Senator Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State?  President-elect Barack Obama is considering this witch for a top-level position in his cabinet.  At first glance, one would think that he had lost his marbles.  Stand back and look at the big picture, and you may be able to see what he is truly thinking.

The Democratic runner-up for the top job in the White House certainly has the credentials to do the job.  In fact, of the handful of qualified candidates for the job, Clinton may be the most qualified.  However, given the war that transpired between her and Obama during the nomination process (despite her endorsement of Obama once he had secured the nomination), she is nonetheless a curious choice.

By Obama offering this high-level position to Clinton, it effectively paints her into a corner.  If she accepts, then President-elect Obama is her boss.  She is his employee there on in, and this thusly prevents her from pulling any power plays (as she may be able to by remaining a member of the Senate).  If she declines the post, then her power base is eroded and she will alienate many Democrats.

This also allows Obama to scrutinize her finances and past history carefully.  It is no secret that her and Bill have a lot of skeletons in the closet.  Being a first term President, he doesn’t need that baggage coming out to haunt him at the most innopportune of times.

Obama also consolidates his power base by having it leak out that the Secretary of State was offered to Hillary.  He now looks magnanimous by making the pitch to Mrs. Clinton.  For a rookie politician, President-elect Obama seems to be making few, if any, mistakes.  One can only hope that he is not the rabbit sleeping with the snake.