What is Barack Thinking?
Hillary at State? Ahead of Bill Richardson a seasoned diplomat who negotiated with the North Koreans and Saddam Hussein?
Why? I think this guy: http://daily44.wordpress.com agrees with me.
I would add that John Kerry and Tom Daschle as the people who essentially shepperded Obama in the Senate deserved better prizes than Hillary. But I could be wrong.
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I don't buy the argument Daschle, Richardson or Kerry "deserve better prizes" for shepperding Obama. If that's the reason they supported him then they supported him for wrong reasons.
However I do think discussion on whether others in the list are more qualified than Hillary is worthy of a decent debate.
Frankly, I find Gov.Richardson more qualified to be the SoS. May be one area where Sen.Clinton triumphs is the amount of recognition she garners around the world.
I'm not a big fan of John Kerry- I don't find him savvy, he often finds himself victimizing solutions at the hands of ideological battles.
I think PE's decision is in part political and in part idealistic- an apparent belief in the team of rivals.
I do have serious reservations about Sen.Clinton's ability to work together in a team and follow orders- there is a real possibility of a fallout. But she is very much qualified, hardworking and disciplined. May be both of them trust each other more than we assume.
Bottom line: Now that he made the decision I hope it works well.
December 2, 2008 9:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm with you, now that it's decided I'm pulling for success. I was sort of wondering if her recognition is a positive or a negative. It seems like mostly SoS is a low key job where most of the heavy lifting is done quietly. I wonder if her celebrity - various politicians elbowing to meet her even though they don't really have anything to do with the issue at hand, etc. - might add more overhead than a different SoS might have.
Really though, I think Obama gave her the SoS to help his domestic agenda - health care in specific. This was the biggest point of disagreement in their platforms, one of the most pressing concerns for America, and something he has promised to get done. A consensus will be easier if Hillary doesn't put together a coalition demanding "universal" be added to the mix. The last thing the democrats need is an internal battle over health care in the first 100 days.
Based on her speeches, it seems Hillary would harm her own political prospects if she didn't fight for a "universal" plan in the Senate. SoS is about as far from domestic policy as you can get - it would be odd to ask the SoS anything about health care. This allows all parties to save face, and gives Obama the best chance of enacting his agenda.
On the one hand, I don't really like her in the position. Richardson is just one of several people who are more qualified (I can't even touch the appointments as reward for support angle). On the other hand, it seems like a master stroke politically - probably from both of them.
December 2, 2008 6:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's a keen observation, getting her out of teh Senate healthcare battle. One thing I believe about Obama, though, is that he will still seek her counsel on the subject. No sense throwing out the baby with the bathwater. It is one of the early hallmarks of Obama, that he can listen to all sides of an argument without getting too verbose, like Kerry. I think Kerry simply talked too much ... w-a-a-a-a-a-y too much.
December 2, 2008 7:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
They are actually really really close already. The big difference seems to be mostly the universal/mandated aspects. In many ways Obama's health plan is pretty much Hillary's plan tweaked so it can pass a divided congress.
December 2, 2008 7:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am uncomfortable with his decision but as the decision has been made, at this point I just hope it goes well for all of us. I was concerned that a senate confirmation hearing would not go well but after how they treated Lieberman it will probably be done with a nod and a wink even if it shouldn't be.
December 2, 2008 10:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
When you begin to think like Obama, then you will get it. Party unity, keeping Hillary at Bay, past experience are lame reasons because Obama doesn't think so simply. You know how simple it is when Rush Limbaugh agrees with you.
December 2, 2008 10:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
I keep wishing I could just slap Dennis Hopper's performance from Apocalypse Now down and walk away.
(I think Kurtz throws something at him at this point)
But seeing and hearing makes it so much better.
December 2, 2008 1:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
huh?
December 2, 2008 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Surely you've seen Apocalypse Now!?!?!?
I knew what Desidero was going to reference before I started reading the quote... And it is apt...
December 2, 2008 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
huh?
December 2, 2008 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Get the DVD already.
December 2, 2008 7:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nah!
December 2, 2008 8:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
kash i agree with you....supporting obama is not reason enough to warrant a big off...that is no better than lobbiest expecting a big back for conditional support.....
if richardson and kerry supported obama for the right reasons, they will support him no matter what! the country is at stake here...Hillary C is not the worst pick for SOS but I do believe that there are better qualified people...I am ok with Obama's decision, just not super-elated. Hillary C is smart and capable. As long as she tows the line, I dont foresee a problem.....
Yes, I do worry about the drama the Clintons bring along, sometimes through no fault of their own....that would be a distraction this new administration can do without, but hey!
December 2, 2008 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did y'all ever stop to think that maybe Richardson didn't want State? Maybe he'd rather have Commerce.
[rolls eyes]
December 2, 2008 1:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think so. That's a far out theory than a the theory that it was his first choice.
December 2, 2008 2:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
The things he could do with NAFTA!
December 2, 2008 7:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Obama has H.Clinton where she will do the least harm. She has to carry his words and ideas as SOS. She does not go and talk her own stuff to heads of state. If she doesn't then it will be on her and everyone will know it. If Bill steps off the porch he'll be the one that screwed up H. Clintons SOS posititon. I think they both gave up a lot of power to Obama with this appointment. I am surprised that H. Clinton didn't stay in the Senate. Maybe she wants to retire early. The only thing SOS do is teach and write books as far as I know. Has any of them run for president?
December 2, 2008 1:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm with you here. After I got over the initial shock of the rumored offer, I was immediately shocked that she would be willing to accept. I guess having no committees to chair and being the junior senator didn't have a great deal of appeal either. Perhaps it was an intriguing challenge to her... It's not like it is a bad job. I think she will do well, but I certainly think she's also in a box to some degree. In these chaotic times, it would've looked a bit off if either WJC or HRC had come out and diminished the SecState position by suggesting it was somehow beneath her. Once it was leaked, I'm not sure she could've turned it down to stay in the Senate...
December 2, 2008 3:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
That was exactly my take also. U.S. Senator is one of the most powerful positions in the world that only gets more powerful with time. Tons of committees are shuffling, and Clinton pretty much could have had her seat for life. Why would she give that up to be second fiddle to Obama?
The leaks are the most puzzling thing about this deal to me. I don't see Obama forcing his hand in such a belligerent fashion - it's so not his style. It doesn't make sense to leak from Hillary's side unless she really wanted it.
Whole thing is odd.
December 2, 2008 7:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
I chalked the whole leaking thing to the usual Clinton drama machine. Both Hill and Bill have trained friends and supportors well - always leak to make Hill and Bill look good and in the center of attention. I still think Obama put some mumbo jumbo on her when they met and convinced her that the SOS was what she wanted. Once she realized it was the most PUBLIC of the cabinet postitions she wanted it. I think she will do well - if she wants to. I just don't know how long Bill will stay on the porch and that is what HAS to be done for her to hold the position. Remember that they don't have to serve out the 4 year term.
December 2, 2008 10:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
If I were in a position to make appointments, I may not have picked Hillary, but I wouldn't have chosen Kerry or Richardson either. They're a couple of mush-mouths. Obama needs someone who knows how to deliver a concise, clear, unequivocal message. Neither Kerry nor Richardson has the discipline. Hillary does. She'll completely suck at managing State, but she'll be a great messenger for whatever message she's asked to deliver.
December 2, 2008 3:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mush-mouths...my thoughts exactly. Thought I was the only one that thought so. They are both "unremarkable" so to speak.
December 2, 2008 8:11 PM | Reply | Permalink