Yesterday, a Chicago dentist paid for a commercial that is stirring a lot of discussion, proposing that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton run for President in 2012, replacing President Barack Obama!
This activity was NOT promoted by Hillary Clinton, but is stimulated by this person's loyalty to her, plus the problems that are now faced by President Obama, due to the weak economy and the predictions that the Republican Party will win control of the House of Representatives, and long shot chances to win the US Senate!
Hillary Clinton has made clear that she does NOT plan to run for President again, that she has been through that, and has no desire to do that again! Of course, it is nothing new that politicians declare they are not interested in running for President, and then proceed to do just that!
Of course, there have also been proposals and speculation that Obama might tap Clinton to run for Vice President for the second term, replacing Joe Biden!
It seems clear that there is no possibility of the first scenario, and only a very slight possibility that the second situation might occur!
It has not been possible for a challenger to a President within his own party to defeat the President for the nomination, with well known politicians including Theodore Roosevelt in 1912, Ronald Reagan in 1976, Ted Kennedy and Jerry Brown in 1980, and Pat Buchanan in 1992, having only accomplished the defeats of Presidents William Howard Taft, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and George H. W. Bush!
As far as Vice Presidents being replaced, it has been extremely rare, even if the person involved was seen as a weak figure, such as Spiro Agnew in 1972 and Dan Quayle in 1992. When Gerald Ford decided to replace Nelson Rockefeller with Bob Dole in 1976, it actually seems to have undermined his chance at reelection, on top of the challenge from Ronald Reagan earlier in that year!
So despite the wishes of some to see Hillary Clinton on the national ticket in 2012, it is extremely unlikely it will happen, but should Hillary Clinton want to run in 2016, her record so far and moving forward as Secretary of State, should put her in good position to do so six years from now!
Sally Quinn of the Washington Post recently came up with the suggestion of Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton switching positions for the Presidential Election of 2012!
Now, former Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder has made the same suggestion in an article on the Politico website!
His argument is similar to Sally Quinn's view: that President Obama is going to need the support of Hillary Clinton fans to win in 2012, and that Joe Biden cannot help him win the next election!
The argument is that Hillary is able to win the white working class vote, both male and female, and that is Obama's major Achilles Heel! Hillary would bring out more committed and emotional support, and would be seen as the heir apparent in 2016!
Meanwhile, Biden could have the position he always seemed to want--to be Secretary of State, since he has always been particularly involved in and fascinated by foreign policy, and was long time Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee!
The question is how both Hillary and Joe feel about this concept, as well as President Obama's view! It is clear that Obama is close to Biden, and sees him as an integral part of his administration!
But at the same time, Hillary Clinton has been a very active and committed Secretary of State, and very loyal to her former rival!
So this question will obviously be bandied about a lot in the next six to twelve months, and the question will arise whether the switch would occur with the election, with both Hillary and Joe as "lame ducks' until January 20, 2013, or whether the 25th Amendment would be utilized for the first time since 1974 to make the switch BEFORE the election!
Was this the purpose of the 25th Amendment, to change the Vice Presidency holder for the upcoming election, or only when there was a vacancy due to death, bad health, impeachment, or resignation for corruption reasons of the Vice President or the President?
That is the key issue involved here, and it will certainly be discussed and debated until the situation is clear as to what President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Secretary of State Clinton decide is best for the three of them and for the nation!
Gays and lesbians have been unhappy with the pace of change on gay rights, having expected more immediate action by the Obama Administration.
But, 17 months into the term of the President, real progress is being made, and the rhetoric has also been upgraded by both Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, along with Defense Secretary Robert Gates!
On Tuesday, both Obama and Clinton spoke up in strong language at a gathering of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans at the White House to commemorate Gay and Lesbian Pride Month!
Obama outlined what has been done: a hate crimes law; extension of federal benefits to gay employees; promotion of an employee discrimination bill; extension of medical leave to gay parents of sick or newborn children; the push on to end "don't ask, don't tell" in the military; access to HIV-AIDS prevention and treatment around the world; assistance to human rights activists who are gay or promote gay rights and are persecuted around the world; and the providing of information by American embassies in Africa and elsewhere on the treatment of gays and lesbians in those countries.
Hillary Clinton emphasized at the gathering that gay rights are part of human rights, and President Obama was cheered and applauded vigorously by the attendees, as they realize his administration is really making progress that no one could have imagined before his election!
The Obama Administration has decided, rightfully, to challenge the new Arizona Immigration law in the federal courts as a violation of federal authority to deal with immigration, and as an example of discrimination against the largest minority group in America, the Latinos or Hispanics! 
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "let the cat out of the bag" when she revealed this on June 8 while visiting Ecuador, when she was asked about this controversial piece of legislation!
Apparently, Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona is furious over this, and the answer is let her be furious!
This law is reverberating on Arizona economically and in public relations, and if they were willing to face reality, that this makes the state look like the "Mississippi of the 1960s", then they should withdraw the law before it goes into effect on July 29!
But as it is, the law will not go into effect on that date as the US government will do what needs to be done to have the law considered in the federal courts, where, hopefully, it will be declared unconstitutional!
However, it is essential that the US government start to deal seriously with the issue of illegal immigration, so that no other states will move in the direction that Arizona has taken!
Lately, there has been speculation about the future of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Acknowledged by most observers as doing an exceptional job as Secretary of State, and reported to have a very close relationship with President Obama, one would think that Clinton would simply stay on as Secretary of State, until her plans at some point in the future to retire, self declared by her recently.
But instead, there are rumors that she will replace Secretary of Defense Robert Gates when he leaves at some point in the future, and returns to Texas!
There is also the suggestion by Sally Quinn of the Washington Post that Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden should switch positions, with Hillary becoming Vice President under the 25th Amendment, after Joe Biden resigns and becomes Secretary of State, having the opportunity to shape foreign policy, his greatest love and passion!
The argument is that Biden has no intention of seeking the Presidency, as he would be 74 at the end of a second Obama term.
But supposedly, Hillary Clinton might still be interested in seeking the Presidency at the age of 69 in 2016, younger than Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole, and John McCain, when they finally were nominated for President!
The argument is that Hillary Clinton could help President Obama win a second term, and with her experience and gender, could negate the effect of Sarah Palin or any other woman in the Republican party, and would have exceptional credentials to replace Obama if, for some reason, he left before the end of the second term. In any case, she would have a tremendous edge on the 2016 nomination and election from the Vice Presidency!
Of course, all this is speculation and rumor, but it certainly is interesting and fascinating to discuss and think about such scenarios as Secretary of Defense and Vice President for Hillary Clinton! 
Former President Bill Clinton has had his ups and downs in political influence since he left office nine and a half years ago.
Often seen as a burden on his wife, Hillary Clinton, during her run for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2008, his stature has risen since she became Secretary of State!
He scored a great public relations victory when he fought against the labor unions and Moveon.org in the Arkansas Senatorial primary, being a strong supporter of moderate to conservative Senator Blanche Lincoln.
Now that he has triumphed on that front, the former President is attempting to influence the Nevada Senate race, promoting the reelection of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid!
The nomination of Sharron Angle, backed by the Tea Party activists, and holding weird views on many issues, should make the Reid reelection effort a whole lot easier! But it cannot hurt to have Bill Clinton on your side, and Harry Reid is happy to have his strong support!
It is amazing how time heals wounds!
Considering the "bad blood" that existed between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton during the Presidential primary race of 2008, and the strong criticism and attacks of her husband, President Bill Clinton against Obama, sometimes reaching an extreme stage, it is something to behold how both Clintons now defend President Obama to the hilt!
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been a very loyal, supportive cabinet member, and has done a brilliant job in conducting foreign policy around the world, although of course, there is always room for criticism on some specifics, depending on one's vision of the world!
But also, Hillary Clinton has now made clear her support of the President on budgetary matters and the national debt, comparing the much better economic conditions that her husband left to President George W. Bush, as compared to the sad situation financially that President Obama inherited from President Bush!
Additionally, President Clinton, in a commencement speech at Yale University, denounced the "birthers" and their continued assertion that President Obama was not born in the United States! He made reference to how the state of Hawaii has gone to all limits to prove that Obama was born in the 50th state, and how outraged he personally is that the mythology about Obama being born in Kenya continues to exist!
So the former Presidential couple have become fast supporters and advocates of the 44th President, and that is a good thing, and makes both Clintons look far better than they appeared during 2007-2008!
In a surprise move this week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the government would release the information on the number of nuclear weapons the United States possesses, and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates revealed the exact number, 5,113, at the beginning of the UN Conference on reviewing the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty.
On first thought, one might think why is it that we are being told the exact number, and then the thought why do we need that many nuclear weapons in the first place?
When we discover that the number of nuclear weapons have been in constant decline since the all time high in 1967 when we had 31,255 nuclear warheads, and that therefore, there has been a drop of 84 percent in the past 43 years and 75 percent since the end of the Cold War, we can feel good. But then why do we need even 5,113 weapons to defend ourselves?
The purpose of the revelation of these numbers of nuclear weapons is to encourage other nations to cut down their nuclear stockpile, and prevent other nations from moving toward a nuclear arms race.
The hope is that eventually the danger of nuclear war can be overcome by the complete elimination of nuclear weapons by negotiation and verification means and trust among nations, so that the age of nuclear threat, now 65 years, can finally be scrapped and make life on this earth a lot safer and more secure!
Of course, it is certain that the right wing conservatives and the defense establishment will wish to continue to promote fear and hysteria to prevent what most sane Americans want--a world safer than when they were born! So the battle for peace continues with no easy resolution!
Probably the greatest asset President Barack Obama has is not his cabinet officers or advisers, but his elegant, highly intelligent and articulate First Lady!
Michelle Obama has already demonstrated that she is one of the greatest First Ladies in American History in just a little over a year in office!
Not only has she become a role model for women and young girls and promoted "family values" and the work ethic, but she has also become the leading advocate of her husband as he faces the most massive series of problems of any President since Franklin D. Roosevelt!
On her recent trip to earthquake torn Haiti and to Mexico, she showed her talent as a good will ambassador and spokesperson for every decent human trait to help those less fortunate!
She always knows the right thing to say and do, and she possesses great charm and presence!
It is such a delight to have an intelligent and accomplished First Lady, as the job description has become much more upgraded by her qualifications, which rival, and in some ways, surpass all First Ladies except, possibly, Eleanor Roosevelt and Hillary Clinton!
Michelle Obama will continue to be a tremendous asset to her husband and to America in the coming years, and this can be seen in a way to follow what Bill Clinton said when he was elected, regarding his wife: You elect me, you gain my wife as a dividend!
That is certainly the case with Michelle Obama!
Vice President Joe Biden was thought to be likely to fade into the background, and be an insignificant factor in the Presidency of Barack Obama, but instead he is being seen as the secret weapon assisting Obama in many ways.
His experience, contacts, and warm relationships with many members of the Senate, plus his years as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and also as past Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, all are putting him in good stead as the administration faces the challenge of gaining Health Care reform, and dealing with intractable diplomatic issues.
In his role as presiding officer of the Senate, Biden could well be the decisive factor in the passage of "Reconciliation", which would bring about the enactment of the most significant social legislation since Medicare in the 1960s.
Biden is now in the Middle East, trying to promote diplomatic negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians, and rallying Arabs against the rising threat of Iranian nuclear weapons. He has excellent contacts with many world leaders and is able, therefore, to assist Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in her diplomatic activities.
A totally different Vice President than Dick Cheney, Biden could well be seen in the future as a major factor in the successes of a much younger, less experienced President whom he loyally serves!