2009.08.10
Hillary is frustrated with Bill again
You almost have to feel sorry for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Will the Bill-induced headaches never end?
There she was, heading off on her first big trip to Africa. She's visiting nations with real problems and looking for ways America can help. We've never had a very good approach to Africa, so her challenge was great.
Then, almost as she's landing for her first stop, her husband, the former president, lands in North Korea, meets with its leader, Kim Jong Il, and secures the release of two American journalists.
It sort of overshadows an Africa visit. Africa, after all, is never particularly high in most Americans' consciousness, but North Korea? They've got nukes.
So it's little wonder that Hillary was a little touchy when a Congolese students asked her at a town hall meeting what her husband thought about a financial matter.
"My husband is not secretary of state, I am," an obviously annoyed Clinton said sharply. "If you want my opinion, I will tell you my opinion. I am not going to be channeling my husband."
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It cannot be easy being in the shadow of anyone, but I am sure it is particularly galling for Hillary. I wish I could feel sorry for her, but it is not in me.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — August 10, 2009 @ 4:15 pm
I thought it was hilarious, I too am not a fan
Comment by pammala — August 10, 2009 @ 4:34 pm
Hillary looks pretty bad right now. Bill hit a home run for her boss. She got sent to the minors.
Comment by Henry — August 10, 2009 @ 4:35 pm
Hillary brought it on herself by not ditching Bill when she had plenty of reason to. She gets whatever comes her way as a result...she made her choice.
Comment by Other John — August 10, 2009 @ 4:36 pm
Bill Clinton humiliated his wife by cheating on her. I am sure it's hard being treated like a dirty dishcloth all her married life, even if she needed him to further her ambitions but America is tired fooling with the whole sordid bunch and is ready to move on. I know I am.
Comment by Suzie — August 10, 2009 @ 4:49 pm
I'd love to see a video of it.
And I feel sorry for her staff who had to listen to her afterwards...
Comment by Patrick — August 10, 2009 @ 6:26 pm
Hillary doesn't look "bad". Bill just looks fabulous. Seeing him stride off that plane and give Gore a hug after pulling his chestnuts out of the fire was particularly gratifying. I can almost forget the 8 years after him. Almost.
Comment by Kristen — August 11, 2009 @ 7:30 am
HC gets more press than any secretary of state on record. She would be an unknown lawyer without BC. Sometimes the truth hurts....
Comment by BobH — August 11, 2009 @ 7:51 am
Indeed it's got to be a tough situation, he cheated on her and is overshadowing her in her current role etc. but she most definitly could've and should've handled that with a little more grace.
Comment by HCS — August 11, 2009 @ 10:06 am
Actually I think that without Bill Hillary Clinton would have achieved great success much sooner.
Bill's coattails have proven to be notoriously short. It's just funny to credit him with Hillary's success. She wouldn't have been an "unnknown lawyer" ever.
Comment by Kristen — August 11, 2009 @ 11:48 am
Bob H you are kidding right? Jim Baker or Henry Kissinger ring a bell? She gets most of her press from her association with Bill Clinton (she did the right thing and held her marriage together and STILL got pilloried for it). She has been in a no win situation since she first entered the realm of an equally (if not more so) driven person and lacks his innate charisma, but I give the lady credit for having the courage to stand in the arena surrounded by all those jeering "christians" cheering for her blood. Her success is her own and one can only imagine what she would have been if she had chosen a different path. Her notoriety and bad reputation are courtesy of the association with Bill IMO. Make no mistake, I love Bill Clinton's politics, his heart and his charisma, I just curse his ego and libido.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — August 11, 2009 @ 12:07 pm
"Internal speech was made by the Domestic Security Bureau, which said "Comrade Kim Jong En in his brilliance is to be awarded for excellent work. He dealt skillfully with the (2 US journalist) spy incident, and even was able to force a former US President to come all the way over the Pacific Ocean to apologize to us.""
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/world/news/20090809-OYT1T00717.htm
Comment by Henry — August 11, 2009 @ 1:48 pm
Imagine, foreign relations propaganda imposed on a captive populace.
"SADDAM HUSSEIN IS HARBORING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION! WE MUST INVADE IMMINENTLY OR RISK NUCLEAR/BIOLOGICAL/CHEMICAL OBLITERATION!"
Comment by Kristen — August 11, 2009 @ 2:09 pm