Over the Hill, already

I am nobody to say this, but I think Hillary Clinton should definitely take the plunge, jump in feet first and clasp John Kerry''s hand (if he extends it, that is). I can''t think of a better running mate for the guy who will, in all probability, occupy the White House soon.
Hillary as VP? Absolutely. And I hope to hell, she doesn''t have an Inner Voice problem.Imagine the situation, if, at the crucial minute, with an appointment letter in her hand, and the entire Democratic Party going rah-rah-rah at the big convention, Hillary bursts into tears and utters the shortest, most powerful word in the English language — No.
Of course, she''ll make headlines, will get featured on the covers of all major magazines, but the scenario won''t work in quite the same way for her, as it did for Sonia Gandhi.
In Hillary''s place, I''d cut a deal with Kerry. Before doing that, I''d cut a deal with my husband. To both these guys, I''d basically say the same thing: You need me, buddy. So let''s do this my way.
Bill Clinton''s tedious tome''s timing is perfect and has definitely been pre-planned to suit the VP announcement. Pity, the books such a dud, or else Bill''s moment of glory would''ve worked in Hillary''s interest (its pay-back time, for the old man anyway).
There''s no one smarter or better qualified. She should go for it. But she should also define her own agenda and push it on her own terms.
Like her husband''s famous justification for his affair with Monica Lewinsky (''I did it, because I could''), Hillary too should negotiate for better terms, because she can. And the hard bargaining should be engaged in right now.
The deal Hillary must cut with the brash and cocky Kerry should be about his term in office if he wins. Bill Clinton is already talking about Kerry getting a second term.
This automatically means Hillary will have to cool her heels for the next eight years as Kerry''s sidekick and obliging VP. That''s four years too long. She should only agree to the VP deal on one condition — Kerry must vacate the White House after four years, and make way for Hillary to move in.
Eight years? No way. Four years will give Kerry enough time to have some serious fun in the White House, while Hillary pushes her stalled health reforms through. It will also give the Americans enough time to get used to a woman''s presence in and out of the Oval Office.
Unlike Asia, America is still pretty resistant to the idea of women in positions of power.
Forget Condoleezza Rice for a minute, who else can you think of? Surely not Madeleine Albright. So in case, Hillary Clinton is also having a problem with her inner voice, she should have a quick chat with our beloved Italian lady.
Though their circumstances are radically different, there is much they also share in common, being women, being wives and mothers, being political players in mega democracies.
Their concerns may overlap on several issues. Their anxieties could similarly match. Age-wise, they''re in the same bracket. Ambition-wise, ditto. Sonia Gandhi took the shrewder option and opted for sainthood.
If Hillary is offered the VP''s position on a platter, she should make up her mind once and for all, whether her ultimate goal, her eventual destination, is the White House (nothing like going back to a familiar, comfort zone).
If it is, there''s no looking back now. Bill will be the perfect house-husband, they have the money, they''ve already tasted blood. That leaves Chelsea and her boyfriend. No problem.
The White House is large enough for all. As for interns, well, Hillary doesn''t smoke cigars, so I guess that''s okay too. From the looks of it, US Elections 2004 are going to be as exciting as the Euro 2004 Finals tonight. May the hardest hitter win. And God help the goal-keeper.