Hillary + Obama = High Drama

It's too early to tell what changes Hillary Clinton will bring to Barack Obama's foreign policy, but she's already had an enormous effect on his brand. Her addition to his team has turned "No Drama Obama" into "Mo' Drama Obama."

Hillary's appointment isn't even official, but the Obama/Clinton narrative has already left the realm of politics. Its twists, turns, shadings, and complex emotions are the stuff of literature.

But who would be the best writer to do this saga justice?

Reading the New York Times' accounts (here and here) of the "awkward dance" that led to Hillary's selection by "the man who dashed her own hopes for the presidency," I thought of Henry James.

It's Portrait of a Lady Secretary of State, in which the morally compromised symbol of the Old World (1990s D.C.) meets the brash, confident, audacious young upstart from the New World. Will the lady be able to "still have her voice " while at the same time "subordinating her ambitions?" Will she be "seen as her own person?" On the other side, will his "self confidence to name a global brand as his emissary" later be unmasked as, instead, a dangerous naiveté? Of course, in James' version, not only would the answer to that last one be yes, it would also likely be the agent of his destruction. Let's hope that Obama is able to rewrite that storyline -- and that The Ambassadors won't become The Turn of the Screw.

But given the palace intrigue that always accompanies the Clintons, James may be too genteel. Consider: in the two Times stories examining the "Clinton-Obama détente," we hear from "confidants of Mrs. Clinton," "former Clinton administration officials...who admire Mrs. Clinton," "a longtime friend," "a former aide," "two advisors to Mrs. Clinton," "a longtime friend of the Clintons who broke with them," "one Clinton advisor," "lawyers on both sides," "people close to the vetting," "close aides to Mrs. Clinton," "her confidants, who insisted on anonymity," "a close associate of Mrs. Clinton," and "one Democrat who is close to both Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton."

So by taking in Hillary, Obama is getting more than just Hillary -- and more than just Hillary and Bill -- he's getting the entire Royal Court of the House of Clinton, complete with chancellors, chamberlains, and a court-jester or two.

De Laclos' Les Liaisons Dangereuses? Or the high farce of Moliere? Or, considering the gravity of the times, do we need Shakespeare?

Of course, if Henry VIII and Richard II are any guide, Shakespeare was decidedly less optimistic about the idea of a "team of rivals" working productively together than Doris Kearns Goodwin.

But, actually, the writer whose work the Obama/Clinton relationship may most resemble is considerably more modern. Let's look at the plot line: a man and a woman start out as fierce rivals, bitterly fighting over seemingly small differences. Much talking ensures -- some of it funny, some of it hurtful. Finally, just when all seems lost, they both suddenly realize they were enamored of each other all along. But they don't actually end up in each other's arms until after an extended third act tease.

It's a Nora Ephron romantic comedy. When Hillary Met Barack. Sleepless in Chappaqua. You've Got Fundraising Email.

Two intensely driven politicians cross paths, each seeking the highest office in the land -- talk about a cute meet!

Then we have the protracted primary battles, the lingering pre-convention resentment, the flirtation with making her vice president, the rejection and selection of another, the renewed post-victory courtship -- with Hillary responding by playing hard-to-get. Finally, he offers her full entrée -- to the Oval Office if not to his heart -- and she ultimately relents. They agree to give the relationship a go. Apparently.

According to Elizabeth Bumiller in the Times, the relationship began to "thaw" when Obama was struck by the passion Hillary showed during her convention speech. After all, what could be hotter to a politician than the passionate embrace of a rival?

Then it really heated up: "By this past Thursday, when Mr. Obama reassured Mrs. Clinton that as secretary of state she would have direct access to him and could select her own staff, the wooing was complete." "Direct access?" Oh, behave!

Bumiller also cites the pair's "working chemistry," and writes that Obama appreciated Hillary's "discipline." Now that's hot: bonding over the ability to stay on message!

Another tidbit: Obama once called Hillary "directly from his cellphone to hers" just to "check in." Awww. Just like Harry and Sally calling to check in with each other while watching TV.

And while it doesn't have the exhilarating excitement of Billy Crystal's mad dash to the New Year's party, or the exquisite tension of Tom Hanks' last-second return to the top of the Empire State Building, Obama's climactic proposal to Hillary seems to have done the trick: "She feels like she's been treated very well in the way she's been asked," said a close associate of Mrs. Clinton.

Colin Powell and George Bush never really got along. Powell was like a trophy wife, brought aboard to make Bush look good. But it was never a love match. Even when Powell gifted Bush with that sparkling vile of fake anthrax and the decisive UN speech in the run-up to the war, the love just wasn't there. And we see what that got us.

On the other hand, Condi Rice was Bush's office wife. She adored him. He put stars in her eyes and made her heart skip a beat. But that didn't help her do a single worthwhile thing as Secretary of State.

Hillary seems like she will exist somewhere in the middle. Not the celebrity figurehead at Foggy Bottom, undermined by neocon underlings (the real object of Bush's affections). And not the moon-eyed adorer, incredibly loyal yet wholly ineffective.

So how does this story end? Will Barack and Hillary be able to make peace now that they've made peace?

Click here to read more developments and analysis on Obama's cabinet picks

If you are in the St. Louis area, I will be speaking at Maryville University on Tuesday, November 25th at 8PM.

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Comments

[mountainweb]

"The Turn of the Screw", ah yes, the Screw is turning rapidly in Washington (and returning) and you can hear the thunder of the bloggers racing to the keyboards..... Soap Opera time in the big city....

[chilliman]

It amazes me how everyone seems to know how things are going to work with Barack abd Hilary before it evens starts, have you anything positive to say.

[JordanKokich]

If Hillary could defy the "Vast Right WIng Conspiracy" then the Drama Narrative doesn't stand a chance

[skaterdon66]

I cannot wait til Jan 22...all you Dems on the HuffPo will have to find others to castigate...and it'll probably be Pres Obama...or Hillary...or Bill...etc...

[whitegoldwielder]

Hillary will be sorry if she accepts. The SOS does the bidding of the President. A senator has more juice. And, how many secretaries of state do you remember running for President?

[skaterdon66]

How many wives of presidents run for the senate....win..and then run for Prez??

[Promise]

Who was it who advised keeping your friends near you but your enemies even closer? Perhaps that's what influenced Obama's choice in Hillary. She was a nasty enemy in the primaries and she could be nasty again once he takes office. But this way, she's on his team and at least he has avoided future problems coming from her. Democrats have a way of picking on their own and already the ultra liberals are out, complaining about Obama's choices. Hillary and Bill could have fallen into that camp, but now at least Hillary will support him.

I think Obama is smart enough not to get into trouble with Hillary. He grew up with a smart, intelligent mother and a smart, intelligent grandmother and he married a smart, intelligent woman. I think he can handle women just fine! Michelle is no fool and can use her radar to alert him to any potential problems with Hillary.

[skaterdon66]

You left out his smart father....

[WillfromSF]

The point was that he was comfortable and used to being around very intelligent women.

[ohmercy]

he didn't grow up with his father.

[kevinw]

It looks like they have a pretty solid relationship that was built campaigning at the end of the GE. I think the only drama is from those of you drama queens that do not like the fact that he chose her. It is done. You should have more faith in the judgment of the nominee. He has the best guess as to who he can work with and who he can't. I wish the Clinton haters would at least wait until she takes office and has done some little thing they can nitpick and cry about like they you did through the whole GE even though she and Bill were campaigning for Obama. I can't think of any other democrat nominee contender taht even supported the winner. She has worked hard for him, and it looks like he appreciates it. It is the so called progressive police that feel a crime hst hope we won't have to hear this whining for the whole 8 years.

[britethere]

So sad ! Obama threw caution and his brand to the wind on this appointment. This dispicable , duplicitis, devious, disgusting woman will tarnish Obama in the way she tried , however unsuccessfully, to do in the primary

[Wanjiru]

...President Barack Obama's appointment of HRC as SOS is his GREATEST MISTAKE yet...and, unfortunately, this, more than anything else for the duration of his presidency, will ultimately be his historic undoing...

...I predict...

.

[skaterdon66]

In the Army we had another definition of SOS...

[skaterdon66]

no... his undoing will be the socialist agenda pushed by him and the leftist congress....buckle up
we're in for a tough 4 years...but at least in 4 yrs the voters will wise up and know they were duped...

[BuzzEGreen]

This commentary is a disappointment.

Barack Obama is attempting -- under extremely trying circumstances -- to bring our nation together and to select a dynamic team of independently minded individuals to help him lead us into a new era. And at the same time to undo the damage incurred on America (and the world) by the Bush administration.

I think this is a time when we need to give Obama time to do what he thinks is best, as our elected leader. So far, I am very amazed and pleased at the decisions he's made. While not as progressive as I would have hoped for in a president at this time, I've come to believe Obama is doing absolutely the right thing for the good of America -- given the realities he is inheriting.

Please, everyone, just ease up a bit and let the man pull this new administration together. In 6 or 8 months you can start grumbling if you see a lack of integrity or if you see he is turning his back on his campaign promises. So far, I think he is trying to live up to his promises and I'm behind him 100%.

[skaterdon66]

If he hasn't fixed all our ills by Jan 22, then he's a failure...

[Paladin2]

So far I see little else besides a lack of integrity. But I didn't sample the kool aid. Integrity is not getting your Democratic rivals thrown off the ticket with lawyerly cunning. Integrity would have involved informing and complaining to the party who's job that is. Welcome back DNC, you get to screw us for another four years. Then your out.

[wrabbitt]

It appears as tho we have taken one step backwards in the quest for change. The Clinton "ERA" was lackluster at best, the attention paid to domestic issues was minimal at best. Right now at this moment there are several million taxpayers that are bleeding, and, the government of "W" is doing their best to throw salt in our wounds. We are coming to a desperate time in our history. Not whether the government can spend all the money it can on foolhardy pyramid schemes they call a bail out ,or if the50s thinking auto companys can come up with a plan that sounds great on paper but, will only work with another 25 billion dollars in six months. And, the UAW crying over lost jobs, and the banking industry getting more money and getting farther in the red.The Bush administration will not stop until they have bled us taxpayers dry! and, then blame the problem on Obamas lack of experience. If change does not come by talking then it will come by action. God help us all!

[R2D2-51]

Members of political parties with prior experience doesn’t guarantee success.

If that’s the case, we would not be in this mess. The vast majority of those with expertise in multidiscipline areas of finance and foreign policy, are the kind of people who aren’t necessarily driven by power, greed, and ego, but professionals you see time and again testifying in Congressional hearings because they possess the knowledge Congress lacks to solve deeply complex problems that require critical thinking objective solutions.

Thus the deep bench that leads to the best solutions versus satisfying special interests, are the vast depth of academia from higher education institutions and scholars in the private sector in this country and abroad.

Wouldn’t take long to muster a manifest of brilliant people that would dwarf in background and qualifications the typical party picks , to solve our nations policy issues whose allegiance to sound scientific solutions would serve American interests, versus the typical good old boy network who get appointments.

Not because they are the best qualified, as we saw from Katrina and Brown the FEMA director who was miserably lost, but also those who paid political party dues with markers to call in, which is status quo on the DC circuit for more years I care to count.

Obama’s a smart critical thinker, avoids Group Think “YES People" but window dresses Summers and Rubin to satisfy skeptics, although they were intimately connected in creating the boon and bust collapse we are having leaving huge questions.

[skaterdon66]

Ok R2D2-51....please give me just 1 example of Obama's critical thinking...just one...

[kevinw]

First of all, I can't believe that you are comparing FEMA Brown to any of his current appointments. He was not a government man, he was a party crony. There is a difference. So far Obama has harnessed some of the great practitioners of their area for his cabinet. His economic team was a powerhouse. It was a perfect team for addressing the near financial collapse that we are currently facing.

It is true that being in government and having experience is no guarantee of success. However, taking a novice with no experience in the subject or government is a sure fire recipe for failure. Those people only come through in the clutch in Disney movies.

[WoodyCPM]

I think it's yet to be seen what Obama's picks actually mean for governance. I think the over riding concern here is to be able to have a government in place that can attend to the nation's several crises at once. For that he needs people with experience. Most of the people who have that kind of experience, who are even remotely aligned with Obama's beliefs about good government are people from the Clinton Administration. Some of these appointments gives me some concern. He's leaving some of the Bush people in place just to ensure a smooth transition of power and a strategy for change that is sensible and doable. He's got a big job in his hands. I'm willing to wait and watch how he governs ONCE HE TAKES OFFICE. It's important to keep in mind that the people he's hiring from the Clinton Administration are NOT Clinton, either one of them. All of these people are replaceable. Obama never billed himself as a leftist. I wish he had and I wish he was, but he isn't. I want universal health care, an end to the Iraq War and our economy put on a track toward a green one. If he can do one or two of these, then he'll be a successful President.

[Miyuki]

Arianna, you are way to cynical. You need to trust Barack Obama's judgment. Give them a chance to work together before you shoot it down.

[HLSieck]

I'm really surprised more people, especially the Jon Stewarts of the world, aren't seeing the basic brilliance of this arrangement. The real drama would be having Bill and Hillary around to pontificate and participate on domestic issues - constantly underfoot, walking into the White House like they own the place, working the long-time White House/OEOB staff for access, pestering Rahm for time on the schedule - anyone who has ever experienced an organizational transition with the former executive still around knows what a nightmare it is (ponder your experience in any founder-led non-profit). The best possible thing that Obama could do is get Hillary and Bill as far away from Washington as possible as much as possible. Thus. SOS. Hillary will be on a plane and on the other side of the planet 90% of the time. Her policy may not align perfectly with Obama's right now, but goodness knows it's a big improvement over ANYTHING that has happened in the past 8 years. Not only is it a brilliant strategy from a practical standpoint - Hillary is going to transform the PLANET for women and girls. While I REALLY hate this phrase...I have to use it...it's a "win-win" for every human being alive today. Including Barack Obama.

[skaterdon66]

Transform the PLANET...no hyperbole there...

[Bitsko]

Seems like the "high drama" is coming more from the press than from 0bama or Clint0n.

[chagedorn]

Drama schmama, the media (including HuffPost) creates the "drama" -- events are moving much too quickly and are much too critical and frankly too interesting to see play out for this kind of side-commentary...let's talk about the action, not about the re-action. I didn't really notice much drama except some reporter and blogger huffing and puffing about the Clintons, as usual...

[realistic2008]

I do not think there is a "drama" of any sort here, Hillary will do her best on behalf of Obama and the nation. I am confident that she will not be short of being the best Secretary of State we have ever had, just like her husband, if not the best in the history of this nation, certainly he is on the top 5..

[skaterdon66]

Hillary is for Hillary...never forget that...

[Machun]

Also don't forget any politician is in it for themselves. If you need any evidence watch the train wreck that is Sarah Palin.