The Current Crisis
Giggly Diplomacy
Hillary is on a permanently tone-deaf listening tour.
WASHINGTON — I have been following Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s first foreign policy jaunt with my customary discernment in matters regarding the Clintons. Frankly I am very uncomfortable with her title, secretary of state. She termed her Asian trip a “listening tour.” Does that bring back memories? She met with foreign leaders but she commanded more attention for meeting with “giggly” students on campus and appearing on an Indonesian variety show called “Awesome.” There she discoursed on the pop culture of teenagers but demurred when asked to sing. She mugged for the paparazzi, glad-handed crowds and explained her informality as “a way that is not traditional, not confined by the ministerial greeting and the staged handshake photo.”
So after watching this trivialization of statecraft, I shall continue to think of the former senator from New York not as Secretary of State Clinton but as candidate Clinton. Not surprisingly, candidate Clinton has brought to the State Department the most politically seasoned staff ever. As she campaigned in Asia, she was accompanied by at least two of her longtime political operatives. One is Huma Abedin, from candidate Clinton’s days on the Hill. Abedin carries the title “senior adviser.” What she knows about foreign policy remains a mystery, but she knows the Clinton political operation. On this trip, according to the Washington Post, Abedin “silently will hand Clinton a glass of water when her voice rasps during a briefing.” Another veteran Clintonista on the trip has been Kiki McLean, a former press aide to Bill Clinton in his days as governor.
There are more Clintonistas joining candidate Clinton at the State Department, which suggests there will be friction ahead between her political operatives and diplomats and foreign policy specialists who are supposed to be untainted by politics. Candidate Clinton is bringing as her chief of staff Cheryl Mills, the Clinton loyalist who as White House lawyer in 1999 spoke ardently on the House floor against the Boy President’s impeachment. Philippe Reines, press secretary for Hillary on the Hill, will play that role at State. The candidate is also bringing along Lissa Muscatine, her speechwriter from yesteryear, and scheduler Lona Valmoro. Even the Clintons’ old aide Maggie Williams is working for Hillary, though perhaps not this week. Socks, the White House cat, has passed away. Like the Clintons’ famous dog, Buddy, the expiry took place while the Clintons were on the road. Doubtless it is only a matter of time before the Clintons’ loyal factotum Sidney Blumenthal moves into a State Department office and talk of conspiracies against the candidate begins — how about a “Vast State Department Conspiracy”?
Another reason it is difficult for me to take Hillary seriously as the nation’s top diplomat is that she is bringing to this high cabinet post, the incongruous girlishness that she always brings to public life. There is nothing new about a woman secretary of state. The post has been held by Madeleine Albright and Condoleezza Rice. Neither displayed a hint of girlishness. Neither continued Hillary’s adolescent competition of the boys against the girls.
In Asia candidate Clinton, according to the New York Times, answered questions from a “giggly” Korean girl about “how she knew she had fallen in love with her husband.” As aforementioned she talked in Indonesia about her love of rock and roll, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones (she is 61 years old and apparently locked in a time warp, with no development in her musical tastes for forty years). In Tokyo, the Times reports, a “nervous young woman” asked candidate Clinton how she might “become as strong as she [Candidate Clinton] was.” Hillary responded: “Well, I played a lot of baseball and I played with a lot of boys.” Can you imagine Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, say while dealing with China, being asked how he knew he had fallen in love with his beautiful wife Nancy? Can you imagine Secretary Kissinger explaining the strength of his personality by telling a Japanese youth, “Well, I played a lot of baseball, and I played with a lot of girls”?
Throughout her public life Hillary Clinton has proved to be a formidable figure not because of her intelligence and certainly not because of her high moral character. She has been propelled to the heights of public life because she is an exhibitionist. Many of our public figures are. There is very little in their lives that is too personal for them to publicize and to exploit in seeking attention. This is one of the reasons our public leaders are so mediocre. They are celebrities.
About the Author
R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. is the founder and editor in chief of The American Spectator. He is the author of The Death of Liberalism, published by Thomas Nelson Inc. His previous books include the New York Times bestseller Boy Clinton: the Political Biography; The Impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton; The Liberal Crack-Up; The Conservative Crack-Up; Public Nuisances; The Future that Doesn’t Work: Social Democracy’s Failure in Britain; Madame Hillary: The Dark Road to the White House; The Clinton Crack-Up; and After the Hangover: The Conservatives’ Road to Recovery.
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stefie| 2.26.09 @ 6:26AM
Gosh! I wonder if Condi feels left out! I bet she didn't get asked any of these important questions )-;
I'm still wondering why Nobama picked this self-absorbed harpe to be in this oh-so-important post.
Melvin| 2.26.09 @ 6:58AM
Shame! We have a circus clown as Sec. of State.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 2.26.09 @ 7:32AM
She is a national disgrace.
Louis Jenkins| 2.26.09 @ 9:58AM
More Hope and Change. Admittedly, this is a change from dignity to showmanship. Hillary's traveling medicine show is wowing the heads of all asian and eastern states. Can't wait for the new peaceful world order, as Hillary is going to win them all over to our side with her unique brand of statesmanisms.
In reality she and her minions are all clowns, and anyone with common sense cannot take these Clinton re-treads with any seriousness. The world has went from hating America to laughing at it.
Wesley Mouch| 2.26.09 @ 10:16AM
One moniker for this type of diplomacy is "Mr. Rogers Diplomacy" ... won't you be my neighbor?
The Bishop| 2.26.09 @ 10:24AM
Our international muse. God save us all!
Anthony| 2.26.09 @ 10:38AM
What's the suprise here? The Democrats have mastered symbolism over substance such that we have the most inexperienced, economic illiterate play acting as president and a carpet bagger Sec. of State who has accomplished nothing other than running for office, pretending to understand foreign policy. This is Democrat hubris at its very worst. Unfortunately, America has been dazzled by these empty suited charlatans.
Michael Tomlinson| 2.26.09 @ 10:39AM
At least someone (i.e., Hillary) understands that the Obama domestic agenda and foreign policy is a joke.
HomelessLeRhino| 2.26.09 @ 10:43AM
Message to GOP. Counter program with adult behavior. That means Mr. Beeg with his " I don't wanna grow up " attitude and lifestyle must be demoted. Who really cares what game or golf match he took the private jet to last weekend. He and HRC are flip sides of the same coin.
Mike| 2.26.09 @ 11:24AM
Well. I guess we have at least one reason to be grateful to Obama. He saved us from President HRC.
Paul| 2.26.09 @ 12:00PM
Are we surprised? She is the wife of the boy president! Eccl. 10:16
Anthony| 2.26.09 @ 12:25PM
Bob is so right on this. The U.S., indeed, the entire world has fallen for the vacuity of our Oprahesque culture, complete with our many empty suited pols. Is it any wonder Obama had the bust of Winston Churchill removed from the oval office? Churchill could make excusing himself to the men's room sound erudite. Obama and his contemporaries are pathetic wannabes. Hell, Churchill just holding his cigar gave statesmanship the aura of high morality and sophistication, unlike Madame Hillary's hubby & Obama, who puffs furtively in the W.H. basement.
megapotamus| 2.26.09 @ 12:35PM
The bull-session break-out groups are now in charge. After asking themselves questions for years that they just couldn't answer, like, why shouldn't we talk with Iran? What could it hurt? they are finally finding out. The Freeman appointment is waking up a tiny number of jews, the folks most threatened by this amateur night farce other than us. I have to believe that our fellow citizens are smarter and more decent than they have demonstrated these many years. They are getting their lessons. I hope they are learning them. We shall see....
Chris | 2.26.09 @ 12:43PM
Perhaps Iran will send that first nuke to the State Department.
Marc Jeric| 2.26.09 @ 12:47PM
What did you expect from the most famous cattle futures trader in history of trading? Who in 120 minutes of "testifying" in front of a grand jury said "I do not remember" and "I do not recall" some 149 times - that's once every 51 seconds?
Seymour Kleerly| 2.26.09 @ 1:26PM
How many positive stories about Hillary Clinton have come from the "Right" in the last 15 years? I believe it is beyond brainwashing, and that Conservatives are physically incapable of anything but vitrol concerning her.
ruth| 2.26.09 @ 1:31PM
I remember reading Mr. Tyrrell's articles about the Clintons 15 years ago when my children were just babies. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
ruth| 2.26.09 @ 1:37PM
Gee, Seymour, I wonder why. The last fifteen (or more) years with the Clintons have been a long, and very bad trip.
ruth| 2.26.09 @ 2:29PM
LOL
Dustoff| 2.26.09 @ 3:40PM
Hey guys, Obama had to do something with her.
LOL
Dustoff| 2.26.09 @ 3:44PM
Seymour Kleerly
____________
So you feel the same way for the White House travel staff that Hillary smeared so she could hire her own friends. They were called everything in the books and yes even crooks when all was said and done. Thankfully all charges were cleared, but not one single sorry from this woman.
ruth| 2.26.09 @ 3:49PM
They got off easy compared toVince Foster.
I Conner Klast| 2.26.09 @ 4:08PM
So much for the new "smart diplomacy" Sec. Hillary stated the US would reconsider our missile defense system if Iran rethought their nuclear program. A week later N. Korea vowed to launch an ICBM that could reach Hawaii and Alaska. At least Hillary has a sense of Huma.
ruth| 2.26.09 @ 4:45PM
Hope we do, too.
whyyeseyec| 2.26.09 @ 5:02PM
This is a woman who is skating thru life on somone else`s dime and has never accomplished anything in her life. No consequences for her actions and has everyone hoodwinked into thinking she is so `smart`.
Whatever that means.
Libs are always quick to let everyone know how `smart` they are.
Name one substantial thing she has done that anyone can remember??
Nothing!!!
Howard| 2.26.09 @ 5:15PM
Cordell Hull, George Marshall, John Foster Dulles, Dean Rusk, Henry Kissinger, Condi Rice, Hillary Clinton. Who does not quite fit in?
Con Spiracy| 2.26.09 @ 5:45PM
Hey stefie - I think I know the answer. Nobama picked her, because she promised she'd give him a juicy post in her administration after he fell on his butt, losing the next nomination.
jr| 2.26.09 @ 5:48PM
Tyrell, you only listed women who were playing hand maidens to her Highness. Mistake?
Michele San Pietro| 2.26.09 @ 5:48PM
Hillary Clinton is a disgrace for America.
Thom| 2.26.09 @ 6:02PM
It always struck me as odd that President F.U.D. would put essentially a habitual liar in the one position that no President could afford to have such a person if you were to take that position seriously. At the very least the Secretary of State and the President would have to be on the same page 24/7 and like hand to glove in their mindsets. No such arrangement is possible between Hillary and Obama and Obama stands to lose a lot because of that.
Sooner or later the giggling SOS is going to have to sit down across the table from someone with a serious nature and ax to grind that Hillary’s apparent strengths aren’t going to be able to con. How she reads the person(s) on the other side of that table is going to be a lot less important than how she is read by them. Her “baggage” is going to precede her everywhere she goes. When the Fairy Tale ends real consequences are going to follow, none of which will be real progress for us. Taking “shots” at Israel on road as she has done so far isn’t going to win her friends there either. Like the famous Speaker of the House that got “rolled” by the boys club in the Syria, Hillary is a disaster waiting to happen. It is not a question of if but when this will occur.
Perhaps she will be better at window dressing our foreign policy than the last SOS but on balance no SOS has played any significant role in world affairs since the early 70s. It won’t be any different with Hillary. She is the dummy in pant suits for public consumption while all the real policy decisions are carried on by the one who bears the political cost of it all, the POTUS. This is an amusement ride for Hillary.
ruth| 2.26.09 @ 6:09PM
Hillary's traveling circus of acrobats and clowns. One big American freakshow.
Thom| 2.26.09 @ 6:20PM
It is a rare President that is not defined by foreign affairs.... FDR was a failure as far as domestic affairs were concerned and what he is remembered for the most is a rather large and expensive foreign affair. Same for LBJ, Carter, etc. I’d like to be able to give Obama some credit where credit is due but this pick is pure nonsense in a practical world of State.
Paul Nelson| 2.26.09 @ 6:59PM
Stefie, it would seem that Obama chose Hilary Clinton as SOS to get her out of the Senate where she had independent power. An added benefit is that he can now fire her when she screws up, as he no doubt expects her to do.
John| 2.26.09 @ 9:56PM
Given the current corrupt press and professoriate, it will likely be years before we know exactly why the Obama machine put this low-talent harridan and her machine in titular charge of Foggy Bottom. When we learn why, count on it: the answer won't be pretty.
Hank Reardon| 2.26.09 @ 10:38PM
OH GOD
Ken in Baltimore| 2.27.09 @ 10:04AM
President F.U.D.?
Country boy| 2.28.09 @ 6:58AM
Hah, I love that one -" Can you imagine Secretary Kissinger explaining the strength of his personality by ... baseball"
You forgot ...
-" Can you imagine Secretary Kissinger explaining the strength of his personality by ... knocking down a whiskey shot in local Pennsylvania saloon"
Joe Simpson| 2.28.09 @ 8:25AM
The Stones will live forever, Bob.
Michigan-Mutt| 2.28.09 @ 1:57PM
Yeah, but thank God Hillary and the baby boomers won't.
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