Bill Clinton: Obama Administration Role Possible

WASHINGTON — Former President Bill Clinton says it was hard for his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, to decide to give up her Senate seat to become secretary of state in the Obama administration.

The former president told CNN in an interview aired Wednesday from Hong Kong his wife was "shocked" when she learned by reading newspaper articles that she was President-elect Barack Obama's likely choice for the nation's top diplomatic post. She's been a New York senator since 2001.

Deciding to give up her Senate seat "was hard," Bill Clinton said. "She adored being in the Senate."

Clinton says he'll probably be "a helpful sounding board" to his wife, but wasn't expecting any more involvement unless Obama "asks me to do something specific, which I'm neither looking for nor opposed to."

Comments

[williamg]

More bad news for Republicans:


"Who will Sarah Palin endorse for RNC chair? Who's the Palin candidate? Saxby Chambliss's victory has certified the Palin wing of the party as the center of its gravity -- at least, that's how the GOP seems to be treating things. If Chambliss's words are indicative of GOP thinking, Republican activists and conservatives, then Palin must have a pretty tight grip."

--Marc Ambinder

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/12/dont_put_facilitatordont_alien.php

[WLA]

I wholeheartedly embrace their decision to base their future on the results in GA.

;-)

[monicaangela]

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[GrouchoMarxist]

Hear hear! Anyone who can pull off a miracle like getting an old, white r@cist elected in GA must have magical election-winning powers. I don't blame Republicans at all for clinging to Slick Sarah like a security blanket.

[GrouchoMarxist]

Go right, Sarah! Go right!

[ThunderclapNewman]

Oh, she will. She will.

[truthbewitya]

Same thing was said about Newt Ginrich and he lead a conservative revolution that lasted 12 yrs.

The average folks love Sarah and she is a quick study. One can learn civics facts. One cant learn basic charm and appeal like she has.

Watch out for her.

[GrouchoMarxist]

You can't fix stup*d. Newt may be an @sshole, but he's smart. Sarah? not so much.

[williamg]

But, Sarah Palin is an id.iot. How do you fix that?

[StewieGriffinSays]

Charm?

She couldn't even win a beauty pageant.

[nclayla]

I agree that, unfortunately, we have not seen the last of SP. But I have yet to meet anyone, average or otherwise, who will admit to finding her anything other than a complete embarrassment. I know you are not alone in your opinion, but there are many of us who cannot find any charm or appeal in her words or actions.

[myangeldog1]

LMAO !!

[Chillinout]

Dear Republican Party.

I really think you should make Palin the head of the party. Her star power and the exceptional grasp she has on foreign and domestic policy will serve the party well over the next few years. I see it as your only hope to regain the power and control that we all know is rightfully yours. Not to mention the Democrats are scared to death of her because they fear the power she has over American, real America.

Run Sarah Palin, it is your last chance to get back to the "glory days!" Yup! Yup!

[rosal]

I agree. Please, please, please SarahMoose run in 2012, we beg you!

[oldleftcoastdude]

If this is true, then the Republican Party can ta-ta to the White House or majority control of congress anytime soon.

[pangurban]

I guess he doesn't want to be left out...ther­e seems to be some kind of rivalry and competition going on between those two. I say, just give him something harmless to do to keep him busy. There is not a big enough hook in the world to drag him offstage.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

Bill can dream all he wants.

Obama is running circles around the political establishment and media. Obama is give the face of consistency and competence as cover for the real change that he is implementing. While everyone is obsessed with the headliners it's the undersecretaries and organizations that do 90% of the work. We already heard how Obama is gutting Gate's staff and is cleaning out all of Bush's ambassadors mostly under the radar. While getting respect from those in the center and even center right for his cabinet appointments.

The teams Obama has sent out to audit the executive branch will end up bringing the real change. Also expect that the cabinet posts dealing with domestic issues will be filled with much more "change" people. Now that Obama has everyone diverted talking about the Clintons and a bipartisan foreign policy team he can go to work in other badly needed areas of government like the EPA and HSE to implement his ambitious agenda.

[myangeldog1]

Right on KQ!!

[monicaangela]

Well written, you've covered all the bases. I agree 100%.

[WLA]

KQ is good at that.

[Grasshopper77]

Come on in--the water's fine, Quark!

[DyspepticDiogenes]

Or he can continue to show his obvious panic, inexperience and general foundering by picking yet more folks spoon fed to him by the Clinton transition team.....

[loveu2]

You wish!

[rosal]

When you typed all those lovely adjectives, were you looking at the keyboard, or a mirror?

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

The only one panicking are right wing tro//s like you that invent new socks just to complain but have no answer for Obama's superior strategy.

Obama is proving to be anything but the socialist caricature they painted him out to be and the tro//s heads are spinning on what to do next.

[BabsfromKansas]

Well said!

[planetjeffy]

Headline doesn't match the story, again. But it got us all to read it.

Otherwise, Bill should be special envoy to the middle east. It is what he does best and if he is successful, would leave him a lasting legacy.

[monicaangela]

He lost me when he claimed Hillary was surprised when she read in the newspaper she was being considered for SoS. These people have no idea what truth is, or how to express it.

[parrotkisser]

Good point. I always try to give them the benefit of the doubt, but.......­...

[FZliveson]

"CHANGE" is not moving a pea around in position underneath walnut shells.
We NEED NEW BLOOD in the Capitol and new ideas and COURAGE to fight the
big money people. Bill Clinton is Papa Bush's son in a lot of ways. Too much
kinship. What a silly game!

[MIMom]

No asked you, but thanks.

[scandals-n-skeletons]

Hi ma.

[HittinItAndQuittinIt]

No can dooooooo

[scandals-n-skeletons]

So do you have any suggestions regarding who Obama should or should not appoint to his adninistration?
Or do you just want to post about "change" without anything to back it up?

Jus askin

[WLA]

Where are these qualified n00bs? I'd like a list of names.

[Archivist1000]

FZlivson: I guess YOU know more about the people involved, and who is MORE qualified than those Obama chose, huh? Why don't you tell us, WHO do you think would be better to fill those jobs?

You sound like a FOX drone here, repeating the soundbites.

[Coinyer101]

yeah ! i recommend billyjobob ,down the holler,there. redn*cks for obama have noone representing our issues! we want free dental care so we can take care of our tooth!

[suzycolorado]

lol

[SaviourMachine]

My wig and lighters are doing a booming business.F­lying off the shelves they are!

Got to go put in another order,

[Chillinout]

When are you going public? I want to buy shares in that company!

[SaviourMachine]

You'll be the first to know! Right now I'm just trying to prevent another WallyMart situation.

[JamesR.]

lolol Good one.

[abby4ever]

This is exactly why so many people dislike the Clintons. They never seem to get enough or have enough. Like others, I had just gotten used to the idea of Hillary as SOS and was even feeling positive about her doing the job justice, when big-mouth Bill gives an interview from Hong kong!

Three things are obvious from this interview. First, he wants to spin Hillary's appointment not as an honor but as a terrible sacrifice on her part. Poor thing, giving up her seat 'was hard' she just 'adored the Senate'. Translation: "You aren't doing her a favor, Mr. President-Elect; she is doing you one." Second, he wants Obama to know that HE, BILL CLINTON, is available. To serve. Had Obama already asked him about serving, Bill would not feel the need to mention it, certainly not through a bullhorn from Hong Kong.

Lastly, telling the world that she was 'shocked' to hear that Obama was considering her for SOS, lays to rest the rumor that the Clintons floated the idea even before she was asked, this to put pressure on Obama to ask her.

What good does it ever do to give the Clintons the benefit of the doubt or to make every effort to like them? They will burn you every dam.n time. The world is about them and don't you ever forget it.

[WLA]

Bill should top forcing CNN to follow him around interviewing him.

[SCG]

CNN is still coming down gently.

[abby4ever]

Bill should grow up and stop using every opportunity for self-aggra­ndizement. He has had his time in the sun, two terms as president. He just can't stand the fact that it's someone else's turn now and that the someone else has even more charisma and greater speaking ability, is perhaps even brighter, than him.

I am sorry to be so hard on him, but Hillary has not even taken up the position yet and already Bill is shouldering his way into the spotlight. And this is just what many have been saying, it was the major concern. Even David Gergen, who has been reluctant to criticize Obama's selection and who seems impressed with the appointment, said that Bill might become a major problem.

Good luck keeping this one on a leash, Obama; it's a big dog, and believe me, it hunts.

[JamesR.]

eye roll

[learnsomething]

I agree.

[CinciKid]

i don't believe for one second that the SoS position was in a newspaper and that is how she found out she was being considered. This is not the way Obama works. To now believe that he did this is just not credible.

If nothing else, I believe it was the other way around. She said herself the night she lost the primary election, "what does Hi ll ary want?" So, now we know.

[CostaDelBarto]

I think the idea that the Clintons will burn you every damned time is a cheap shot.

The Clintons have obviously done well from politics but in the process both of them gave a lot too. Both have been subjected to far more by way of personal attacks than almost anyone on Earth. Most people cannot handle five minutes of that let alone decades of it.

Bill was five times the President that George was and that's an unbelievable kindness to George.

I understand that you dislike the Clintons, what I don't understand is why.

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

Barack Obama (R) won’t impose a windfall-profits tax on oil companies

[GrouchoMarxist]

Can't tax what isn't there...le­t 'em jack the price back up to $140/barrel, and we'll talk.

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

oh yea that makes sense... why dose no one ask why is tuition is going up

[ThunderclapNewman]

Since the price of oil is now below $47 a barrel, no windfall profits are being made.

Should the price go back to $150 a bbl, the proposal would probably be revived.

And Obama is a good, solid, liberal Democrat, with the pragmatism to govern from the center-left.

Now try again, O Witless One.

[SCG]

No speculation there.....­just all collapse in demand....­move along.....

[Pronto]

At $140/barrel, the oil companies' profits were roughly 8% of revenue which is average. Thus, there were no windfall profits.

[StewieGriffinSays]

Tell that to Palin.

[CheshireCat2]

And did you mention drilling is for free?

Careful how you use that.

[IkeChicago]

Look for Obama to make Bill a peace negotiator, I strongly believe this.

[BigBagel]

Peace or piece?

[WLA]

Too easy. Thumbs down.

[loveu2]

I hope Obama uses him somehow. Bill Clinton is another smart guy, who has experience interacting with leaders in lots of the nations of the world. It would be a real waste not to use his knowledge to rebuild our nation.

[ThunderclapNewman]

Offered without comment.
.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/users/profile/TheFerd

[GrouchoMarxist]

Yup yup!

[MIMom]

Done.

[GrouchoMarxist]

Gone, too.

[Ramirez]

Which one of you is Volvo?

[breakingnews]

Jeebus that was fast!

Want to try another?

YKWTD:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/users/profile/InfoWarriorNY

[WLA]

Aw come on. Woo-woo's are funny li'l guys.

[BreakfastatTiffanys1]

The whole gang is here.

I am happy to see everyone. Even Superbus.

[donaldw6]

I wouldn't go quite that far.

[Grasshopper77]

Sheesh! It's a veritable Rogues' Gallery today!

[GrouchoMarxist]

Clinton threads always bring all of them out of the woodwork.

[Nochnoi]

Arrrrggghhhh matey!

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

I'm in tha HOUSE!

[WLA]

Except you.

[BreakfastatTiffanys1]

So is Acorn. Hide!

[LKV]

It amazes me that people say that the Clintons are "DRAMA". I wonder did it ever occure to anyone that the media creats the drama around the Clintons.

Hillary is one of the hardest working people in Washington and Obama knows what he is doing bhaving her be the Secretary of State, she will be great!!!!

Bill well yes he does create some drama but a lot of it is from the past and not now. Remember her was President of the United States and a very good one at that, That alone creates some drama around him where ever he goes.

I just think people are just a bit hard on the Clintons and should just give Hillary a chance, she will surprise everyone!! And Bill Well he's Bill and not much will change that and he will do what ever he can to make it easier on Hillary, hes her biggest supporter.

[InfoWarriorNY]

at least the Clintons are somewhat independent. They are not wholly owned like the Obamas

[breakingnews]

Owned by who?

[CostaDelBarto]

Buwahahahhaha!

worst tr0ll ever.

[GrouchoMarxist]

ROFL! Oh, this just keeps getting better.

[JamesR.]

Did you hear? David Ike was nabbed by amphibious lizzard bluebloods yesterday. Grab your shovel!

[LKV]

OMG!

[JamesR.]

You can tell Rush is over. The Clinton hating dittoheads have arrived whining and sniveling.

[EllisWyatt]

Limbaugh has not been on all week. He's been home sick. Obamatitis I think.

[Chillinout]

Savage maybe?

[StewieGriffinSays]

Probably sent his housekeeper out on another shopping spree.

[LKV]

I hear alot of republicans are coming down with it.

[ThunderclapNewman]

More like an O.xy over.do.se.

[JamesR.]

Yeah the comedian replacing him is a real downer. Not funny at all.

[GrouchoMarxist]

Yep. I'm sure Rush got a little stiffie and went all into a tizzy when he saw an interview with Bill. The power of the Clenis is vast.

[WLA]

I hope they wiped their feet. They always track in so much mud.

[impik]

If you watch the video, Clinton didn't say anything even close to what this fal.se headline suggest. And in anyway, i'd be thrilled if Obama will use him. Bill Clinton was a great president. I wonder what his hat.ers didn't like back in his time, the peace or the prosperity?

[LKV]

They get stuck on "personal" issues not political ones. Your right he was a great Pres!!

[ZTB]

neither...­peace nor prosperity­....it was the s.e.x.....­that's what they didn't like....
meanwhile.­....which every president before him was also guilty of...
just that bill got caught....­red handed.

i personally could care less what he did with who in the oval office....­.under his admin
we were liked and respected around the world.

[Big0725]

Make Bill and ambassador. Then Hillary will be his direct boss.

I know it wouldn't happen, but if it did I'd giggle my ass off.