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Without rapid and true unification, the Democratic Party will stagger toward November, giving John McCain every opportunity to continue Cheney’s War and guarantee that WMD (W’s Massive Deficit) will remain a national certainty for four more years. The key to unifying the Democrats is Hillary Clinton, but she has not made it easy for Barack Obama to bring her into his huddle.

Her non-concession speech after Obama became the “presumptive nominee” on Tuesday evening was unsubtle, ungracious, and unthinking. And her decision to “make no decisions” when the decision of the voters was finally and completely unambiguous almost certainly guaranteed her elimination from Obama’s possible veep list. Not that I think she was ever on it. It’s true that really savvy CEO’s hire the very best to work under them, and Hillary definitely qualifies, but the thought of Bill wandering nose-first around the White House (”Just bringing some lunch to my wife…”) is too much.

So, what does New York’s junior senator do now? She will not willingly become a backbencher. Will Obama offer her a Cabinet post? Secretary of State? The other Cabinet slots would be lateral or downward moves for her. But foreign policy is not her strongest suit…and would she accept State if offered? Low probability.

The best alternative, one that would increase her stature and actually help Pres. Obama, would be to convince the Democratic senators to install her as Senate Majority Leader. Harry Reid, ineffective and ineffectual since he assumed that office in 2006, would have to be convinced. And even though seniority is not a requirement for Majority Leader as it is with Committee Chairs, other seniority-mantled senators would have to step aside. (Most would not take the job: Robert Byrd, Ted Kennedy, Daniel Inouye, Joe Biden, Patrick Leahy, Max Baucus, Carl Levin, Chris Dodd, Jeff Bingaman, John Kerry, Tom Harkin, Jay Rockefeller, and Barbara Mikulski all have more seniority than Harry Reid).

As Majority Leader, Sen. Clinton would be critical to any legislative plans Pres. Obama proposed. In a Democrat-controlled senate, she would wield far more power than she would as vice president (no one expects Obama to encourage a Cheney-level vice presidency). Although her becoming Majority Leader could not take place until the new Congress convenes in January 2009, Obama could begin lobbying immediately, and if she were convinced, she’d be able to cheerlead her 18 million supporters to great effect.

After a campaign that at its end seemed to nod toward McCain rather than toward Obama, Clinton should do everything in her power to work for unification. But, given her bizarre refusal to quit when she should have—many times—she may require an offering.

Majority Leader? Good idea.

Clinton photograph © Time