Bill Clinton To Senate, WaPo Op-Ed Argues

Washington Post:

Amid the blizzard of r�sum�s blanketing Washington as the Obama era dawns, there is a superbly qualified candidate for full employment whose name has been overlooked. We refer, of course, to William Jefferson Clinton, America's 42nd chief executive and commander in chief. Yet now, by a wonderful combination of circumstances, comes an opportunity to harness his unquestioned political talents to benefit his country, the Democratic Party, New York state and his spouse. If, as is expected, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton becomes secretary of state, New York Gov. David Paterson could send her husband to the U.S. Senate.

Doing so would spare the governor the agonizing dilemma of choosing from the 20 or so Democrats already named as contenders for the junior senator's seat. Those mentioned include six sitting members of the House of Representatives (three of each sex), Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Caroline Kennedy and her cousin Robert Kennedy Jr., Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown (an African American), and Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carri�n Jr. (who is Hispanic). In this no-win competition, Paterson has to balance claims of gender, race, ethnicity and geography. He could wind up gaining one grateful ally while alienating not only all the losers but also millions of members of the disparate constituencies that each represents.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[scjk67]

i think it's clear that it states in the constitution that whoever holds the highest executive office cannot hold any other government office after their term is up.

[Rolley]

huh? where in the constitution does it state that?

[hortonhearsawho]

might wanna check with wasilla lady on that one...

[JohnFObama]

Great idea. Bill is popular, it would help Paterson's relection chances in 2010, it will make the senate a safe democrat seat for decades, i don't see Bill ever losing, it would help Obama to have such a skillful politician in the senate to help him push things through congress.

Most importantly, as much as i like, respect and admire Bill Clinton, he will have to stop working with his foundation and his library, so he will have a lot of free time on his hands, he needs a fulltime job or he's just going to cause trouble for the Obama administration, he'll have too much time to talk to reporters.

Senator Bill Clinton has a nice ring to it.

[klondiker]

I guess it's fun to speculate on these sorts of things. Of course, it has no chance of happening, nor is it a good idea. Bill Clinton is too big an ego to fit in the Senate.

Hillary's such a workhorse that despite her celebrity status, she dived right into small state matters (Senator Pothole). I don't see Bill doing that.

[Bitsko]

Since when has Caroline Kennedy been in the Congress?

[Vixter]

I thought that RFK Jr. was to be head of the EPA?

[Bitsko]

Got my fingers crossed.

[janforgoodusfuture]

It would be absolutely inappropriate to put Bill Clinton in the Senate. He has been THE TOP leader of the country, and should not take any lower post ever. It is not dignified.

[tbone99]

It would keep him busy and add a brilliant mind to the coming battles.

[jsarets]

He would come into the Senate with no seniority. Do we expect Harry Reid to just bow down and give the former president his gavel? Bill won't take a Senate seat unless he'd get a leadership position.

[LiberalBuzz]

He wouldn't even do that.

WHY would he take a step down in his life not to mention having to actually go along with rules?

He's doing fine and the Senate is the furthest thing from his mind.

[MaxxEliot]

A great idea!!

[partyofone]

Be sure to warn the female pages, before Bill gets there.

[HallStyle]

What would you call him Senator/Former President Clinton?

[mcantwell]

Is this a joke?

[Emlyn]

I think it is a good idea.

[larry278]

Correction: senate should read senate seat.

[larry278]

Gov Paterson puts Slick Willy into Hillary's senate as soon as Hillary resigns to become SoS. If Obama dislikes Hillary as SoS, BHO appoints her to Supreme Court. Slick Willy can't say or do squat since he's in the senate. Willy won't have seniority but he will work to get universal health care & anything else Obama wants. Obama will have the Clintons in his service. Hillary will be in the Supremes for life. Willy will stay in the senate & will be re-elected till he dies.
Barack Obama will owe Gov Paterson big time & BHO will always show his thanks to Gov Paterson. On paper this looks good. I hope that this works out. BHO is going to need more Mulligans. Obama learned about clout in Chicago. Chicago has grown to be Byzantium on the lake. Keeping track of who uses their clout to help BHO & how BHO returns favors is going to become a cottage industry with branches nation wide.
Watch the skinny, big eared, black kid as he moves. It could be like Chicago street, pick-up, basketball.

[Emlyn]

I don't like the words "Slick Willy." I think Bill Clinton was a great President. I wished he had been President the last eight years - we wouldn't be in the mess we are in now!

[Ish11]

That will spilt the DNC right in the middle. NO no and no, Bill has better work to do.