It's a way to neutralize her. She still scares the crap out of him.

Recall that is still a rare event to elect a sitting senator as president, even a "lion of the senate".  Also, New Yorker's do some dumb things sometimes like elect republican governors, so the timing is good now.

While it's fun to mull the political ramifications of this...at the end it really should come down to what is best for the country.
I do like the team of rivals idea.  I think Obama really needs some honest brokers around him.

He's intending to power the country for the next four years off the energy generated by the meltdown of the blogosphere.

But some Obama advisers argue that Hillary Clinton would be an ideal fit if Obama concludes that he will have to focus his early days in office on the domestic economy, and will have to essentially outsource heavy-duty foreign travel to his secretary of state. Her celebrity and credibility would be a huge asset in his goal of reengaging the United States with allies. "You can send out John Kerry or Chuck Hagel," said one adviser, mentioning some other candidates for secretary of state. "Sending Hillary Clinton out is better."

What a team Obama and Clinton...to get back respect of the world...to get the nation back on track.

Sure, there are still bruised feelings out there on both sides but I hope folks can bury the ax and start being as adult about it as both Hillary and Obama have shown themselves to be.

Just now, some woman anchor who I do not know was interviewing Ann Kornblutt--who seems awfully not-so-smart to have such a big name in journalism.

Here's a rough paraphrase of their discussion of Hillary as SOS.

Anchor: Ann, let's be cynical here a moment.

Anchor and Ann: giggle

Anchor: Could part of Senator Obama's intent be to neutralize any opposition from Senator Clinton in the Senate? I mean, they're both in the same party and all, but....

Ann: Well, sure, there could be an element of "keep you enemies close...."

The implication is that Hillary will seek to undermine Obama from the Senate.

Just as it was that Hillary would seek to undermine Obama during the general election and at the convention.

Their proof, I guess, is that Hillary actually ran against Obama in the primaries rather than simply stepping aside after Iowa and allowing his fans to crown him in January. The nerve of her! Why, she must be really hateful and adversarial by nature!

I'm a greater cynic than most anyone here, but you know what? I believe!

I believe that Obama understands he has been placed on stage in a point of time in the history of the world that has had few equals. I believe he has gone through an epiphany whereby all the childish crap; motives, jealousies, agendas, plots, etc. are in the garbage can. It's Showtime Baby, and he knows it.

If I'm right, and in his head, he understands that the world, and its children's future, are in his hands. He's not gonna blow it. If he "feared" Hillary in the primaries, I believe that fear has morphed into respect and admiration, and vice versa. Being a New Yorker, I know Hillary wouldn't take a back seat to anyone, and I believe Obama has grown to the point where he doesn't want her in the "back seat."

As Secretary of State, she can make the job be anything she wants it to be, and that will be just fine with Obama. What a blessing for a once- in- a- century leader to have a partner as gifted as Sen. Clinton. Can you imagine the reception she'll get when the wife of "the first black President," and the SoS to the soon to be President, touches down in Africa? Her unique experience, and rare combination of skills, will charm, disarm, and engage Putin, Ahmadinejad, Kim, et al as no one else could.  I think it's a match made in heaven, so let's give these guys some credit, o.k.? Sometime people do do things for all the right reasons. Sometimes they do grow out of childish things, and accept the awesome responsibility of true leadership.  

Until, or unless, I'm proven wrong, I'm going forward feeling blessed that at THIS moment in time, with literally everything at stake, this crazy country, America, finally got it right.

Hillary as SoS would have some eerie similarities to Bill Seward, Lincoln's State man.  Seward, like Hillary, was a senator from NY.  He was not only the main opponent in the nomination process, but like Hillary, Seward was expected to walk to the nom.  Both however got bum campaign advice -- Seward was told by his chief advisor to stay aloof from the process and not seem too eager, so he went to Europe for months.

Hillary of course got a steady stream of lousy advice from fuddy duddy corporate centrist Mark Penn, who also seemed to think it was her nomination for the taking.  Meanwhile, Lincoln, with Seward out of the country, quietly went about lining up support nationwide, just as Obama's team quietly went about planning a quiet but effective ground game in the smaller primary states which was the key to his victory.

Both Seward and Lincoln had similar political positions on most key issues.  Ditto HRC and Obama.  

Seward's first name was Bill.  Hillary was married to a guy named Bill.

Seward's "Folly" involved his work to obtain the territory of Alaska.  Hillary was involved in a campaign season which involved a political opponent from the state of Alaska running as VP (two, if we count the minor Dem primary opponent, the former senator -- very odd fellow -- whose name escapes me ...)