Of course, it’s Chris Cilizza writing this, so we can’t be sure if it’s the pundit class exhibiting some dim form of self-awareness, or if he’s setting the Democrats up for a loss (just like the press gamed Obama into declaring early, thus making the whole process start absurdly early, and putting a premium on—surprise—money and bucks for the consultants, instead of a candidate really tested by the voters).

t’s official: Washington insiders believe Hillary Rodham Clinton will be the Democratic presidential nominee. … [A Times front pager, appearances on “FIVE” talk shows, Bayh’s endorsement, outraising Obama this quarter] — not to mention President Bush saying that he expects Clinton to be the nominee — and, voila, you see the Washington establishment lining up behind the Clinton “inevitability” view.

Which should give us some comfort, since the Beltway is almost always wrong about the “inevitable” candidate, going all the way back to Ed Muskie.

One senior party strategist not involved in any of the campaigns added that “not everyone is on board as there are mavericks amongst us all, but more and more she is pulling folks to her.”

First thing we do, let’s kill all the strategists…

NOTE Though, as even I admit, HIllary was fucking great on the talkshows. If only that were the ideal characteristic in the candidate called on to clean up Bush’s mess, assuming the election takes place, and a Democrat is elected, and a Democrat is allowed to take office, of course; at this point, the inevitable caveat.