Still pining for Hillary?

For some reason MSNBC's Chris Matthews has been relentlessly pushing the idea that Hillary Clinton should run for president in 2016. He's been bullying his guests on the subject all week at the DNC convention. Color me perplexed. Put aside Hillary's qualifications, potential presidential temperament or the daunting politics of a run. Does the Hardball host not realize Hillary turns 65 in October? That means she would be 69 on Election Day 2016. She would 73 at the end of her first term, a mere warm-up act for the next one. Sure, Reagan did it. But that was a wholly different time (now 31 years ago) and pleased only Republicans of that era -- the legacy of which the nation is still paying dearly. Sure, in my book, Hillary would be preferable to a Republican in the White House in 2016. But would she be preferable to a younger, stronger Democratic candidate (without her baggage) and better adapted to the 21st century in a post-Obama world? Moreover, could she even win? Matthews thinks Hillary would be a slam-dunk. But we've heard this talk of "inevitability" before -- and we know how that movie ended. If I were Hillary, I'd exit gracefully on a high note, bask in the coming sunset, and pass the baton to Chelsea's generation. I, too, wish to see a Democratic female president. But Hillary ain't The One.