The Original Power Couple Emerges Again With Hillary on Top...

Barack and Michele Obama, the couple, continue to captivate the public and the press, most recently in the cover story of the NY Times Sunday magazine: "The first marriage. It's modern, it's a formidable international brand and it's an ongoing negotiation." Sounds like a reality show promo to me. Behind the scenes with those sleek and powerful Obamas.

The First Lady's Halloween leopard outfit was definitely the most overtly tangy executive spouse action since Jackie purred seductively on the phone to Lyndon Johnson in her breathless, Marilyn Monroe style only weeks after her husband's assassination.

But let's not lose sight of the most rubber-necked and mysteriously complex White House relationship of the modern era. What's up with the Big Dog and Big Cat Clintons?

A number of national political writers who covered the Clintons have told me that competition was one of the key things that kept the two together.

The Clinton marriage is probably less of a negotiation than a long-term range war (not without genuine affection.) But surveying the battlefield, it's clear that Hillary has advanced her public personality position way ahead of his.

It might have seemed things were going Bill's way after his wife spiraled out of the presidential race and took a job that only Henry Kissinger before her had been able to turn into a genuinely starring role.

There was the North Korean hostage release where Bill bitch-slapped former bus tour partner Al Gore out of the spotlight and upstaged his own wife with Pyongyang photo ops. And a few weeks ago, Mr. Clinton jetted to California to be the major big foot fundraiser for Gavin Newsom's gubernatorial campaign (RIP).

Then yesterday Bill was in Kosovo for the unveiling of a full-length statue dedicated to him on Pristina's main drag. It appears that he's finally out of that doghouse.

But the Kosovo thing is a little tin-horny Kim Jong Bill. He could barely raise pennies for his pup, Gavin. And he was forced to muzzle himself at the emotional homecoming of the Current TV journalists.

Hillary, meantime, has become a fire-breathing, in-their-face lioness. She's sharp, tireless and blunt. While local pols in DC were trembling even at the idea of rowdy Town Hall meetings, she dove directly into them...in Pakistan, where they eat tea baggers and US officials for lunch. She seems to relish the clash of ideas and told already angry Pakistanis that their government wasn't doing its part in the war.

Snap! No wonder one press report called her the "White Goddess."

Not enough action for the Secretary of State? She then goes to the Mideast and high fives the Israelis for slowing down West Bank Settlements, infuriating the Palestinian leadership. So much for the Obama tilt toward the Muslim world.

This all seems less like the arrogance and repressed anger of the old Hillary and more like a tough, independent-minded superstar.

Agree with her specific positions or not, but in the Clinton wars, my money's on Hillary.

 

Follow Phil Bronstein on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PhilBronstein

Comments

[FirstShirt]

Hillary is earning her stripes as a foreign policy expert. And she is staying above the politics on national issues, a good place to be. She is looking more presidential than the president and definitely tougher.

If Obama does a Jimmy Carter impersonation look for Hillary to do a Kennedy impersonation and challenge him in 2012.

[TommyMcCarthy]

In a well-ordered universe Mrs. Clinton would be our President .....willing to fight a partisan, polarizing battle when necessary to acieve REAL reforms...(ya know, LEADING)
While Obama would be overseas as (where he remains immensly popular) calling for compromise and conciliation and endeavoring to TALK our problems out of existence.....(ya know....POSTURING)

Each has the perfect skill-set for the OTHER'S job description.

tm

[FirstShirt]

True. They are at the wrong poles. Hillary would be a tough action oriented chief executive and Obama would make a great Ambassador at the UN or SOS.

[EducatedObserver]

Absolutely correct, TommyMcCarthy.

That others cannot - or do not wish to - see the perversity of Clinton as SOS when she is manifestly suited - temperamentally - to be president is beyond comprehension.

[party-of-one]

Bronstein's headline "The Original Power Couple Emerges Again With Hillary on Top..." does not evoke a very flattering image.

[placpje]

And yet, there are some who continually obsess about such images.

I wonder why that is ...?

[Jayne Lyn Stahl - Huffpost Blogger]

Must confess that watching Hillary Clinton paddle Pakistan for not being able to cough up bin Laden, esp. in light of the fact that the CIA knows how to reach Al Qaeda's numero uno's niece, and has known for years, rather amusing, and reminiscent of when then president George W. Bush chastised Vladimir Putin for suppression of the press in Russia.

The secretary of state's trip to Israel, and references to "unprecedented concessions" made by Israelis were also rather absurdist in light of Gaza.

As to whether Bill or Hillary come out on top, the politics of persona, or mask, have frankly gotten us into a big mess which is not going to go away until the focus is on issues, not on tantalizing, and irrelevant character traits.

[party-of-one]

well said.

The Clinton soap opera in all of its facets is pure distraction.

[placpje]

Only to those with overactive imaginations.

They're quite easily distracted.

[Intelligentia]

How is Bills and Hillary's relationship affecting anyone's live? Wow! people must really feel unfulfilled in their personal lives in order to invest so much time dissecting Bill and Hillary's relationship. How many times do you this Bill and Hillary are sitting down discussing about Mr. Bronstein's relationship?
I predict ZERO! get a life people.

[Smithn]

It sees as tho Hilary and Biden have acquired a "glow" of self confidence as we come to the end of this first year. It's a good sign.

[klondiker]

Admittedly, the Pakistan trip has done wonders for Hillary's profile. I have relatives in Pakistan, and they were stunned that a US Secretary of State was appearing on popular Pakistani TV shows and answering unscripted questions. It's really quite a landmark - I don't think any other SoS has done this level of public diplomacy. Certainly not Condi.

And, I think that's part of the reason why Hillary was chosen for this role. Can you imagine Kerry or Biden doing this kind of thing? They're both great, but I really can't see either of them holding their own in a rowdy Pakistani townhall.

[EducatedObserver]

I am sometimes bewildered by the enduring public fascination with the Clinton relationship.

Be that as it may, I suggest there is much to be admired about the Bill and Hillary partnership. It has for the most part been conducted with dignity, efficiency of purpose and intelligence in its pursuit of public goals.

I submit that the Clinton alliance is far more modern than that of the Obamas, which is - at the moment anyway - the more temperamentally ordinary and traditional union.

[party-of-one]

There is no doubt that the Clinton arrangement has given each of them much of what they want, and caarried them both to the heights of power and wealth. I think the issue of whether it has been conducted with dignity and good judgment is highly debatable. It certainly seems more self-serving than service minded.

[texastrixie]

It seems to have served the American people, and as to their personal interaction - who cares?

[fedupwithpolitics]

She is the antithesis of a diplomat--what was Obama thinking? But, given his choices for other positions (Summers, Geithner, Emmanuel), I guess we can surmise that he really wasn't thinking. Loser administration.

[duxguts]

She only got the job in the first place to appease female voters. He comments in Israel a few days ago prove she has no diplomatic skills what so ever. I doubt very much there will be a second term for Obama but if there was, Hillary would not be in the next cabinet.

[jomira]

Because she doesn't allow to be runned over by hostile leaders of other countries, she is not diplomatic? I am sure you wouldn't be saying that if SoS was a man. She is not there to show favoritism because she is dealing with Pakistan that she must hush up to Israel so Pakistan's feelings aren't hurt. Really!?! I don't think President Obama picked Clinton for that position to appease the women voters. He has many women in cabinet positions. The Secretary of State position can definitely be a direct reflection of him. He chose the best person that would do the job well.