Does this HAVE to be Obama's last campaign?

[RandySF]

Let's assume for a moment that he's re-elected (as I expect).Dos this have to be his last campaign? He's a young man and it's possible that the City of Chicago might be well served with him as Mayor. Yes, I know, City Hall is not the White House, but helping to improve Chicago neighborhoods should not be beneath him. I hope this isn't it.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

1. Let's live this thing one office at a time

[mrmpa]

2. He could follow the road of John Quincy Adams.........

and become a member of the House of Representatives.

[Cirque du So-What]

7. Could he become Speaker? I think not

After all, that position is 3rd in line to the Presidency, so the rules probably wouldn't allow it.

[Recovered Repug]

17. I don't think anything would prevent him from being Speaker, in theory.

If for some reason the Speaker doesn't meet the qualifications for President (age, natural born citizen), the secession would move on to the President Pro Tem of the Senate. For example, Albright was the SOS (5th in line), but could never be President.

[bayareamike]

3. Would that be unprecedented? He is a transformational figure and Chicago would be well served

But, as was stated above: let's focus on the next four years first!

[mainstreetonce]

4. Governor of Hawaii

Would be nice

[unblock]

5. he's only excluded from running for veep or prez. he can be a senator, congresscritter, or justice

or of course he can be an ambassador or cabinet member or mayor or town clerk or whatever....

[condoleeza]

6. Would love to see him as SOS, but that ages you almost worse than being POTUS

[titaniumsalute]

8. Usually after reaching the ultimate office you don't become a Mayor

He'll, like Clinton and Carter, will become a World Diplomat. He'll lead disaster charities, will work for peace, etc.

[madokie]

9. If I'm going to dream I'd dream that O comes back after Hillary's 8 years in the WH once he finishes

these next four and run and win a third maybe even a fourth term. Like you said he is still young and he does have a rock star persona and all.

Our President is awesome

[Tx4obama]

14. U.S. Presidents can only serve two 4 year terms. n/t

[SickOfTheOnePct]

16. thank you I was just going to post this n/t

[roody]

10. I hope that he and his family

dedicate themselves to doing good after his next term, like Jimmy Carter.

[exboyfil]

11. Hasn't happenned in a long time

Ford was a possible Reagan V.P.

Taft became Chief Justice

John Quincy Adams went to the House

Mondale tried for the Senate after Wellstone died.
Calhoun Sec State after V.P.
Wallace Sec Commerce after V.P.
Hamlin Ambassador to Spain after V.P.

Senators after V.P.
Breckinridge
Barkley
Hamlin
Humphrey
Andrew Johnson

[Tx4obama]

12. It would be to disruptive for Obama to hold another office. He will have Secret Service with him

for 10 years after he leaves office.

Mayors etc need to be able to be able to move around with out being in a constant security bubble.

After President Obama has finished his second term and has had a couple of years rest, I would like to see the next Democratic president appoint Obama to the Supreme Court

[frazzled]

13. I bet he is going to write a remarkable book (or many such books)

when he is done.

He is a writer, and always was: it's clear when you read the letters that have been published in various places over the past year. Here's one from 1985, writing back to his New York roommate about his first impressions of Chicago. I thought it was quite remarkable (and perceptive).

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/government-elections-politics/choice-2012/artifact-11-obamas-early-impressions-of-chicago/

He will of course write the obligatory summary of his (8!) years as president, but it won't be just another tome destined for the remainder table or slashed price on Amazon. I believe it will be the kind of book that will be read for generations.

Perhaps he will also teach again. I hope he comes back to U of C, not necessarily in the Law School. David Axelrod has set up a new institute of government/politics there (not unlike the Kennedy School at Harvard, I should think), and I would be surprised if he didn't at least recruit Obama to stop in for lectures from time to time.

[JLRC]

15. nah

I think it'll be time for him to go to something that he'll probably do well, being a figurehead.

[KurtNYC]

18. There is no follow up to the Whitehouse

Jimmy Carter showed his true colors by continuing and pushing Habitat.

I would like to see Obama do one more lap of the country, one final campaign for single payer health care in 2013 (but I'm not holding my breath).

[hifiguy]

19. He'd look mighty good on the SCOTUS.

Not unheard of either. William Howard Taft became Chief Justice after serving as President.

[loves_dulcinea]

20. a better question

Does this have to be Bill Clinton's last campaign?

[NYC Liberal]

21. It won't be his last campaign.

He will campaigning for Democratic candidates for MANY years to come.

[randome]

22. We could use him as an advisor, maybe with the DNC.

Or he could be our next ambassador to the great mind-nation of 'Chill The Fuck Out!'