Hoping Hillary Says Yes

Sitting less than ten feet from Hillary Clinton at an RFK Memorial event in New York this week, I was overwhelmed by the presence and power the woman carries with her wherever she goes. Charming and poised as she was inundated by admirers, I could not help but think how hard it was, in some sense, to vote for Obama over Senator Clinton. I was momentarily overcome thinking how I wish both of them could have won.

Like many, I believed that Obama had the better chance to beat McCain. That turned out to be a good bet. Now the notion of Mrs. Clinton as Secretary of State looms over her every utterance and move and I pray that this becomes a reality.

Statesmanship had been the most important tool in a president's toolbox until Cheney and Rumsfeld moved into the West Wing. During Bush's administration, the Department of Defense, war and war profiteering eclipsed any real hope for diplomatic solutions. Perhaps Mrs. Clinton will right the ship and make it once again possible that America's diplomatic voice is clear and convincing, backed up by power of America's military only on a truly as-needed basis.

The president can not go to every corner of the world that requires his attention. Who better to send than the one American who can represent him and all of America with an equivalent intellect, dedication and dynamism. I hope she says yes.

And I hope Chuck Hagel is Defense Secretary. A Vietnam vet. A Republican who understands the world isn't one ongoing bar fight. A man we can all respect and who won't sell us out so that KBR and Carlyle Group investors get rich.

Comments

[sphi]

Observing Obama with Hillary, I think they have a genuinely warm and mutually respecting relationship. He appears to find her interesting and I would even say charming and vice versa. I have no way of knowing really, but I think she not only likes but also trusts Obama. She hasn't had such a trusting relationship with her husband, as we all know. So it may prove to be a fortunate partnership -clearly that's what Obama is thinking. It will be fun to watch.

[GayGrandpa]

I will sit back and wait...this President is and will do his best...and I trust him and that, but I keep in mind that things are pretty wrecked because of the current President and it is going to take some doing by a lot of good people to fix the shambles these carpetbaggers have left us and the country in!

[truthbrigade]

I'm not a Hillary fan by any means; and think we could do better for SoS. That said, I relish the thought of how Goober Nation will react to having Obama Head of State and Hillary Secretary of State. This is going to mess-up their psyche for the next 8 years. It"s like a double fisted shove up their you-know-what.

Cheers!!

[WadeMallory]

While we all love Hillary, David Broder gives some compelling reasons NOT to choose her for this office. (Read his latest at Daryl Cagle's Professional Cartoon Index)

WadeMallory

[GhostwriterDoF]

Alec, ever heard of the North American Trade Agreement? Do you like the idea of saying goodbye to the U.S. dollar in favor of Ameros (like Euros), so a small group of corrupt bankers can dictate the value of all currency around the globe?
The Clintons may be good friends within celebrity and corporate circles but, they are certainly no friends to the American people, or common people of the world. Bill Clinton helped to push the Sr. Bush"s agenda of a Global Economy controlled by a single privatized corporate governing entity. Bill's legislation undermined the regulations of healthcare, banking, credit and world trade (NAFTA) which was the foundation of our current economic crisis.
Hillary knowingly helped Walmart executives to undermine workers rights and union protections, although the Union leader"s own corruption didn"t help their cause. One thing I can never forgive her for is helping to undermine women"s rights in the workplace, for equality in pay and special needs such as child care. Undermining the unions and worker"s rights provided more avenues for outsourcing our jobs by corporations, and remove obligations to provide medical coverage and pensions.
There are great women out there, decent role models for other women who could be doing great things for this country, if given a chance. They may not be as famous as Hillary or as pretty as Palin but, they are competent, intelligent and not as corrupted as Hillary or Sarah. How about giving them some of the spotlight and support?

[truthseeker1111]

Is Hillary Clinton smarter than Sarah Palin? Apparently not. Just as Sarah Palin should have said, "Thanks, but No Thanks" to John McCain, Hillary should hav e said "Thanks, but No Thanks" to President-elect Obama. Sarah Palin was very very very obviously not qualified to be VP or POTUS. Hillary Clinton is not really qualified (as a matter of foreign policy experience--Remember her lie about avoiding sniper fire in Bosnia?) to be SOS; but, there are more important reasons why she should have refused Obama's offer: (1) She would have curbed her great ambition. (2) She could have demonstrated her willingness to work her way up in the Senate. [Hillary always seems to act with this sense of entitlement--i.e., she apparently did not want to take the long road through the senate in to the spotlight again.) Just as hillary relied on being first lady as a hugh step up to get into the Senate; she relief on her ex-first lady and senate status to pompously assume that she was "entitled" to be the 2008 Democratic presidential nominee. And, in her attacks on Obama, she was worse than Liberman. The woman has no shame. The Clintons. . . it would be wonderful if they would just go away and let us see if we would miss them. Maybe that's what they (i.e., their huge egos) are afraid of--the realization that the world can get along just fine without them.

[jomira]

Sarah Palin isn't even in same atmosphere with Hillary Clinton. To say that she is not qualified and lacks experience, you are totally unaware of her experiences. I would suggest you should start reading about her instead of making wrongful assumptions.

[GhostwriterDoF]

In a way I feel bad for the Clintons, at least for Bill. It seems he is beginning to realize that the truth of their legacy is coming to light much sooner than anticipated. They were hoping they would have been long dead and gone before the truth came out but, like most of the people in Washington, they failed to realize we are living in the information age.

[DocJ]

Aside from the question of whether HC would further Obama's agenda (or her own, or Bill's), there is the simple fact of her very recent, very public, utterly self-serving lie (Bosnian sniper fire), which to date she has not retracted.

Why should any foreign country believe anything she says?

[beevy]

Alec, I hope Senator Clinton takes the position as SOS. I believe she could have won the election if she had been the nominee. I hope you don't mind if I change the subject, but I would value your thoughts concerning the situation with the UN spending so much money on a new building & art. With the problems our country is having financially, perhaps we need to rethink our funding for the UN, if they are going to misuse the money. Would this be something the SOS would handle, or does the UN situation come under another?

[coryco]

Let's be clear. The Spanish art (the ceiling) was paid for by Spain, not the UN. And, if the UN wants wants to spend money remodeling the 50 year old HQ in NYC, and make it more green in the process, I welcome the example and the construction jobs it will create for Americans. We need more works projects like this, around the nation, to restore and update our buildings and infrastructure (as well as create jobs in this economy).

[operamartyc]

Agree 100% with your post Alec! I still believe sexism is more alive than racism in the U.S. and believe Madeline Albright was a pretty good SOS who is still very, very, sharp. I believe that Hillary is the perfect choice as was Biden for VP. Obama continues to show his smarts this a. m. in picking is core economic team. I have always admired Chuck Hagel and agree he is perfect for Secretary of Defense. Obama surely seems to be after the best and the brightest! A man more interested in the progress of the country than his own legacy and ego if I read him right. Thanks for your post!

[NevaforLeadership]

More of us hope she says NO.

[wendy31]

I don't know. I hope she says yes. I voted for Obama, but I love the Clintons. ESPC. Hillary. She's great and would do really well.

[Jaybird248]

It's in Hillary's interest to do well as SoS. She really had nothing going in the Senate, given her junior and low seniority status. Or as someone put it, she could look forward to years of "inaugurating transit bus systems in Ithaca."

Now she'll get to travel the world, perhaps build world peace, and leave a real legacy, along with building a shot at the next nomination when Obama steps down, though, at 68, she may be past her time.

This also reigns in Bill, and keeps him from acting as a defacto SoS on his world trips.

[Spitfire67]

Uh, why in the world would we want anyone from Carter's administration no matter what their age?

You think things are bad now, then you obviously do not remember the worst President in recent history--Jimmie Carter.


Oh my, I've truly read everything now.

[wendy31]

You are totally Crazy! Carter was awesome. I can think of 3 horrible pres in my lifetime and Carter is NOT one of them. Bush Bush and the worst ever, Reagan. I personally blame RR for all the sh*tty things happening now. Comments like yours remind me how FAAAAR we have to go, yet.

[stagebandman]

Carter was a good man at a very bad time economically. It was the turning point of so many jobs becoming obsolete, thanks to advancing technology. Remember, in '76 most mothers were housewives and the breadwinners were getting shut out of their manufacturing gigs. Add to that a crisis of confidence in the government, and then the Iran-Hostage situation (that the repubs successfully, and underhandedly, turned to their advantage), and Carter looked ineffectual. Truthfully, though, no other president did more for global peace negotiations than Carter, and, given another term, could have advanced the green movement decades ahead of where we are today.

Add to that, he has been the most active ex-president since Taft joined the Supreme Court. I have nothing but respect for the man, who was also the first president I have the privilege to vote for.

[RJII]

I'm going to support Obama on the Sos pick-- didn't at first. He's starting his presidency 60 days early and has a heck of a mess to address. The world is looking at him for help too.

I'm 100% behind Hagel as Defense Sec. Good one Alec.

[NevaforLeadership]

Heck of a mess to address.

Then why on earth would he chose Hillary Clinton?!!!!

[wendy31]

So far he's proven himself smarter than all of us. Trust that he's got this one figured out too. I have a feeling he knows a little bit more about this stuff than you.

[mero909]

Here's hoping she says "No" and goes away.

[lysistrata]

What exactly did She do that is or was so bad? I don't understand it.

[K-Dog76]

lysistrata,

perhaps it was dodging sniper fire in Bosnia...

or bringing peace to Northern Ireland

or opening the doors in Macedonia to refugees from Kosovo...

These were all of her lies during the election... hence why she should say no and go away.

[wendy31]

It's just the popular thing to do right now- dis Hillary. Nevermind how great she is. It makes no sense.

[jportnick]

Barack Obama has a strategy unheard of in previous administrations. He is seeking out and appointing the best, the brightest, the most experienced, the most credible people for his team. He does not consider it the highest priority that members of his adminstration agree with him. This is a sign of huge strength, a strategy which can only be executed by someone as smart as Barack Obama is.

I hope that Hillary Clinton is offered and accepts the Secretary of State position, and that after eight years she is elected President. You may or may not agree with Senator Clinton's politics, but you can't help but see how capable she is.

[K-Dog76]

jportnick,

Apparently you don't know history, he is not the first, by far to seek out and appoint the best and brightest....

Washington
Lincoln
Below bi-partisan cabinets
Roosevelt
Eisenhower
Kennedy
Nixon
Reagan

The assumption that Presidnets slect morons for the cabinet out of loyalty is a myth...