"WHY, LITTLE OLD ME?" SHE EXCLAIMED, "WHY WOULD ANYONE THINK THAT?" – AT 9:56 A.M. ET:  There is a boomlet for Hillary Clinton.  Of course, she and her allies have nothing to do with it.  It's the will of the people, don't you see?  From John Fund at The Wall Street Journal:

As President Obama sinks in the polls, Democrats and liberal pundits inevitably are searching for a scapegoat. The most likely victim appears to be gaffe-prone Vice President Joe Biden, who has become the focus of speculation that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton just might replace him on the 2012 Democratic ticket.

Former Virginia Gov. Doug Wilder, his state's first African-American governor, touched off the controversy. Writing at Politico.com last week, Mr. Wilder argued that Mr. Biden's tenure has been undistinguished and chock full of "too many YouTube moments." He charged that Mr. Biden "has continued to undermine what little confidence the public may have had in him."

By way of contrast, Mr. Wilder says that Hillary Clinton has excelled in her role.

And so the buildup continues.

John Heilemann, a reporter for New York magazine, said the major obstacle would be to "figure out a way for Biden to slide aside happily" and suggested that Mr. Biden replace Mrs. Clinton as Secretary of State.

Along the way, Mr. Heilemann outlined why President Obama just might want to have a steadier hand at his side for his re-election campaign: "The Republican attack on Obama is going to revolve around 'too liberal,' but also 'too incompetent.' . . . They're going to say, 'Look, you hired this guy. He was too young for this job. He didn't know what he was doing. He didn't have the experience, and look what's happened.'"

Hmmm. Sounds a lot like the campaign Mrs. Clinton ran against Barack Obama in 2008, complete with that infamous commercial asking voters who they wanted in the White House when a 3 a.m. crisis call came in.

COMMENT:  Fascinating, of course, but there are some problems with the script.  First, Hillary would be running as v.p. candidate as part of Obama's try for a second term.  Second terms are notoriously unsuccessful.  Why would she want to be first mate on a sinking ship?  As secretary of state, or even as a private citizen, she distances herself from Obama's mistakes.

Second, the ticket could lose, probably finishing Clinton in national politics.  A new group of younger Dems will step forward for 2016.

Third, Clinton may project an image of "competence," but her tenure as secretary of state hasn't produced a major success.  She could wind up being less than an asset.

Fourth, the public may revolt against the "dynasty" factor.  Her husband has been president.

Fifth, Obama may veto the idea.  He'll certainly know that Hillary would spend her four years as vice president measuring the Oval Office drapes, and doing little else.  Who needs this?

Sixth, the image of Hillary, already Her Pushiness, pushing aside Joe Biden, may not be helpful.  The guy's got feelings, and public sympathy may actually display itself.

Seventh, the notion that being vice president gives Hillary an automatic presidential nomination in 2016 may not turn out to be valid.  The public may tire of her.  Two terms as first lady.  A term and a half in the Senate.  A term as secretary of state.  A term as vice president.  Got any other pitchers in the bull pen?

But it is an intriguing possibility.  We'd like it just because it gives us so much to write about.  It's show biz.

August 10, 2010