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Conventional Washington Obama?
Barack Obama just officially announced his choice of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. At one point during the press conference, Obama was asked to comment on some of his quotes during the campaign undermining Clinton's credentials on foreign policy, including the statement that her world travel amounted to "having teas" with foreign leaders. Obama said that he understood that the press would be having fun "stirring up" quotes from the heated campaign, when in reality he's always admired and respected Clinton. However, I think by focusing on some of the choice quotes, the media is understating the differences between the two on foreign policy during the primaries. Obama's argument against Clinton during was not rooted in the idea that she was exaggerating her accomplishments -- that was just one of many side arguments. The central critique Obama offered was that America needed to fundamentally change the direction of its foreign policy, not just change the party in power. Obama spoke of moving beyond "conventional Washington thinking" -- personified by Hillary Clinton and her support for the Iraq War. So one of two things happened. Either Clinton has embraced Obama's vision for fundamental change, or Obama has succumbed to "conventional Washington thinking."
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Thomas| 12.1.08 @ 12:00PM
Is Hillary Clinton qualified for the position of SecState? Not according to the U.S. Constitution. The second clause of Article 1, Section 6, of the Constitution reads, "No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office." Some Presidents have gotten around this pesky clause in the past, by simply ignoring it. Let's see if this time proves any different.
WendyG| 12.1.08 @ 1:05PM
This I just don't get. Doesn't she effectively take herself out of any race for the WH by taking this job? If for some reason Obama is successful, Hillary won't have the organization in place to run. Is Obama just throwing a bone to the Hillary voters? Again - I don't get it.
Well, one good thing - send her in to meet with our enemies. They may capitulate just so the crusty old battle-ax in a pantsuit will stop haranguing them.
Jamie A| 12.1.08 @ 2:16PM
My theory on the politics of Obama's choice of Clinton for SoS is that he asked, and she accepted, precisely because becoming SoS is her best path to the Whitehouse. And not in 2012. Here's my rationale.
First, Barry is aware that by 2012 he'll no longer need a running mate to provide him foreign policy credentials, so Biden will be worthless dead weight (as opposed to being valuable dead weight now). Rather, he'll need a running mate to appease and appeal to a more traditional Democratic electorate since his "change" mantra will no longer be a relevant campaign premise, especially since that he will have alienated the radical left, the youth, and the minority voting blocks to a measurable degree by failing to deliver on their expectations. Additionally, by 2012, one of Barry's long term political concerns will be the Presidential fortunes of the Party in 2016, knowing that Biden is, and would be, utterly unelectable.
So my prediction is that in 2012, Barry will drop Biden and ask Hill-Rod to be his running mate. By doing so, he'll sure up the traditional Democratic electorate all the while giving the Democrat Party an instant front runner for 2016. And as a bonus, he'll be gaining a former SoS as a running mate, thereby providing him even better foreign policy credentials than Joe "gaffe-a-minute" Biden. And to answer those pundits who have speculated that Hill-Rod as SoS might be a thorn in Barry's proverbial side, Clinton will be on her best behavior at Foggy Bottom over the next four years because Barry's fortunes are hers in 2016. Likewise, if she were to be Veep.
But why would Clinton accept a position in 2012 that she wouldn't have accepted in 2008? Well, for the same reason why she's accepting SoS now when she wouldn't have accepted the Veep nod three months ago-- because in typical Clinton form, her pride will have made way for her ambition (which predictably will be followed by her pride).
Dai Alanye| 12.1.08 @ 2:33PM
While I find Jamie A's analysis intriguing, we ought to be asking ourselves not what Obama is planning or thinking but what David Axelrod has up his sleeve. He's the gray eminence in this coming administration.
As for what Hillary/Bill is/are thinking, I leave that to more naturally devious minds.
Dai Alanye
http://alanye.com/
zoe| 12.2.08 @ 12:09PM
...or, obama is really putting together a team of rivals.
conservatives keep saying that he's not putting together a team of rivals, that he's just getting together "yes-men." then when he picks someone whose policies are not identical to his own, it's either because he's conforming to the rival's POV or forcing his will upon his rival. which is it?
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