Or instead of doing damage to it, it's stoked her interest, since (as the proverb goes) revenge is a dish best served cold...

Given that Hillary not only didn't meaningfully help the Democratic Senate campaign in 2006, but actually hurt that effort and probably cost her party at least one, maybe two seats with the conduct of her own reelection campaign that year, was there really ever any chance that she could become majority leader?

Anyway, does anyone have a count of how many Senate Democrats have endorsed each way? You've gotta figure that Hillary is not likely to gain the leadership votes of Obama supporters anytime soon.

Rhubarbs, I don't know that breakdown. But Clinton and Obama are tied among elected superdelegates (senators, governors, etc..). Her superdelegate lead is ENTIRELY a function of party officials.

Rhub is right, she won't be any kind of leader (except maybe in a few committees). If the Dems pick up a bunch of seats in the Senate, they won't need her high profile, and the more ambitious ones will want their opportunity to shine. Hillary knows this is her only shot so she doesn't care about blowing up the bridges both in front of her and behind her, this is her last stand. Given her age and the fact that all the makeup, botox, peroxide, mortar and pestle can only do so much to make her look human that the possibility of her being any kind of eminence gris is impossible. It is sad but true that a guy like Fred Thompson, a human sharpei, can make a run, but that look on Hillary is too gruesome to contemplate.

one other thing, Casey was adamant he would remain neutral so as to be a peacemaker. This has to be seen as a clear rebuke to Hillary and her campaign. How long until the Hillaryites start to whine about him, how he went back on his word, betrayed the voters of Pa. blah blah.

As some of the more belligerent feminists out there might remind us, blackton, we're all sexists eight years from now.

I don't know, Pelosi's 7-8 years older than Clinton, and she looks pretty good. Although, she was probably better-looking to begin with. And, you know, Maggie Thatcher got elected.

Until recently I thought it would be in the best interests of the party if Clinton were to drop out. Now I think it would be in the best interests of an Obama win in the general that she stays in and does her best (and worst) to knock Obama out, even if it means going to the convention floor. Democrats have forgotten how to fight profitably. Even a dirty fight can ennoble the victor if he's the one taking the most illegal punches and answering with more will to win (ya gotta have it - heart to overcome the punishment) and more ring savvy. (Sorry pugilism metaphor haters, I love the game and its terms fit when there's a fight on).

blackton, I think an ugly old woman is just as likely to be able to achieve prominence in Congress as an ugly old man. The presidency is different than all other cases. But there are any number of women who are just as unattractive as any of their male colleagues now serving in the House and Senate. It's not like Harry Reid, or any recent Republican leader in either house, is rocking the Cary Grant genes here.

Personally, I think Hillary would have done better to be less perfectly coifed at all times. If we'd seen her in the same suit from time to time, jerks like the WaPo's Robin Givhan would have thrown a cow, and I think it's safe to say that a lot of men would have said, "About time women politicians started dressing normal." And, honestly, I find her theatrical arm gestures scary, in a film-of-Mussolini way. I can live with the little Bill Clinton crooked-finger thing, but nobody uses their arms like that when they speak. It's like a parody of bad 19th century acting. But I digress. When she's less made up, she also tends to speak more comfortably, and her normal speaking voice is quite attractive, as far as politicians' speaking voices go. I maintain that's why she connected so well after the crying incident in NH -- it wasn't the crying, it was the 24 hours of TV and radio replaying of Hillary briefly speaking in her normal voice.

So I don't think it's her gender or her age that will keep her out of the majority leader's office.

Oh, and miceelf, it's an interesting exercise to count up how many of the non-elected superdelegates Hillary has who are now or were recently in her employ. And I'm not talking "worked for Bill's administration," but rather, people who were paid by Hillary's campaign in 2006 or during the presidential election, or who play roles with PACs that receive substantial Hillary funding, and so forth. She has, effectively, bought her superdelegate lead with cash. If she wins the nomination, she will not have stolen it, she will have purchased it.

Michael, it would be dumb of Hillary to be worrying about her "reputed interest in being senate majority leader".  She's running for president.  She knows she has to go for broke.  Hedging her bet in any way would guarantee she'd lose.

You'll note that Bob Dole did the especially honorable thing and resigned his senate seat when he was running for president so that he wouldn't compromise his senate duties by the distraction of the campaign.

I notice that neither Obama nor Hillary considered that option.

I agree with Rhubarbs completely. Especially about the arm gestures.

But on the looks thing: I get the double standard, and it's very evident on news shows, where the women HAVE to be easy on the eye, the men not so much. But there's another thing going on, and that's genuineness. Obama is attractive mostly because of that, the ease in the skin thing, and if he were not everyone would be calling him a Ken doll or whatever - which is what they did to Mitt Romney, who is much more "traditionally" good looking. But instead, Obama's the dreamboat, and Romney's Mr. Plastic. Also, when you are a certain age, and totally past the "hot or not" horror, you can be who you are, and then, if you are a woman, people take you more seriously as well. Like Thatcher and also Madeline Albright.

Every Democrat in the Congress could call on her to quit, and Hillary will tell them to go to hell.

As well she should.  When Obama wins the nomination, he can claim it.  Until then, keep campaigning.

There is a famous incident in WW2, when the Germans had  completely surrounded American forces at Bastogne, during the Battle of the Bulge.

The German general called upon the American commander,  General Anthony McAuliffe, to surrender.

McAuliffe sent back a one word reply, which puzzled the Germans but pleased the American public:  "Nuts".

McAuliffe held on, and within two days, Patton's forces arrived and cracked the siege.

Strong people don't give up just because their adversaries wish it or demand it.  You want Hillary gone?  Well, then kick her butt.  Until then, weak sisters, shut up.

(And, God,is there a weaker sister than Senator Leahy?)

Every Democrat in the Congress could call on her to quit, and Hillary will tell them to go to hell.

As well she should.  When Obama wins the nomination, he can claim it.  Until then, keep campaigning.

There is a famous incident in WW2, when the Germans had  completely surrounded American forces at Bastogne, during the Battle of the Bulge.

The German general called upon the American commander,  General Anthony McAuliffe, to surrender.

McAuliffe sent back a one word reply, which puzzled the Germans but pleased the American public:  "Nuts".

McAuliffe held on, and within two days, Patton's forces arrived and cracked the siege.

Strong people don't give up just because their adversaries wish it or demand it.  You want Hillary gone?  Well, then kick her butt.  Until then, weak sisters, shut up.

(And, God,is there a weaker sister than Senator Leahy?)

psantillana writes, "...But on the looks thing: I get the double standard, and it's very evident on news shows, where the women HAVE to be easy on the eye, the men not so much."

When are liberals going to let this one go.  It's real life, folks.  It's the way human beings are.  It's hardwired.  Women are now and always will be to some extent advantaged by being great looking and disadvantaged by not being.

To a certain extent, it's true for men as well.  Tall guys often have an advantage over short guys.  Lanky guys get promoted faster than fat ones.  

Human being find ways to compensate, but it's just the way things are.  Until the Left figures a way to surgically rewire the human brain (and I don't put that impulse past them) good looking women are going to have an advantage over the less comely ones.

Sorry, it has to do with attributes preferred for reproduction etc.  Grow up.