And so it’s official (finally). This was the worst kept secret in the short history of the Obama administration. Actually, make that the Obama pre-administration. The national press and pundits have been jawing incessantly about this since Hillary flew to Chicago and met with Obama on November 14th. From the very beginning it was talked about as if it were a done deal. Announcing this now is like unwrapping a Christmas present that you already saw before it was wrapped. So act surprised and say it’s just what you always wanted.

There’s even a rumor that Hillary actually started this whole ball rolling all by herself. Speculation is that Hillary was invited to Chicago by Obama simply as part of his fence-mending strategy toward his former opponents. This was the same rationale for Obama’s meeting with John McCain. Obama may or may not have discussed a potential cabinet position with Hillary at that meeting, but she returned to New York and coyly refused to discuss what was discussed. Then the Clinton underground went to work quietly leaking or implying to the Media that Hill was up for Secretary of State. “Psst - Hillary, Obama, State Department - say no more, nudge nudge, wink wink, know what I mean?”

But this does present some problems now. For one thing, Hillary will have to resign her cherished Senate seat and a replacement will have to be named. That task falls to the Governor of New York, David Paterson, who only became Governor earlier this year after Elliot Spitzer was caught doing the horizontal mambo with a prostitute. Picking a replacement is important because we wouldn’t want to upset the delicate, totally lopsided balance of power in the Senate. And we shouldn’t be concerned that Paterson is legally blind - they say justice is blind, so here’s our chance to prove the old adage true. Or not.

Another issue is protection. As the former first lady, Hillary is entitled to lifetime protection by the Secret Service. But as Secretary of State, the Diplomatic Security Service of the State Department is also responsible for her protection. You really need to pick one or the other, or every foreign trip will look like a scene from the Keystone Cops, with sunglasses in suits pouring off the airplane. Diplomatic missions aren’t like the Iraq war - problems don’t get solved by putting more wingtips on the ground. And if Bill decides to tag along on some of her diplomatic missions, there’ll be even more suits and sunglasses and Dick Tracy Wrist Radios.

And finally, there’s the annoying little process of being confirmed by the Senate. Part of the deal with the devil to get Hillary officially nominated was to get Bill Clinton to make all kinds of promises regarding donor lists and speaking engagements and foreign entanglements yada yada yada. But let’s get real here, the former Philanderer in Chief doesn’t have a great track record for fidelity. Once Hillary has the job and is off trotting the globe, what are they gonna do if Bill goes back on some of those promises - un-nominate and un-confirm Hillary? Don’t think so.

On the other hand, Bill has been willing to bend over backwards to make it possible for Hillary to be Secretary of State. Because hey, she’ll be out of town a lot. Even better, she’ll be out of the country - a lot. Oh, the wild parties Bill could have in Chappaqua while Hillary’s off leading the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuit.