Clinton Lawyers Vetting Her For Secretary Of State

CHICAGO — Associates of Hillary Rodham Clinton and her husband say the former first lady is weighing whether to leave the Senate and become secretary of state, believing the job is hers if she wants it.

Obama transition officials say other candidates have been vetted for the job, but the New York senator has emerged as the leading contender and the vetting of former president Bill Clinton has been particularly intense. Associates say Hillary Clinton has been told that Obama wants her to be secretary of state, although accounts differ on how bluntly and directly Obama made the overture. They would speak only on grounds of anonymity because of the private nature of the negotiations.

Hoping to ease concerns about possible conflicts of interest, Bill Clinton has agreed to publicly disclose the names of all donors who have given more than $250 to his presidential library and foundation.

Comments

[SENATORCALLENBOWE]

MY LAWYER SAID HE WOULD GET ME A JOB 2 :) BUT HE DIDNT....

[gabbinjane]

To quote Larry the Cable Guy, "I don't care who you are - that's funny!

[sylar]

Even considering her has caused this much of a hullabaloo, Obama needs to listen to those around him who no doubt have reservations about HC.

Obama, bring into the fold ONLY those you can TRUST!

[NoSillyName]

This is the test of BC's love for or admiration of HRC. I think if he wants to stay married, he should give up something for her. But, who knows...

[cariintexas]

Why is the media having fits over Bills library donors list? GWH Bush has never released his and it will be the twelfth of never before GW Bush releases his. Both former Pres. Clinton and Bush worked together on raising money for Katrina, the Tsunami and other worthy causes.

[Yermammy]

Does it hurt much, when you fall off the cabbage truck? You going to be OK? mmmkay.

[cariintexas]

Don't know, I'll let you tell me.

[roshni]

Is Laura Bush angling for a position in the Obama administration? If not, Bush does not need to be vetted before the appointment. DUH!

[inluvwkeitholbermann]

this is about as much fun as a body cavity search for the clintons.....

while i'm not a fan of this appointment you got to give 'em credit for their tenacity

[motoGpifupleez]

Do not underestimate Obamas intelligence. By offering Hillary such a position, and have no doubt, Sec. of State in the Obama administration will be one of THE most high profile positions possible, he has thrown the ultimate bone to her supporters. Knowing how secretive Bill has been about his doners, the Obama camp knows that at the end of the day Hillary will decline the offer rather than let Bills associations gum up the works. Ah yes, the best of both worlds, giving her some recognition without really having to bring her in. It's sooo nice to have smart people back in charge.

[AlwaysFairDem]

You got it...I have got to say you are so synical but enjoyed your blog!

[roshni]

Just get on with it.
Give it to her and I'll support the decision.
Decide they flunk the vetting and give it to Richardson and I'll be thrilled.
Enough drama already!

[dollbaby]

I heard on HARDBALL that she wants her campaing debt paid and to get back the money she loaned her campaign. Next time I go on a job interview, I'll ask them to pay off my house amd I'll consider taking the job.

I've been thinking too that this job is going to Bill richardson; Obama offered it to Hillary in good faith and will let the vetting and drama she brings with her count ther out.
Plus she claims she wants to run for prez......I guess if she SOS she wont try to run against him in 2012.

[solidblue]

Wow, so Obama doesn't mean it and knows she will refuse? You sound like you must beRepublican since you are so cynical and Machievallian! Are you secretly Dick Cheney writing in from your undisclosed location?

[dollbaby]

I agree with this theroy and I'm not republican. The more drama that goes with this Hillary stuff, the least likely it seems that she will fill the position.

[skeetchamp]

The Clintons are not in talks with Obama's team because the Clintons are not team players. They have, from the beginning, made every effort to steamroll their way into the position of Secretary of State through leaks of false information to the press that supports her goal while undermining Obama.
The President-Elect needs to bite the proverbial bullet and flat out say that ALL "candidates" for the position must submit to the same vetting process and that the process evidently is too rigorous for the Clintons and that the country's need to get the process completed quickly means he must name someone else immediately.
With the Clintons causing this much trouble now, Obama must realize that should he name her, he will have absolutely NO control over anything related to foreign policy, plus she WILL leak defense and homeland security information to advance their interests.
It's time to wrap this thing up and call it the mistake it has been. Every President makes some mistakes, and life goes on if they don't let them grow and fester.

[partyofone]

This is a major, needless distraction, and will continue to be, if Hillary is nominated. Bill is famous for parsing words. Whatever he promises cannot be trusted, and Obama could be risking his credibility at home and abroad. Is helping repair Hillary's image worth risking the Obama presidency? not for one second.

[BlueStateMan]

Do you honestly think that the reason they're considering Hillary is to "repair her image"?

[Yermammy]

We're gonna need a larger tub of Bondo for that. And LOTS of sandpaper.

[nuclearmonkeys]

Actually the Clintons are loved abroad, hence the SoS offer.

[One786]

Clinton for Department of Homeland Security - DHS!

[Yermammy]

No. Maybe a desk job at the Arkansas Swamp Facility. Nothing more. It'll be bad enough with Joe listening in on our phone calls.

[BlueStateMan]

ABOLISH DHS!!!!!

[merle7]

Maybe Hillary's hawkisness is something Obama lacks and needs in a SOS

[Yermammy]

Tell me, WHY do we need Hawkishness? Isn't one million slaughtered civilians, 4200 G.I.s blown to bits, 40,000 maimed and shell shocked enough? And for a war built on lies, to boot. Don't worry, we put Joe back on the Team. He'll keep you happy, I'm SURE of it.

[CostaDelBarto]

Also from: http://usliberals.about.com/od/homelandsecurit1/a/IraqNumbers.htm

Some really horrifying statistics.

* Halliburton Overcharges Classified by the Pentagon as Unreasonable and Unsupported - $1.4 billion.

*Lost & Unaccounted for in Iraq - $9 billion of US taxpayers' money and $549.7 milion in spare parts shipped in 2004 to US contractors. Also... ...190,000 guns, including 110,000 AK-47 rifles.

* Iraqis Displaced Inside Iraq, by Iraq War, as of May 2007 - 2,255,000

* Iraqi Civilians Killed... ...Casualties are reported at 50,000 to over 100,000, but may be much higher. Some informed estimates place Iraqi civilian casualities at over 600,000.

Hawkishness has really not been good for the US either economically or in terms of international reputation.

[DeniseD]

Absolutely! No more hawkishenss and no more fighting. That is the only word McCain used in his stump speeches, ""Fight! Fight! Fight! Don't they know that we are sick of fighting?

[Yermammy]

Sarah Palin for SOD if Hillary for SOS. If we're going crazy, why not go all the way. Hmmmm? (lol). Bill Richardson deserves the SOS spot. He supported Barack and defied the WRATH OF THE CLINTON'S! (cue dramatic music now).

[DeniseD]

Sarah Palin for Surgeon General. She pretended to know about the office of the Presidency, so why couldn't she pretend to know something about medicine?

[roshni]

I agree - that's when I became a full-fledged Richardson supporter. Loyal supporters should be rewarded.

[SCG]

" - people familiar with President-elect Barack Obama's transition vetting process said Wednesday."

" - said Democrats knowledgeable about the discussions."

^ contrast this with: "If You Leak, You're Gone": Obama Transition Team
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/18/if-you-leak-youre-gone-ob_n_144580.html

[obgynobgyn]

That phony tape was put out so if Obama was thinking about trying to broker a peace deal
and make other countries do the right thing towards some of those poor Palestinians
he would not be able to move forward.

Just the words they translated on the tape are rubbish, they are meant to stiffle Obama'
and anyone in his cabinet who are looking to broker a peace deal.

Evil people make more money in war, and no money in peace.

[reliant1]

Osama wants to throw a monkey wrench in the Palestinian peace talks....so common, the Arab world has happily kicked the Palestinians around and used them for their proxy wars for decades.
The Saudi's are especially quilty...and Jordan - invented especially to be the Arab homeland for any who chose not to live in Israel. Jordan later threw them out!!!!! Kicked them out...made them homeless refugees.

Evil people have always made money on war - especially if they have oil to sell. What would Saudi Arabia do if there was peace in the mid east? Get poorer and the King would lose his Kingdom. Osama is Saudi and it shows in all he does.

[Obama4change]

President-elect Obama is such an intelligent man. I totally understand what he is doing now and have calmed down: He wants his immediate cabinet members to be diverse as possible: SOS - Clinton (a female and prominent democrat), Eric Holder (African American -- very well respected and someone who will uphold the law), maybe Charles Hagel (respected Republican) for Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Treasury -- Timothy Geithner (youngest member who warned against the Wall St. collapse). President-elect knows what he is doing. Please have confidence in him and give him a chance. He will not lead us to the wrong path. As he said he may not always do what think should be done, but he will always do what is best for the country unlike Country First (McCain).

[partyofone]

Al symbol. If he brings the Clintons into his administraiton and particularly the Department of State, he will regret it. They are prima donnas, who thrive on drama, and will embarass and distract. Obama should not be trusting of what they say and promise.