the ignorant males that have been leading us down the wrong path. Women look at war and health care and many issues in a much more sensible way than most men. It could be the largest political shift in our history and the one I have been waiting to see. It would sure lesson the chance of another Iraq type war and lead to some sensible legislation like a single payer national health care system. Go Hillary!

Yeah, that's great politics. I wonder, if you were to get HRC alone in a quiet place, if you could get her to explain "don't ask, don't tell" without being disingenuous or prevaricating.

She is a better politician than him, and considerably smarter.

This. Although she doesn't have Bubba's charm. Damn the dog, he can basically throw away the Presidency and still charm ya.

Toby - Actually, I think Hillary has more core beliefs than you give her credit for. But I'd still call her a centrist Dem. You mentioned Amy Klobachar. My politics line up more closely with the latter's. But she can't win in 2016.

Nobody can accomplish anything if they don't win. I'm an idealist at heart but I'm damn practical when it comes to politics. And I'd do just about anything to keep Paul Ryan or Marco Rubio out of the WH.

A lot of Dems couldn't do that. Hillary can.

I know you are going to play the "I knew them when" trump card, but she's a conservative Democrat/Rockefeller GOP on first and last examination. She may be closer to Obama than her husband, but that's not saying much. Sorry. I don't idolize politicians. Also, stop it with the "considerably smarter" shtick. It's completely unmeasurable and just uninteresting.

Yes, it was fun to watch a well educated, intelligent person hand some Tea Party goofballs their butts. However, I've got to part ways with the HRC being an acceptable candidate for Prez discussion.

I understand the whole vote for the lesser of two evils, and that principle certainly informs how I vote. Yet, it is important to note that Republican-lite policies will lead us to ruin just as suredly as the crazies will, perhaps at a slower pace but the endgame is knowable. Third wavers, such as Bill & Hillary, the Rubinites and Obama, have done a lot of damage to the republic, just look at all of the de-regulation during the Clinton years that led to the financial crisis. We're on a destructive path and our continued 'practicality' will only further the process.

I want my replicator now please thank you... and the transformational crisis that it would create.

The Senator from MBNA is the leastest lesserish of lesser-like evils.

Joe Biden is Great!

I agree, yet HRC doesn't even reflect 50% of a liberal perspective, see free trade and Wall Street.