Thirteen years ago, Maureen Dowd wrote a biting feature about Hillary Rodham Clinton. It was an imaginary debate between her and Elizabeth Dole, husband of Bob Dole. Back in 1996, Bill Clinton and Dole ran for the presidency. The former won convincingly, but Dowd's article made fun of what many suspected about the former First Lady back then: she aspired to be the first female U.S. president. That it was she, not her husband, who was running the White House (and the nation).

She's still aspiring for the top post. It nearly happened last year, when Clinton vied for the Democratic presidential nomination, but she lost to eventual winner Barack Obama. The charismatic Obama was magnanimous to offer her former rival the State Secretary post. That keeps Clinton's political career (and presidential ambition) alive.

The big question is will Clinton run in 2012? Several papers from superiorpaper com offer contrasting opinion. Nothing is certain yet at this point - the state of the U.S. economy will determine if Obama seeks re-election - but it's not remote to picture Clinton pitted against Sarah Palin, who was John McCain's running mate in last year's elections. The Alaskan governor captured the imagination of many. Tina Fey also played her believably (and amusingly) in last year's episodes of "Saturday Night Live".

It may be another catfight for Clinton. It might be the first for Palin. That would be exciting.