but neither have I thought that Howard would run again. Has been pretty well beaten up by Dem ptb.

There are only so many times you're going to be handed a juggernaut built to roll over any possible opposition in the general and nearly guarantee that the GOP is kept out of the White House for another 4-8 years. I get wanting the ideal Liberal candidate but *nobody* else in the field comes within shouting distance of Clinton's viability. With a megaphone. And a 20 foot tall bank of speakers.

If she runs it's a done deal barring something happening between now and '16 which somehow renders her electorally damaged in a huge way. There is no Obama equivalent in the making right now that could possibly go up against her and have a shot in hell. (And nobody say Warren. Yes she's awesome, no she wouldn't have a chance at this time.)

The importance of keeping the WH Democratic for at least another four years can't be underestimated. The very first thing a Rep will do is try to repeal Obamacare, or at least gut it so badly it's useless. It needs the extra time to become embedded as deeply as Medicare or SS.