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.
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When I hear YES
My dreams will come true.
I agree with your overall analysis, yet-
my biggest worry is that Clinton will go off the reservation.
There is too much to accomplish without having Hillary or Bill
waltzing to their own tune-
I think Hillary would be great and that thjis appointment
is of "personal" value to her, the question is can she play nice-
I hope that with all that she learned from the campaign trail
that she will use this opportunity to make amends and to
genuinely move the country forward without "drama"
falling to the "left" and "right" of her-
"my biggest worry is that Clinton will go off the reservation."
You can stop worrying. It's a sure thing.
Well I agree with appointing Hagel. After all, he turned out to be far more against the ill-advised invasion of Iraq than Hillary every was. Naturally the Clintons are turning this into a lengthy drama that our new president does not need. They ran almost as despicable of a campaign against Obama as McPalin did and he owes them NOTHING. Claiming She and McCain were qualified to be president and implying Obama wasn't during the primaries was unforgivable.
Surely there are at least one or two bright and qualified candidates for SoS as well as other high level positions who aren't from the Clinton era.
Well there's one thing for sure., Obama's political future is a lot safer with Hillary under his control. When Bill launches Hillary's 2012 presidential campaign next year by subliminally branding Obama's presidency a failure, Bill will have to go it alone. If past Clinton performances are any indication, they intend to return to the WH one way or another and 2009 isn't too early to launch.
That's probably the silliest comment of the day.. so far..
Of the DAY??? How about the Year. Laurenc your comment is just stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
Hillary is not running for President again. As a woman over 60, she's lost her potency as a national figure. Look how the media has swooned over BOTH sarah palin and michele obama, women who are fit and wear sexy clothing.
Never seeing women over 60 on TV, I doubt that Americans would vote for ANY woman of that age, much less the ridiculed Hillary. She's done with that kind of demonization.
Secretary of State will cap her career in public service.
I agree. Politics is all about TV and image. Policy is secondary. Appearance is everything.
I agree-
... is Hillary ever "under" anyone's "control?"
The team OUR President-elect's been building has already reunited much of the Democratic Party, Alec, and that alone is not an easy task. Now he's also communicating with moderate republicans and building a consensus into this redirection of OUR country and its resources. I also really like Senator Hagel for Department of Defense, unfortunately though it would neutralize one of those moderate republican votes in the Senate. But like Justice, and perhaps some 'other' agencies as well, the eleventh hour effort at entrenching strictly political operatives, just to work against progress in OUR President's change policies, must be identified and marginalized. It may be even more important after the inauguration than before that the progressive internet forces that both blogged to elect him and funded his campaign remain vigilant and defensive of his vision, and warily alert of those 'only' providing obstacles.
Hagel will not be in the new senate. He's retiring.
Thanks, I hadn't been following what he or Nebraska was doing much this year besides his travel with Obama. I took a new job a few months ago and steep learning curves will always keep a head spinning, but one has to try and make those early good impressions.
I think OUR President-elect will be extremely hands-on in all of his Executive Branch departments, especially compared to the current white house shrubbery. While Senators like Clinton and Hagel have the potential to either help or hinder any agenda for OUR country, I'm pretty sure who'll be navigating for the bus at ALL times.
And, won't that be a wonderful 'change'?
redirecting our country ? sounds like the SoS - lots of spending , print more money, and stay the course in Iraq and Afghanistan along with keeping all US military bases overseas open.
The only 'change' we're gonna get is one cent back from a dollar.
I agree with Alec, except on 1 thing: Chcuck Hagel. I think he would be a great secretary of defense but here's the problem. Giving the job to a Republican reinforces the false perception that the neo-cons have been successful in creating: The Democrats are weak in National security. It won't be pointed out today. But in the next election if national security is still an issue in the campaign, somebody will remind the american people that for the last 30 years the Deparment of Defense was headed by a Republican. If NS is not an issue, the spin would be a Republican was good enough to fix it.
Chuck is 1 of the best and I know his foreign policy philosophy is more in sync with the Dems than with Reps. Unfortunately he still carry the letter R in front of his name. Given what we saw with Palin and how at some point 60% believed she's qualified, the spin on NS can easily be successful in 2012. There are just too many people who don't do their homewrok before voting. They rely on the cable networks
It will be interesting to see whether Hillary remains as hawkish, now that she is effectively abandoning any thoughts of running for the Presidency. II doubt it; it is my opinion that she is nowhere near a neocon (rhymes with: always wrong) at heart, and has postured in this way because of her ambition to be President, and the fear of being perceived as too "weak and womanly". Hillary is pragmatic. I think her pragmatism is ultimately greater than her ambition; this is why she is abandoning her quest to be POTUS and will accept SOS.
I read somewhere that the effectiveness of the SOS has a lot to do with whether the individual is perceived as really having the President's ear and more-or-less speaking directly for the POTUS, or is seeing to be speaking for herself. Hillary clearly has the presence and charisma, but can she subordinate herself, and her ambition to any man, after all the years with Bill? She has stayed with Bill, and this could be construed as the ultimate loyalty, if not for the possibility that there was really no loyalty, just political ambition and a "marriage of convenience". She's got the brains, and the moves, let's hope her heart is in the right place and she and Obama develop the necessary trust to make an effective relationship. Of course, anyone has to be easier than being married to Bill, so this might really be a cake walk after all...
As I walked the dogs this morning, I thought of the way Bush outsourced his war crimes. They were HIS crimes, yet, we, the taxpayers, paid for them with our reputation, our precious dignity, our dollars! In any other time, and in any other country, a man like that would be brought to trial or die trying to escape.
I believe that Hillary Clinton has the diplomatic skill, the power, and the reputation to turn this nightmare around.
Good article, Alec, until the last paragraph. Can we please end the habit of feeling the need to appoint Republicans to Democratic cabinets, or at least to the SecDef position? How are Dems going to finally end the nonsensical impression of relative strength if they keep appointing Republicans as Defense Secretary.
If Hagel wants to help, he can be assistant SecDef.
I see your point, Plooger, about the message appointing a republican as Secretary of Defense sends. And agree the Democratic party must alter the perception only the right can be strong. However perceptions and possible messages sent should not be the determining factor in choosing the best person for the job. I don't know if Hagel is or isn't the best person. I'm just sayin..
Spot on.
Obama looks to be in a thoughtful process void of the petty and the personal in order to maximize the talents of the exceptional and maximize his chances for a successful administration under the most trying times in history. Judgment on roles, team mix and agenda from a first hand perspective as opposed to hearsay is what makes a winning team.
Sounds like Leadership.
Obama could be the smartest guy in the world. How did he convince Clinton to abandon a powerful Senate position, a chance for real vocal strength on domestic issues, and a future Presidential bid? I think he offered her something much better. There aren’t many books written about Senators, even powerful ones, but there will be a metric ton of books written for decades about the US Sec of State who brokered the lasting Israel-Palestine peace agreement. She might just do it too. Obama has turned her “deficits” into assets; “shady connections” are morphed into established relationships; her “ruthlessness” will garner respect, her “personal ambition” becomes the investment needed to achieve a stable Middle East.
I was with you until you said the mid east peace process needs someone "ruthless". Gee, you think that being ruthless will work in that region of the world?
People need to get over who voted for the war and who voted against it. It truly doesn't matter anymore. Many Americans were duped by the mendacity of the Bush administration, and many members of Congress were in a no win situation without all the facts necessary to make a good decision. Hind sight gives all the arm chair quarterbacks a unique perspective. Going to war was not the best decision, but the bigger tragedy was the Bush clusterf**ck that followed the invasion when it became clear there was no plan for securing or rebuilding the country, and they sent unqualified ideologues over there to do the job instead of competent people. As for HRC, she'll make a fine SoS. I don't see where her foreign policy views differ from Obama's. She's a tough lady and a team player. She and her husband both came through for Obama during the campaign.
O is a master politician. And so is Hilary. I hate to break it to you, but O has offered your girl a plum opportunity that is too good to pass up. And if she accepts she will be backed into a corner. She's boxed in and she knows it.
By appointing her SOS, she is essentially out of politics (for the most part). And O's buddy, the governor of NY, will appoint a replacement suitable to Mr. President's liking. If O has to fire Hillary at any point, then she has no job - not in the Senate, not anywhere. And if Hill is appointed SOS, Bill has to have every speech and donation approved by O's team. Check and check mate.
If this goes through, O will be the only politician to neutralize the Clintons. Brilliant move. It's O's time now and he can't let the Clintons dominate and overshadow his administration. However, I do believe Hillary will do an outstanding job as SOS and O won't have to fire her. She's smart and I believe she genuinely respects and admires O and wants to do a good job.
I really don't think Obama is as cunning as you make him out to be. He's a brilliant strategist, he knows who can help him do the best job....nothing more, nothing less.
I also think they are completely on board with him.
A Chicago politician who's cunning? Gee, that seems unbelievable. NOT. You are correct, O is a brilliant strategist and a very, very smart man who is often underestimated. In fact, that is what I love about him. You never see him coming. He's alwaysa 2 to 3 steps ahead of everyone else.
I worked hard in VA for O and gave lots of money to his campaign. I was brought to tears when he won VA. The reason I support him - because he is smart and cunning in a good way. He understands politics and Rahm understands Washington. What a great pair.
And O admires and respects Hillary. Why? Because, she is just as smart as O. He learns from her all the time. Hillary has 3 problems: 1 - BILL ; 2 - BILL and, you guessed it, 3 - BILL.
Yes but Hillary will input on who replaces her in the senate.You are correct thry are both master politicians but I don't agree that anyone especially Hillary is backed in a corner.She knows that dispite her national power base and enourmous support around the country when she goes back to the senate she is still a junior senator from New York.Teddy,Durbin,Dobbs,and others have been waiting for a dem president and a chance to flex their muscle and assert their senority.That siad this is why Hillary knows Obama offered her the jewel of the cabinet,he was acknowledging her presence ,her ability and offerong her a world stage that she deserves and he thinks she can handle.He will have his hands so full for a long time on many many domestic issues.So why not have someone with equal intellect,shrewdness and knowhow handle the foreign policy that he of course will set and she will carry out for him.I am so looking for to the new Obama government,we are in for good good days we just have to know they are in the long haul not the near future.We have to work with oour new president to get there !!!!
As you say O's buddy - Governor Paterson - surely will appoint Mario's son - state Atty Gen. Cuomo to replace HRC. Thus removing his biggest threat to (re) election.
Hmmm. The Mario Cuomo who, just last year, said O was trying to "shuck and jive" his way into the White House. Wow. If O forgives him for that racist comment, then he"ll have Lieberman AND Cuomo indebted to him.
CAROLINE KENNEDY FOR JUNIOR SENATOR FROM NEW YORK !!!!!!!! FORGET CUOMO.....
I worked with the FHA when Como was with HUD. He passed some really dumb regulations that were later shown to be destructive to HUD's mission. They were later removed. Como is a typical politician that thinks he needs to make a new regulation as soon as he takes office. The result of the regulation is inconsequential. He's a politician on the way up than needs a resume. Please Gov. Paterson, appoint someone with some brains. Please....
You're so funny Alec. You make me laugh when I watch you, but it's your writing that impresses me to tears. Your heart is as big as Dallas.
I had no inner conflict because of my sister in law, Peggy. Peggy is bar none, the greatest short order cook on the planet. Where ever Peggy is cooking, there's always a long line of working people waiting to eat. But she had two cafes and both went out of business pretty quickly because being the world's greatest cook doesn't automatically make you the greatest manager.
Obama has a rare talent for management and organization that Hillary never had. I knew he'd put everyone in the position where they could each do the most good for our country. And sure enough SOS is the perfect position for Hill. It doesn't require much management, mostly it requires an ultimate wheeler dealer, who thinks fast on her feet and knows the lay of the land. She is all of those things.
She may have been upset not to have garnered the POTUS, but the history books will love her as SOS and it couldn't have been so if she'd made president.
Obama and his cabinet full of brilliants have really made my Christmas. What a great gift they are to all of us!
ps - more articles please Alec, thank you
Great post Lollie!
She can do so much more and really make a name for herself as SoS - especially after the SoS we are currently enduring.
I seem to recall during the primaries people were saying they'd be a dream team as P and VP....so why not as P and SoS?
Not to mention that it will guarantee we'll be seeing her mug on TV being interviewed ad nausium about international affairs until she's in a walker. Easily the rest of my life. While I don't hate Hillary the thought of that is not an inviting one. I agree with, and respect, what Hillary stands for, but compared to Obama's ability to communicate his ideas I find Hillary off-putting.
I second your thoughts Mr. Baldwin..I scanned down the first page of comments and can't believe the antipathy against Hillary, or maybe Bill? I'm sorry, I don't think President Clinton walks on water (like the GOP does reagan), but he was a damn good president, and I often ponder just how much more he could have done for this country if he hadn't been mercilessly persecuted for a marital indiscretion by the santimoniously sinning GOPers..boy, talk about the pot calling the kettle black. I happen to ascribe to the european view that my leader's marriage/fidelity has nothing to do with how well he does his job...so all you naysayers on the Clintons need to hush up...I voted Obama, and so far, he's showing just how smart he is in who he's choosing to have on his A team to save our country..and BTW, the pundits need to quit trying to denigrate her as SoS by saying ignorant things about her husband being a negative and not a positive..he IS a positive..and will allow us to hold our collective head up in the international world again.
Excellent post. I agree completely with mad tn dem, and you, Alec.
AMEN!!!
Both Clintons will be a HUGE benefit to Obama.
I'm so glad I knew to vote for him and I'm REALLY glad he and I have been completely on the same line together since he announced his campaign.
To; mad tn dem: You are so right! The most sensible post I have seen recently.
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