Don't want to miss out on the latest in politics? Start each day with The Post Politics Hour. Join in each weekday morning at 11 a.m. as a member of The Washington Post's team of White House and congressional reporters answers questions about the latest buzz in Washington and The Post's coverage of political news.

Chris Cillizza, washingtonpost.com political blogger, was online Friday, Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. ET taking your questions about the latest political news.

Read the latest post from The Fix or follow him on Twitter.

A transcript follows.

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Archive: Post Politics Hour discussion transcripts

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Chris Cillizza: Hello all. It's chat time!

And let's start things off with a bang: We've just confirmed that Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama met yesterday at his Chicago transition headquarters amid wild speculation that the New York senator is under consideration to be secretary of State. That meeting is sure to stoke even more speculation as we head into the weekend.

Let's get to it.

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Annandale, Va.: How many current senators do you expect to join the Obama administration? Are there any sitting Republican senators in states with Democratic governors that he could pick to join the cabinet? That could push the Democrats to 60 Senators.

Chris Cillizza: Very topical, Annandale. My guess is that Obama won't raid the Senate ranks too much, so as not to make Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's life too hard. There already are going to be two new Democratic Senators -- in Illinois and Delaware -- and my guess is that one or maybe two others (Clinton and perhaps Sen. John Kerry) also might make the jump to the administration.

I think more members of Obama's cabinet are likely to come from the ranks of governors, with Tim Kaine (Va.), Bill Richardson (N.M.) and Kathleen Sebelius (Kan.) most prominently mentioned.

Aside from Indiana Sen. Dick Lugar, I can't see Obama considering another Republican Senator for his cabinet. Even if Lugar were picked (highly unlikely), Gov. Mitch Daniels, a Republican, would appoint his replacement.

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Cincinnati: If Bill Richardson does not get the Secretary of State job, what job do you think he will land?

Chris Cillizza: A very good question. I think Richardson's preference is to be secretary of State, but it's not clear he will get it -- especially with the speculation surrounding Clinton heating up.

He also could be in the running for Secretary of Energy (although he already has done that job once). I heard his name floated as the next Democratic National Committee chairman, but those close to Richardson insist he has no interest in that job.

My guess is that Richardson winds up with some national post that allows Lt. Gov. Diane Denish -- who is the favorite to be the next governor -- to lead the state on an interim basis. What the job is, though, is still a mystery to me.

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Boston, MA: Hillary for State? I don't know that such a thing makes any sense to me. When I think of Hillary I think of national health care, not foreign policy. Why are people speculating about her for that cabinet position?

Chris Cillizza: Well, she is a major figure on the national and international stage.

The thinking behind Obama naming such a high-profile secretary of State is that he and Vice President-Elect Joe Biden will have to focus almost all of their attention in the first few years of the administration on solving the current economic crisis, and therefore, they need a known commodity to handle foreign affairs. Either Clinton or John Kerry would fit that bill -- both are well-known and well-respected by foreign leaders, and would bring a gravitas to Obama's foreign policy that lesser-known figures might not.

As for why people are speculating about her for a cabinet post, the reason is pretty simple. Clinton's future is very murky. There is no direct path for her into leadership as a member of the Senate, and she doesn't appear interested in running for governor in 2010. With those doors closed, she may well be looking for some other future, some way to reinvent herself in the public eye. Serving as secretary of State would do the trick.

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Washington: Hillary Clinton? Really? What are the pros and cons for picking her versus someone like Richardson?

Chris Cillizza: Pros: Unquestionably qualified, articulate and poised on the international stage, an olive branch by Obama to dispirited Clinton allies. Cons: Another Senate appointment, and might make him too beholden to the Clinton wing of the party?

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Reston, Va.: Is the speculation about Sen. Clinton based on her meeting with Barack Obama? If so, did the press learn nothing from the Obama/Clinton meeting after the primaries, which caused the press to speculate that he was picking her to be his veep?

Chris Cillizza: A very good point -- and worth remembering amid the Clinton for State frenzy. We know almost nothing about the meeting yesterday other than that it happened, which in and of itself is newsworthy. Clinton and her advisers have said little about what she wants for her political future since she bowed out of the presidential race in June, so it is difficult to see whether or not secretary of State is something she genuinely would be interested in. Still, if Clinton and Obama are in a room together chatting, it's news -- period.

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Fairfax County, Va.: As you've mentioned Tim Kaine -- he swears he intends to finish out his term as governor, and frankly I think it's good idea for him politically. Is there something that can be "held open" for him starting in 2010? I'm not sure exactly what I'm getting at, but something not quite cabinet level, I guess.

Chris Cillizza: Right. I actually think that Kaine really does like his job as governor of Virginia and wouldn't leave for just any gig in Washington.

I don't think there is a way a position in the cabinet could be held open for Kaine until 2010, but it's clear from his relationship with Obama that the Virginia governor will have some role to play in the administration -- whether formally or informally.

When Kaine leaves office, his options will be limited -- largely because of the success of his fellow Democrats. Democrats hold both Senate seats, and Kaine -- because of a ridiculous Virginia law -- can't serve more than one consecutive term as governor.

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St. Paul, Minn.: What about my American hero, Al Gore? I haven't heard anything about him joining an Obama cabinet or administration. I was counting on energy czar. I love Al Gore and I'm not afraid who knows it.

Chris Cillizza: Gore has ruled himself out of the cabinet. I think the Gore-acle is very happy in his current (get it?) role as global warming prophet and member of various -- and lucrative -- company boards. His life outside of politics seems infinitely better than his life inside of politics was. I bet he stays there.

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Fairfax, Va.: Really jumping the gun here, but in light of Sen. Vitter's indiscretion, will he face a serious challenge from any Republicans for his 2010 re-election?

Chris Cillizza: There is no such thing as jumping the gun when it comes to political campaigns -- and, you are in luck. I just wrote my first take on the 2010 Senate landscape on The Fix. We will link to it below.

Vitter is going to be in for a tough race. in large part because of his sort-of acknowledgment of involvement in the "D.C. Madam" prostitution ring.

The rumor in Louisiana is that Secretary of State Jay Dardenne is considering a primary challenge. No Democrats have emerged yet, although I have heard the name of former Rep. Chris John mentioned. Given John's disastrous 2004 Senate campaign, I am not sure he is the best candidate for the Democrats in 2010.

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washingtonpost.com: Friday Senate Line: The 2010 Landscape (The Fix, Nov. 14)

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Princeton, N.J.: Suppose the Democrats look at the analysis of the situation in Alaska and Minnesota and decide they probably will win (seems reasonable?). Suppose they decide that they will do what it takes to win in Georgia -- Obama, Biden, Cleland, Clintons, big spending, zillions of workers, etc. What are their chances?

Chris Cillizza: Terrific question. As of today, Democrats are cautiously optimistic about their chances in Alaska (where Mark Begich leads by 814 votes) and Minnesota (where Al Franken trails by 206 votes).

Both seem to me to be absolute jump-balls at the moment, but if both races do come home for Democrats, Georgia becomes the center of the political universe. If the Democrats hit at 59 seats, it would be hard for Barack Obama -- who has avoided any comment about the race since winning the presidency -- not to go to the state to try and spend some of his political capital on a 60-seat filibuster-proof majority.

One potential issue to keep an eye on: It's a real possibility that we still won't know who won the Minnesota race when Georgia voters go to the polls on Dec. 2 to choose between Sen. Saxby Chambliss and former state Rep. Jim Martin.

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Silver Spring, Md.: I notice you didn't include Rep. Danny Davis's name on your list of potential Illinois Senate picks. Wouldn't he be a good choice for Gov. Blagojevich?

Chris Cillizza: Absolutely -- add Danny Davis to the list. For those who are interested, I did a big takeout yesterday in The Fix on the potential replacements for Barack Obama, who will resign from the Senate on Sunday.

In my conversations with those in the know, it appears as though Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Secretary of State Jesse White and 2006 House candidate Tammy Duckworth comprise the top tier.

The truth is, however, that only one person knows who the next senator will be: Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Trying to figure out what he wants is a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an enigma.

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washingtonpost.com: Obama To Resign From Senate, Who's Next? (The Fix, Nov 13)

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Washington: "The thinking behind Obama naming such a high-profile secretary of State is that he and Vice President-Elect Joe Biden will have to focus almost all of their attention in the first few years..."

You've got to be kidding! Although the public would rather have the president focus on the "the economy," foreign affairs is where the president's power really lies. He has at best limited effect on economic trends, and then only the confluence of Congress. By contrast, he could order bombing of Iran or withdrawal from Iraq on his own. More importantly, when have the Clintons ever played second fiddle to anyone? If Obama is outsourcing foreign policy to the dishonest and self-serving duo, why doesn't he just resign?

Chris Cillizza: An argument against Clinton as secretary of State.

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Washington: How exactly does The Change Candidate reconcile the key message of his campaign with appointing a bunch of retreads from the Clinton administration? Is he aiming for Clinton III?

Chris Cillizza: And another....

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Washington: Hi Chris. Do you have any scoop about who could be tapped to lead a new International Development Agency if Obama creates one? Also, how do you think the Hoyas will do this year?

Chris Cillizza: On the first, absolutely none.

On the second, I think we will be better than some people think. We were picked seventh in the Big East preseason poll, which, to my mind, is way too low. SI just put us at 14th in the country which, to my mind, is a little too high. We have a pretty young group of starters -- Monroe is a freshman, Freeman and Wright are sophomores, Summers is a junior -- and so I think we will be better next year than we are this year. I have ultimate faith in John Thompson III and his coaching staff. They went out and got the No. 1 recruit in the country (Monroe) and several other really solid kids for our freshman class.

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Roslyn, N.Y.: Any new developments on Obama's choice for Treasury secretary? Is it possible he's leaning towards a Volcker-Geithner combo instead of Summers?

Chris Cillizza: There is a new name in the mix: New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine. He served as one of the senior officer at Goldman Sachs before he spent more than $60 million of his own money to run and win a Senate seat in 2000. Five years later, he left the Senate to run for governor. Corzine is up for re-election next year and would start out as a favorite, even though his numbers aren't stellar right now.

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Washington: We know that Joe Biden has said he has no future presidential ambitions. He also has expressed a desire in the past to be secretary of State. If Sen. Clinton does get appointed secretary of State, I can see Obama, toward the end of his first term, having Biden take over as secretary of State and having Clinton run as a his vice-presidential candidate for re-election. This also would set up Clinton nicely for 2016.

Chris Cillizza: Ah, the old switcheroo! At some point soon, the Fixes will have an announcement: Mrs. Fix will become the Post White House correspondent and I will be the head coach of Catholic University's field hockey team!

I doubt it, but man is it fun to speculate.

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Washington: As an devoted Obama supporter who was pretty upset by the Clintons, I really am starting to feel this idea of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. I think it will suit her, and I think it will suit his administration. She'll play by his rules, and he'll benefit from having her on his side. I like it. Their differences on international policy were not that drastic. He sets a good example of how to truly not hold a grudge.

Chris Cillizza: The pro-Clinton for secretary of State argument...

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Arlington, Va.: Chris, who do you see as the most vulnerable senators in 2010? Right now, for Republicans, I would pick Judd Gregg and Richard Burr. Coburn could face a tough challenge from Henry. For Democrats, Harry Reid is sure to be the GOP's top target. Biden's seat could be vulnerable is Castle runs. Also, there is a great update on the Anchorage Daily News today about how the remaining ballots favor Begich.

Chris Cillizza: As I mentioned above, I just wrote a piece on the 2010 landscape ... it's live right now on The Fix. My first cut on the most vulnerable Senators for each side -- Republicans: Florida Sen. Mel Martinez, Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning; Democrats: Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, North Dakota Sen. Byron Dorgan (if, and only if, Republican Gov. John Hoeven runs).

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Annapolis, Md.: I think Hillary would be a great Supreme Court justice. ... She could do more good there than as secretary State. Any word on this?

Chris Cillizza: It seems like Clinton is mentioned for every possible opening in politics these days...

It seems almost certain that there will be one (if not two or three) openings on the Supreme Court during Obama's first four years as president, a fact that inevitably leads to speculation about who will fill those jobs. I am no expert on the Court -- I leave that to The Post's Bob Barnes and Chuck Lane -- but my guess (and it is only a guess) is that Clinton is far more likely to be secretary of State or attorney general than she is a Supreme Court justice.

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Re: Clinton: That would be an excellent choice. Some of the talking heads have pointed out the fundamental disagreements President-Elect Obama and Hillary Clinton have had on foreign policy, but they neglect to mention this actually could be good. We have seen what disasterous consequence there can be when a president surrounds himself with "yes" people...

Chris Cillizza: The "Team of Rivals" argument.

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Washington: You never want to open anything that arrives to you wrapped in an Enigma.

Chris Cillizza: I totally agree. Especially if you've left it in your refrigerator too long.

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Bremerton, Wash.: Who was that guy on with you on "Hardball" yesterday? He was like your Mini-Me.

Chris Cillizza: There's this...

New York: Chris, watching the last part of "Hardball" with Chris Matthews yesterday, it was like watching a Doublemint commercial, or maybe an episode of "Frasier." Is Ryan Lizza a distant relative? It's like that separated-at-birth game! Dude, he could seriously play you if there is a "FIX!: The Movie," or maybe a board game.

Chris Cillizza: And this...

Yes, Ryan Lizza (of the New Yorker) and I look alike. And, yes we are both political reporters whose last names end in "Lizza." Need to tell us apart? Ryan Lizza: The better writer. Chris Cillizza: The better hoops player.

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Berkeley, Calif.: Hey Chris -- I have a Dylan question, actually. I was listening to Desire on vinyl the other day and as usually happens became swept away. I can't help but feel it's one of his most underappreciated albums. I was wondering what your most underappreciated pick(s) would be.

Keep up the good work, by the way.

Chris Cillizza: Vinyl! I would agree that "Desire" is underrated. "Hurricane" has to be considered up there with the best stuff Dylan ever did, and "Isis," "One More Cup of Coffee" and "Sara" also rock.

My favorite Dylan album (not sure it is undderated) is Blonde on Blonde: "Visions of Johanna," "Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again," "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat," "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands, "Just Like a Woman" ... just stunning.

Underrated also could be Bringing It All Back Home. "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" may be the best thing he ever did.

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Chris Cillizza: Folks, I have got to run. Thanks for spending an hour with me and for all of your great questions. And make sure to check The Fix all day, every day for the latest and greatest from the world of politics.

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