Hillary agonistes

Midstream in her second term as a New York Senator, Hillary Rodham Clinton has spent much of the last two years fighting fiercely – if sometimes clumsily – for a shot at the White House.

The question now: What next?

Somewhat shockingly, the Obama administration has floated the idea of Clinton as Secretary of State. According to some press accounts, the former First Lady has been offered the job and may have decided to accept.

Pundits on both sides of the matter are fierce.

Some advance her obvious intelligence and her long service to the Democratic cause; others deride her lack of experience and raise questions about her husband’s entanglements.

My reservations are different: I would like to see what Clinton could accomplish as a fully engaged United States Senator.

As Barack Obama showed, it is difficult to be an activist lawmaker while also campaigning for the White House. Clinton’s tenure so far has been similarly cautious.

This is her chance to put her stamp on the big issues of the day. What would an ambitious Clinton healthcare bill look like? Or a new proposal on rural revitalization?

How would her proposals on foreign trade differ from those of her husband? Would she “walk back” NAFTA and GATT?

Obviously, as Secretary of State, Clinton would add another impressive line to her already impressive resume. But she would also find herself once again in a supporting role.

Good Secretaries of State are cautious, team players. I, for one, would like to see New York’s junior Senator play her own hand and play it daringly.

Agree? Disagree? Post your comment below.