Stop Hillary Rodham Clinton

All signs are pointing to a Hillary Clinton candidacy according to the U.S. News and World Report

You don't have to take it from us about Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton 's desire to run for president. Her brothers, Hugh and Tony Rodham, say it's true. Friends tell us that the two are cheering Sis on and say she's making all the moves to get ready for the race--presuming she is re-elected by New Yorkers in 2006.

The blogosphere, for the most part, do not want her.

Some great news comes from the Kansas City Star:

Roll Call's Emily Pierce reports that Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid has decided to make Democratic Sen. Max Baucus of Montana the lead Social Security negotiator.

Baucus and Reid's predecessor, Tom Daschle, didn't get along, so the new deal means Baucus will vote more often with the Democratic caucus than in recent years.

Baucus said he doesn't feel like he had been put on a short leash, and he added that he's pleased with Reid's confidence in him. Said a Baucus aide, of Baucus' views on Social Security: "He's not a big fan of private accounts. He's not a big fan of benefit cuts."

I should have covered this a few days ago but didn't:

If history is any guide, the decisions about what the party should say and where it will go will be driven by leaders in Congress over the next two years and presumably by the candidates running for president immediately after that. "Let Hillary Clinton and Evan Bayh and Howard Dean and John Kerry fight over what the message is going to be," said Joe Trippi, who managed Dr. Dean's presidential bid but is supporting Mr. Rosenberg for chairman.

From a conservative website:

Washington Democrats are buzzing about the news - not so much that Gore will be feted by Democrats, but the civil war it will likely unleash in the party.[...]

The fratricide among Democrats will come from another likely contender. Hillary Rodham Clinton is giving every indication she will run. Gore and Hillary have long disliked each other.

The pair got off to a stormy start when Bill Clinton was elected president and first lady Hillary demanded that she occupy the office traditionally given to the vice president. Bill vetoed the idea - which apparently led to a shouting match between the first couple during their first inaugural in 1993.

Gore has told friends that he partly blames Hillary for his loss in 2000. Critical Democratic manpower and financial resources were siphoned from his campaign to make sure Hillary won her Senate race in New York.

Now Gore may try to exact revenge.[...]

But this time, Gore friends in Washington believe that he has a better chance.

They are already reminding Democrats of Nixon's successful comeback. Like Gore in 2000, Nixon lost as the vice president to John F. Kennedy in a nail-bitingly close election. Nixon decided to skip the following election and made a stunning comeback in 1968 to take the White House.

Gore's argument is that he can do the same because he is a Southern Democrat. Gore supporters believe a Hillary run will position the party, once again, with a Northeastern liberal. This formula - repeating the candidacies of Dukakis and Kerry - is destined for failure.

But Gore cites Clinton and Jimmy Carter, both Southern Democrats, who won the nomination and the presidency.

Though Gore served as a moderate-to-conservative Democrat in the House and Senate representing Tennessee, he veered sharply to the left during the Clinton years.

Democratic operatives say you'll see Gore reaffirm his Southern "Red" state credentials as he tacks again to the right.

Gore also has one key supporter behind him. The New York Post's Page Six says Tipper Gore has been telling friends that Al is seriously considering a 2008 race.

As much as I like and respect Vice President Al Gore, I am still backing Senator Evan Bayh. However, truth be told, I'd rather see Vice President Gore try again than Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton get the nomination. Hilary Clinton would be a death sentence to the Democratic Party.