2008.11.15
Hillary Clinton is no Condi Rice
Hill as the face of American detente?
No doubt about it. Hillary Clinton is brilliant, but Secretary of State? Pulease! I'm not feeling it. She has traveled the globe. But she's hard as nails and has a lot of public baggage. I suspect few of us would use the words "Hillary" and "diplomatic" in the same sentence. I mean, the woman is like a bull in a china store.
Whether you agreed with Condoleeza Rice's politics, she exuded a cool, calm but authoritative decorum when she represented the U.S. across the globe with the world's leaders. Hillary brings too much drama for such a high-profile role.
I had pegged the senator from New York for the court, the Supreme Court. It's an important, but out-of-the-limelight gig. (And there are no young women to speak of at the court to get Bill in trouble!) But my buddy Kev, a conservative whose opinion I much respect, says no way. He says the court can't afford a politician, and Hill is a straight-up politician.
Kev also says if you put Hill at State, it keeps her out of Obama's way on the domestic front---where she bombed in Bill's first term.
What do you think?
Shanna,
Now you must know with the 18 million voters behind her, until Obama threw his hat in the ring, and all the shoring up he has done, to keep those 18 million votes Democratic, Obama will do right by her. As it is "done" in DC, peroid. Hillary, if she were a man, would be lauded for her guts and fight, and hanging in there. Sure there is history, just as there is with any public figure, including Obama. Let it go. All this frenzy, name calling, ect is just more division, and God only knows that is not working.
Obam has pay back, now, all his words and promises, and frankly, puppies are the last thing we need to concern ourselves with, or his choice for "his" people. You cast a bad light on your pick, Obama, by condeming his choice in Hillary. LET IT GO. Please!
Sitting on the same court as a brilliant mind such as Scalia isn't exactly sloppy seconds. I never agree with him, but he's one smart and engaging dude.--s
Comment by Dona Wheeler — November 16, 2008 @ 3:17 am
I think she'd make an excellent ambassador to Latvia. I'd suggest the North Pole, but then Mrs. Santa wouldn't be safe from Slick Willie one night a year.
Comment by Mike — November 16, 2008 @ 3:57 am
I dare say that Hillary would do well at whatever job she undertook. I too do not see her as a diplomat. Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if women were not judged by the mistakes their men make. I wonder if Laura Bush will be judged for the thousands of lives her husband sacrificed.
Comment by LaVern Buchanan — November 16, 2008 @ 6:42 am
I think Hillary and Condi will both end up in Vermont sooner or later.
Comment by Percy Kution — November 16, 2008 @ 8:02 am
Bill Richardson is the best choice for Secretary of State. He has experience as Secretary of Energy, UN Ambassador, and various diplomatic talks. From a political perspective, he was an early backer of Obama and, as a Hispanic, he would be a great example for that community and for America's image around the world. I would prefer Hillary Clinton over John Kerry (ugh!), but both pale in comparison to Richardson.
The ideal move for Hillary Clinton would be Majority Leader of the Senate. Harry Reid is a very lackluster leader and public speaker. It could be a very high visibility position as Obama's partner in guiding through legislation with plenty of side by side press conferences.
My real "outside the box" idea would be to make Bill Clinton the UN Ambassador. He'd like to be UN Secretary General, as it's the only theoretical promotion left, but an American would never be appointed. UN Ambassador is the best alternative, and it's near his home in New York.
Comment by Kevin — November 16, 2008 @ 8:06 am
First of all..Ms Rice accomplished zero as Secretary of State..as Donald Trump asked"What deals has she made"..the only one I can think of is the dubious on again off again deal with Korea..thats it..on a mid east deal or anywhere else..I do however that Hillary is ill suited for the job..the obvious choice is Bill Richardson who has actually brokered deals and participated in hostage negotiations..We need someone thats actually diplomatic...the Secretary of State is an important..even critical position..and shouldnt be filled for political payback purposes..
Comment by Larry — November 16, 2008 @ 8:25 am
I agree with the keep your friends close and your enemies closer idea, but one of the op-eds in The Washington Post voted for Gore at State. This would send a clear message that we are serious about global warming.
Comment by Pat W — November 16, 2008 @ 8:37 am
Shame on you Shanna. Wrong again on Hilary and progressive and opinionated women. You are however preaching to a fundamentalist/hater/chauvinistic mentality that puts women in either the HelpmAte or harlot category... as if their sole existance revolves around a man's needs. Hilary Clinton is a talented, bold and brilliant person, and she would do well in any position. Stop hatin' on Hilary!
Comment by branmuffinluv — November 16, 2008 @ 8:51 am
It looks like the president elect has his self in a jam.All the big money came from some where and now it is pay back time.He owes hill and bill big time and they both are going to benefit from it.What happend to change?The same old washington insiders are going to be on his cabinet or get the jobs.If all these lifers were going to change any thing they have had years to speak up. The only person around him that will have to change their address will be Obama himself,the rest are allready their.He collected to much baggage trying to win the job.Pay back is ;;;;.Welcome hill and bill. What is our lifer vp going to do?NOTHING he is a insider and carries to much junk on his plate from being ther a life time.
Comment by charlie — November 16, 2008 @ 9:06 am
Although I am an Obama supporter and did not like the way she ran her campaign against him, I think she would do well at State.
No one can say she is not intelligent, personable and could be diplomatic if the job called for it. In addition, the reaction from other nations to her possible appointment has been positive.
Comment by R. J. W. — November 16, 2008 @ 9:07 am
Change cant come from the same old bunch. Obama should have cleared the slate and put in new people around him.Change comes from freh mind not died in the wool lifers. I think we elected another republican president. I know everybody will yell at that but just wait and see.
Comment by charlie — November 16, 2008 @ 9:11 am
I'll agree with your friend. Hillary is definitely not SCOTUS material. I would liken it to putting a year-2000-version of Rosie O'Donnell on a 1920's-era-version of "The View".
Obama needs to look very closely at who he is choosing to fill key positions if he was honest in his message of "change". While media picks so far have only been speculation, I'm seeing the same names that have been around for a while. Ostensibly he ran on a message that was more than just a hard shift from red to blue. As I said before, we'll know in the first few months if that was an honest message, mainly by the people he selects.
Comment by Ed S. — November 16, 2008 @ 10:00 am
It's over..It's Over, leave Hillery alone, she's the only one in the whole WASHINGTON group that has a grain of sense, I didn't vote for the first time since I started to vote at 18 and thats been 72 yrs ago, none of them do anything they get up there and lie just to get your vote, but I feel like I don't want any more lies, get real, get a life and let everyone else have theirs, SHARE THE WEALTH IF YOU HAVE IT GOD WILL B LESS YOU FOR IT mw
Comment by Mary Tate — November 16, 2008 @ 2:40 pm
I didn't think they lowered the voting age to 18 until the 1970's, but I guess at age 90, I won't remember that either.
Comment by Mike — November 16, 2008 @ 10:31 pm
"Change" does not mean MORE of the CLINTONS. And if she can't control the strife in her own marriage, how is she going to negotiate world peace? She's finished. And her Whitewater baggage would keep her from getting an appointment to the Supreme Court. If the coffee maker at the Court disappeared during her first term on the bench, I, for one, would know exactly where to look.
Comment by Mike — November 16, 2008 @ 10:36 pm
I knew watching Bill Richardson, kiss of his pals, {Bill & Hillary} after years of friendship, that by alighning himself with Obama, he expected to reap a major reward. Perhaps he is the best man for the job, but to me, the kiss off, makes him a slug, a "bottomfeeder" someone not to be trusted, and up for the highest bidder.
Each and every person has a part to play, in this world we live in, even Bush. Any incoming president has their work cut out for them, and the lessons have begun, as Obama learns he has to give up his Blackberry and computer. Few of us want to be where he is, so lets pray for balance, in our Nation, in our Congress, in our World.
Comment by Dona Wheeler — November 17, 2008 @ 3:41 am
As an Obama supporter from the start of the primaries on, I'd be a bit disappointed with Hillary at State. I can understand what Obama is doing with the whole "Team of Rivals" concept and I don't necessarily disagree with the idea. One of the main reasons Obama was able to beat Clinton in the primary was that he did not have to deal with the "Clinton legacy." I can't see how bringing that into the cabinet would be of help.
However, she is one of the smartest and toughest people in politics and I can sure see her value as Senate Majority Leader.
Comment by Enkidu — November 18, 2008 @ 9:40 am
This is exactly the attitude that the majority of my democratic friends talked about when explaining why they were voting for McCain. If any of them see this blog, I'm going to bring that crow to Roanoke for you to help me eat it.
Comment by Allen Bunch — November 18, 2008 @ 7:50 pm