The American Prospect, To ABC News: You Must Chill

As you know, today is Friday, and Hillary Clinton's been to Chicago, and Barack Obama's transition team is in Chicago, and so everyone who's got an ankle or an elbow in the newshole is straight up speculatin' that Hillary's poised to be named as the next Secretary of State. This gives everyone a chance to drop the name of Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team Of Rivals like they were the first to think of it, then immediately pivot and fret over the possibility of Clinton being nothing but a dollop of underminer sauce on the promised Hope and Change Hoagie.

It's all frightfully interesting for a few minutes, but if there's any news organization that's just caught the gollydarned vapors over it, it's ABC News' The Note, who do what they do best: take the day's conventional wisdom and dress it up with fluttery melodrama and overheated pretentiousness. Here's how they captured the moment:

So much for no drama.

Surely a certain soon-to-be-ex-senator knows this by now, but here's the thing about Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton: She tends to steal the scenes she's playing in.

Until the subject of her "private business" Thursday in Chicago is resolved -- and maybe until and even beyond the press conference announcing the new secretary who's headed to Foggy Bottom -- it will be 3 am in the transition process.

The Hillary rumors are the first potential stumbling block for the smooth machine that is President-elect Barack Obama's transition efforts -- and it revolves around a storyline that seems never to get old.

We sort of want to send a valentine to The American Prospect's Tim Fernholz, who responded to The Note like so:

No, it does get old! It's old right now! I spent some time looking around for some damaging blind quote from the Clinton camp, and shot an e-mail to an Obama aide to see if I missed anything. In fact, nothing happened. ABC is just being ridiculous -- have those writers had a vacation since the primaries? Get some down-time, folks.

HA HA ZING. And, noting that John McCain is scheduled to come to Chicago on Monday to meet with Obama and all the other radicals affiliated with the Annenberg Challenge Fund, presumably, Fernholz adds this kicker: "Possible Note headline: OMG MCCAIN SECRETARY OF DEFENSE?"

Comments

[ShanniC]

I hope that Obama does not choose Hillary Clinton. I have my doubts about this team of rivals nonsense. How can he be assured that she or his other one time foes won't angle for more power?

[bigtimer1254]

You're my MVP Hillary. We need your optimism and discipline. You've got photostatic memory. You don't forget your lines or anything. And you've got a real set plan, and you never stay on one subject. Which isn't going to take too much work anyway.. And that is basically because Bush and his followers are not going to be in Office anymore. All people have to do is know how to talk to people. Thats all.
Other Countries are probably rejoicing the departure of the Bush Admins. They are probably out in the street clapping their hands, doing the two step and everything. And most of all, they will more than likely be willing to cooperate, with the arms deal. Without the Bush Admins. heat stroking them

[bigtimer1254]

You're my MVP Hillary. We need your optimism and discipline. You've got photostatic memory. You don't forget your lines or anything. And you've got a real set plan, and you never stay on one subject. Which isn't going to take too much work anyway.. And that is basically because Bush and his followers are not going to be in Office anymore. All people have to do is know how to talk to people. Thats all.
Other Countries are probably rejoicing the departure of the Bush Admins. They are probably out in the street clapping their hands, doing the two step and everything. And most of all, they will more than likely be willing to cooperate, with the arms deal. Without the Bush Admins. heat stroking them

[Elderlady]

Obviously it isn't just ABC who needs to chill.

Thanks Jason. I get my "official" news from the "official" website of the transition team.

[NMO14]

fluttery melodrama and overheated pretentiousness.
That's pot calling kettle, Linkins, although your posts add a bit of flagrant brown nosing of Obama to the toxic mix.

[protagonia]

Well, well, well now.

You can twist a phrase or two.

Whether agenda or mere opinion.

Let us see what else you will do.

[GuyFawkes]

That writing for The Note does read like William Buckley, Jr. after hitting the bong water. Sane people just don't write like that.

[pir anha]

maybe they'll all met secretly at ayers' home for tea and crumpet, while plotting the marxist overthrow of the US.

(do i need a sarcasm smiley here? *sigh*.)

[Helzapoppin]

depends on who the crumpet is

[iswideopen]

Please, people, get a grip. Let us count our BLESSINGS AND STAY UNITED. President-Elect Obama is COUNTING on us........................We must never allow Sarah Palin near Washington. Her ignorance, un-intelligence, and divisive tactics will forever be unacceptable. We will always keep our eyes on the "big picture". I have always been an Obama supporter; it is time to leave Hillary alone. Remember how we felt when the "PUMA'S" were acting a fool? We do not want to represent Obama in this negative way. We are "bigger" than that. YES WE ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[McFlipFlop]

Ha!

Love the article, Jason.

[clarenoi]

This conversation is really not at all interesting.

[lagumbo]

OBAMA will not offer Hill SOS. She has to go to hearings before confirm, and the republicans would love to break her down about BUBBA'S overseas dealings. She has to much too lose.

[go]

Ever since Charlie Gibson, Nobel Prize Winner in the field of Wienie-nomics, started blurting out about capital gains taxes I couldn't be suprised by anything they say. God forbid the facts get in the way of ones idealogical theories. It must be interesting to work for a news division with a gaggle of classically narcissistic self interested tools and fools. It must be a communicable condition.

[grantlingel]

I think the only person in the world who is chill right now is Barack Obama.. everyone needs to take it down a notch for the love of god.
http://grantlingel.blogspot.com

[canucklivinginUSA]

Seriously

[Chapmanp2]

A boycott of everything ABC & Disney are long over due. They have been by far some of the worst offenders of perpetuating propoganda for the current administration while putting up walls for the change we finally elected. I refuse to have anything to do withe em' & unless they change their tune I'd feel better with out them...

[notafearmonger]

I like Hillary and Bill Clinton and I believe she would be a great SOS; but in a way I don't trust her in sense that she has her own agenda. I could be wrong, but you never know. Also, I think we need some new blood in Obama's administration. However, if Hillary excepts, I'll support Obama's decision, but I will keep my fingers crossed also.

[bellepepper02]

She has her own agenda? Who doesn't in politics? Why single out this particular politician? Is this a case of suspecting an intelligent, highly talented woman because, hey, she doesn't know her place?