Steve Clemons: Clinton Could Be Obama's Bad Cop

CNN:

Hillary Clinton? Secretary of state? What is Barack Obama thinking?

This rock star president-elect may either be confused, deluded and self-destructive in sculpting a political and policy team that has a high probability of paralyzing itself in vicious internal skirmishes, or he may just be brilliant -- really, really brilliant.

...

Clinton may be the bad cop to Obama's good cop. Because she is trusted by Pentagon-hugging national security conservatives, she may legitimize his desire to respond to this pivot point in American history with bold strokes rather than incremental ones.

Read the whole story: CNN

Comments

[Moshe]

I guess that sounds better than "Wicked Witch of the East."

[JamieJay]

If Obama is serious about selecting HRC for the SOS position, then his vetting team must be fully aware that there was a HEARING on the Clinton's ongoing lawsuit in LA Superior Court, this morning (08:31 PST). http://www.lasuperiorcourt.org/civilCaseSummary/index.asp?CaseType=Civil The Civil Case Number is: BC304174

[Yman]

Yes - and they're well aware of the fact that Peter Paul is a fraud and four-time convicted felon, and his suit is a thoroughly debunked joke. http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/crooked_claims_about_clinton.html

[nikolena]

Actually I think it Hilary that has more to lose by accepting the SOS position than Barack:

1. She could just as easily be a loose cannon in the Senate. As SOS Barack has some say in what she does. This also effectively puts a lease on Bill as well.
2. She has more to gain by a failed Obama presidency than a successful one. If Obama goes down in flames with her as SOS her chances of running successfully in 2012 will be almost nil as she will be tied to a failed administration.
3. Likewise if she's seen as trying to scuttle a successful Obama administration as SOS, she'll also scuttle her chances of running in 2012. Voters who supported Obama will use her as a handy scapegoat for a failed administration and she will more than likely lose the independent vote.

Upsides for Obama:

1. He's seen as magnamous for offering such a high level position to his former opponent
2. If she turns it down, he still has other people in line for the job (Richardson, for example)
3. If she accepts, he'll take her out of the Senate where he has no control over what she does and put her in a position where he could ask her to leave if she got up to any shenanegans. That will leave her with no platform or no time to re-build her base in time for 2012.

Bad move for Obama? Not so sure.

[munki]

oppositions are usually louder than those "for" hiding in closet...
I like to hear both side of the story...
Clinton do have a strong personalit­y...
any comment?

[FACINGREALIT]

It is that strong personality that will either make or break her in the position of SOS. As Nikolena pointed out her appointment is a double edged sword. If she or Bill are seen as going rogue her political career is over. If however, she is successful it is a win/win for Obama for appointing her as there is some differences in their foreign policy (Obama wants to talk to foes w/o preconditi­ons/Hillar­y thinks that is naive; Obama was against war/Hillary didn't read the report before agreeing to war, etc). Obama has great foreign policy insight that Hillary will now have to adhere to - like it or not her orders will come from the president.

I believe that Hillary / Bill are assets to the degree that they already KNOW the leaders abroad and so that relationship can be expediate talks, eliminates the doubts many may have of Obama's stance with Israel, prevents Hillary going rogue in the Senate and any thoughts of her having a 2012 run (Obama vetted the Clinton's business dealing - has inside info on them that will prevent Hillary challenging him in 2012).

It will also put the brakes on Bill continuing any questionable business dealings until at least the beginning of Obama's second term (if applicable) whereby I'm sure Hillary will be replaced as SOS so that she can make a 2016 run.

[Okieborn]

I voted fro Change in America !!
Not Re-Treads !!!!!

[Ephrah]

No one has the genius that matches PE Obama's. To all those who are opposed to the Clinton choice, it's a shame that you can't even post a suggestion. Or do%2

[booker52]

What are her credentials for this job??? I still say Gov Richardson is the best man for the job and this is a slap in the face to this man offering the job to Sen Clinton.

[teddyquin]

Yawn--This is old news--No Drama here-- Why the wait until Thanksgiving??

[campgranata]

She will be bad all right. Hillary Clinton acting diplomatic; it could be a new sitcom.

[commonsensor]

This has nothing to do with her ability or what she can bring to the table. This is purely more of the same 'you wash my back and I'll kiss your butt" Washington politics. It seems the important taks for the transition team is to focus on Obama's chances for a 2012 election.

Since Hillary thinks we should "obliterate" Iran as a favor to our friends in Israel, looks like Cheney will still be able to get his war on afterall. Bomb, bomb, bomb Baby! Here come the Clinstones and all their family drama.

Yee Haw!!

The more things CHANGE the more they stay the SAME.

A politician, is a politician, is a politician­.....

[MoeB]

Why is it that people like you assume that Obama has no backbone? Or that his decisions are not VERY well thought out? HRC is NOT president! The fact that he may include her in his cabinet does not mean that all of a sudden the Clintons are running things, and I don't care how many former Clintonites he puts in his cabinet. They will be following HIS lead.

Second, we are in a bit of a pickle in case you haven't noticed. Two wars, a failing economy, millions of lost jobs, energy, saving the planet, healthcare, I could go on. Under normal circumstances, I'd be a bit bothered by all the Clinton folks lining up cabinet posts, but times are HARD right now. We need some experienced players who can "hit the ground running" carrying out Obama's agenda. I want people to help FIX these problems..­.I honestly don't care if they came from Clinton's old cabinet or not.

Our problems now are bigger than a cabinet-picking popularity contest.

[dutchess2]

The first thing I decided about Obama was that I could trust him.

Name it, he's thought about it. And he does not see anything about governing this country requires sneaking behind our backs... unlke SOME nameless unimportant past POTUS.

He's thought this thing through and through...

The Clintons have star quality, they automatically make people remember the time before Bush when our word was our honor. Think on it! Bill Clinton turned over a donor's list from 27 different countries!
Bush/Cheney could not find 27 countries to help them with their war for oil regardless of how they presented it.

Hillary Clinton has worked tirelessly for women and children all around the world for years and years and years. She is no stranger to any head of state anywhere..­. many of whom are making puddles in their pants to know that NOW she can make or break their American handout conditioned on their
progress in human rights, and how they treat their women and children.

She's also an original Goldwater Girl, and I don't think that conservative bend has ever left her..she
is highly respected by intellectual conservatives all over our country.

This is a win win appointment.

I trust Obama - so whatever he says is fine.

[MoeB]

Well said.

[chriss0114]

Truly brilliant!

The Clintons have been neutralized.

[MJinCanada]

PE Obama has given Sen Clinton credit for preparing him for the presidential campaign, by making him work so hard and get his act together to beat her in the primaries.

One of the things that keeps getting said in the bios of great leaders is that they see the talent of each person around them and get the most out of each one.

He doesn't seem to be choosing people who will sit around and wait to be told what to do, anyway.

[Territc]

Come on people. Two years later. You shoud all know by now that Obama doesn't do things without analysing and tearing it to peices and ensuring that he gets the outcome he wants. Much thought goes into all his decisions. This is a strategic move on his part. You will only see the reason why he offered the positon to her if and when Clinton accepts the positon and she has started working. But this a brilliant move by Obama and she needs to think this through carefully and thoroughly before making her decision.

[AContrario]

It is another ballpark game now - primaries and POTUS are over. What worked for an election doesn't necessarily work for governance, maybe another kind of thinking and judgment are required from this
POTUS and the US people. Maybe it is time also for people who elected Mr Obama or those who want him to succeed in turning this country around, to develop a new type of relationship with their
elected president by being vigilant and request accountability when decisions or political orientations
made by the elected president are confusing or not clear,instead of waiting on your a***s that things
get turned around for you.Mr.Oba­ma is just man so trusting some kind of clairvoyance or aura without
some kind of scrutiny is an irresponsible behavior as US citizen.

[twiggy2writes]

barak knows what he is doing. he is a brilliant man who ran an impeccable campaign.
i don't like the clintons at all. but i must say there were many times i underestimated the genius of barak obama - whatever role clinton plays she is at the hands of the people, who will keep her flying right and i must say she has big - ideals.
she is tough as nails, and she may pull this off better than we thought!
i voted for obama and am sticking with him in hell or high water - there will be many timesand many people who will not agree with his appointments etc... but he is the man for change this country strongly needs and i am certain he will deliver.
" the problems that exist in the world today cannot be solved by the level of thinking that created them" - einstein . we all have to rise the level of thinking to solve the problems not create new ones - all is well! God bless!