Hillary Clinton: Obama's First Drama

Mother Jones:

I was agnostic on the matter of Hillary Clinton's possible appointment as secretary of state--until last night.

If Barack Obama, the president-elect, wanted to pull a Team of Rivals play, that had seemed fine to me. ... [I]f Obama and his savvy band of advisers thought that handing her one of the best jobs in the Cabinet would generate political benefits they could use to advance their agenda, I, as a non-fan of Hillary Clinton, was willing to say, okay--for what that was worth.

But then this happened: the presidential transition of no-drama Obama became infected by the never-ending soap opera of the Clintons. And it really is time to turn that program off. There are plenty of policy and political reasons for a progressive not to fancy Hillary. She served on the Wal-Mart board when the mega-firm was fighting unions; she screwed up health care reform for almost a generation; she voted wrong on the Iraq war and then refused to acknowledge she had erred. But, worst of all, as the cliché goes, with the Clintons, it always does seem to be about the Clintons.

Read the whole story: Mother Jones

Comments

[DCtrain]

CNN just reported that Hillary's nomination is on track to be be made after Thanksgiving.

I hope not!!!!! play out the vetting and FIND a problem with her.

[DCtrain]

The Clintons are total drama... a poison to the presidency. I hope that the deal with Hillary falls through.

Sam Nunn would be good or Chuck Hagel

We don't need Clintonian drama cut loose on the world. That is the last thing we need in a crisis, a bad side-show.

[gi]

Wowwwww...­.....out of his kindness and thoughts, to let by gones, be by gones may not work out for him with this choice of SOS. At first I said good choice, but now to much talk to much drama. Why can it be yes I'll take the job or no its not good for me I'll keep my senate seat. Whats all this hula!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!

[WFV]

I was shocked when I heard she had been offered the position - particularly for this reason. They suck up all the air in the room and are nothing but a soap opera that never ends. I hope something unacceptable comes from the vetting, or she turns it down, or something. I don't want any more drama. I think we've had enough.

[azcamp]

This drama is part of the Clinton persona.

Just what we need for the next four years--theater of the absurd produced by Bill Clinton on the world stage.

[DCtrain]

agreed

[BeltwayBette]

I predict that if HRC and President Clinton are brought into the Obama administration, they will implode into high drama within or shortly after one year in office.

I also predict that if Mr. Obama does not choose a more positive candidate (or candiates) than the rehashed Clinton gang, he will be a one term president in spite of all his "candlepow­er."

Why? The Clinton soap opera will go on and on ...and on....and on, interfering with his agendas and yes, building a shadow government created with still bitter followers who believe HRC was cheated of the Presidency by the new kid on the block..

Why? Because dissension is what they do.

[Flash87402]

People that say Obama has earned my judgement really scare me. Name any significant things that he's accomplished that really have helped the country except win an election. The country has enough drama right now without creating more dissention. Does Hilary really look like a good "foot soldier" to anyone. It's not that she isn't capable of performing the job it's just that there are plenty of other qualified people who can do just as good a job they have better negotiation skills and they can follow orders. Do you want a person who lies about being shot at on the tarmac in Baghdad to be the person who has a big say in how the military will leave Baghdad.

[kalidescopemind]

Hillary got 18M Dem votes, and almost won. She graciously stepped aside, and campaigned for Barack. This was a gracious (and earned) offer. She can do well, except I think it may be difficult for her to twist the arm of foriegn heads of state. Maybe with Bill and Barack behind her, she will be successful. Harry won't step aside. Perhaps she should work with Daschle on healthcare until a court seat opens up. Her choice.

[grumpygranny66]

I really think she should be given a supreme court appointment There will be two seats available for O to appoint.

[bettybp]

"Will She or Won't She?" the latest in Hillary's long line of attempts to stay center stage - how long will she be able to play this one out? In a "No Drama" government, Hillary (and Bill) are about as Non-"No Drama" as one can get. She hunts opportunities for the spotlight like a heat seeking missle, and one can only wonder what antics she (and Bill) will get up to if she's SOS. She and Bill have had their days in the sun - now let O have his turn.

[Tom Joad]

"She graciously stepped aside" I don't recall it that way.

[WFV]

Me either. I am thinking it was more like the old 'cane around the neck' scenario..­.

[BeltwayBette]

She did not "graciously " step aside. she held onto her candidacy even after he was nominated. And then held her 18M followers to her bosom right up to the convfentionwhere she was rewarded for her abdication by a huge star feature role in the convention ... releasing the votes a gracious lowser would have done the evening of his nomination.

Bill was still minimizing Obama's ability to be CIC after Obama was already nominated.

And while she won 18M votes, she lost the election. Presidential candidates do not usually expect plum undeserved positions or rewards from Congress for losing as consolation prizes. I think the Clintons scare the hell out of everyone. Even the powerful Ted Kennedy doesn't quite know how to handle them.

Get a grip, Clintonites. She lost the electon. Move on.

[DCtrain]

She and Bill gripped with white nuckles and got ugly.

[SF13]

I'm submitting my cat for Secretary of state... she is a LOT less trouble than this and travels cheap

[SF13]

Haven't we seen this movie before? YAWN .... She wants it, ohh my god she's not sure, she MIGHT do us the HONOR of serving

WHY CAN'T OBAMA STOP THE FREAKING TRAIN ? Is HE running this show or is she ? Use the constitutional problem and END THIS NIGHTMARE

Leader ? Who is the leader here ?Anyone ?

[Hans Meiser]

Nobody thinks that the Clintons are forcing their way in? Think again.
They still have formidable political power.

It's Mommy Dearest on the Pepsi board all over again.

[jeanrenoir]

The Hillary pick is simply nuts. She's the drama queen's drama queen, and Bill's worse. No drama Obama is what the country voted for, not a return to those thrilling days of yesteryear. . . . The Clintons have made America the laughing stock of the world too much to send her out as our representative to the world.

[tydicea]

I believe Barack is smart and competent, I sure hope he knows what he is doing with this decision. Bad vibes!

[wanj]

Agreed... HRC is bringing way too much drama to Team O! I was for her as SoS for a minute but I can't stand drama queens... now the latest is she's "torn" on this decision..­. why is this public I ask? The Clintons need to grow the hell up and quit with the drama already!

[lovethesinner]

Great argument. How can we expect Hillary to run the state department any better than she ran her campaign?

Pundits ask, "what will people say if Obama doesn't pick her after all this?" My answer, "a lot less than if he picks her." The Clintons are like an ever unfolding recreation of Macbeth: "... the play tells of the dangers of the lust for power and the betrayal of friends."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbeth