President-elect Barack Obama watches Senator Hillary Clinton deliver her speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, in Billings, Montana, August 26, 2008. (Jim Young/Reuters)
Oh, Jim Young, I totally heart you.
Anyway! People seem to get the mistaken impression that my "area of expertise" is the State Department, despite the fact that my expertise is mainly limited to the shoes and hairdos there. Whatever, but everyone wants to know what I make of the whole Hillary Clinton as SOS thing, so in my decidedly misinformed way, here goes:
I don't get it! Sure, there's a lot to be said in favor of Obama getting his rival out of the Senate, but is he really going to make such a political choice for such an important office? Would it be just a political choice? It's true that the rest of the world just totally loved the Clinton administration, but that was due mostly to Bill and his secretaries of state, not really Hillary. But maybe Obama's onto something here: would Hillary be more lovable to the rest of the world than Bill Richardson?
I don't know. It seems like picking Hillary to head the State Department would be a curiously shallow choice for Obama, somebody who we expect to be a little more pragmatic, a little less political. Plus, what's in it for Hillary? Wouldn't she have both more power and a longer shelf life (secretaries of state don't last long) representing New York in the Senate? It seems to me, too, that Richardson has way, WAY more experience in State Departmenty-type things.
Also: I really, really want to make a "Bill Richardson Facial Hair Alert System," so I'm totally rooting for him.
Maybe our friend John Brown can give us some opinions about this?
19 comments:
thats right Mr. Sister, I totally feel the same way.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
That's the conventional wisdom, anonymous, but I'm just not buying it. I'll be disappointed if it comes to pass.
PSP--What's in it for her? Don't be so cynical. She'd be SERVING HER COUNTRY. I love Hillary, now that she's not being mean to Obama. I believe she'd be terrific, fair, and good.
That said, Bill Richardson used to be the homely fat boy. What is it with men? The older they get, the more beautiful. HATE IT. The facial hair is dreamy, his experience unarguable, he rides a horse around NM. I hate that he has his eyes on the water of the great lakes, and yes, he does. Believe it or not, that's an issue up here. But dreamy he is and bilingual.
And Richardson is proud in his Guinness record for shaking the most hands and holding the most town hall meetings during one of his stints in elected public office. Isn't that a tad scary? Though he is a media hog, so if picked as SoS, I'm sure he'll keep you occupied, princess.
I'm with you, Princess, Richardson would make a more professional SOS, and possibly more entertaining too. But will you miss Miss Condi? It was like you were Miss J to Condi's Tyra Banks.
but think of all the pantsuits! And maybe even the occasional awkward show of cleavage!
though in fairness, we could get that from Richardson too, he is a big boy.
I stand in total agreement with you.
With all due respect to all the Hillary people, this is just not the best spot for her.
If he asks her... and then if she agrees, I question the judgment of both of them.
Linda, you don't think she's serving her country in the Senate?
Another thing I forgot to mention: Obama and Hillary may have been rivals on the campaign trail, but I think it's wishful thinking on Republicans' part to call them "enemies."
I respectfully disagree with most of you.
Hillary is qualified, she's smart and she's already familiar with a lot of world leaders.
However, I think Bill's hyjinx abroad may screw it up for her.
I think that Hillary would be good, as would Bill. I am somewhat concerned about so much talent exiting the Congress, which is presumably about to get some of its power back.
Pant suits would be boring for your your exalted eye, Princess, to get back to what matters most.
Richardson's teddy-bear looks might inspire you to stay very, very close to State.
Count me in the "I think Hillary would do a great job" opinion group. She is smart, experienced, would also surround herself with smart people, and could handle the job of bringing credibility back to the State Department. Plus, I do love the idea of a woman as Secretary of State (even if she does wear pantsuits). Richardson strikes me as a bit too broody for the job, not to mention his love of the camera. However, Lulu Maude does have a point about concerns related to the absence of talent at an important time for the Senate.
I also think Lulu's point is very smart. Add that to the reasons I think Papa Bear (Ha! That's the new "Dr. Ferragamo"!)would be a better choice.
But Papa Bear Richardson has some nasty skeletons rattling around in the closet. Unforuntately, along wit the dishy beard, PBR has a fairly well known history of not keeping his hands to himself.
I'm not liking the idea of Hill as Sos..... but she could be an another position.....
I hear Doctor Howard Dean would be the health Poobah. (makes sense).
Hillary has always been the universal health care advocate..... perhaps she can head up & roll out the new universal health care program & have the last laugh against all those who stomped down the concept back in the Bill Clinton presidency days?
Lots of folks said her health care plan was one big item that was a draw in the primaries.
The Case For Hillrod As SOS:
http://democralypsenow.blogspot.com/2008/11/keep-friends-close-and-enemies-closer.html
And Also For Dark Horse SOS Candidate, Bill Richardson:
http://democralypsenow.blogspot.com/2008/11/hey-since-when-are-men-more-qualified.html
PSP:
Wouldn't it politically convenient for Obama's team (a) to "spread the word" that Hillary was a SoS "contender" (thereby pleasing her and her supporters) but (b) letting it be known, just about at the same time, that in fact she only "coulda been a contender" because of the failure of her spouse (who was nasty indeed to Barack during the campaign) to live up to the high "ethical" standards demanded of potential members of the BO administration (and of their spouses)?
Princess Sparkle Pony,
Apologies for not replying more promptly to your kind offer that I comment on Senator Clinton's possible appointment as Secretary of State. I so associate your blog with the current Secretary of State that I failed to "connect" your blog with Ms. Clinton -- but clearly that "Condi-phase" (if I may so call it) of your blogging appears to be nearly over (just as Picasso, say, departed from his "blue period"), with your moving on, I am sure, to ever more perceptive observations on the state of the Republic to which we all much look forward.
It is hard to say what the tempest (in a teapot?) re Senator Clinton means. My only sense, as an ex-Foreign Service officer, is that, overseas, the selection of the New York Senator as SoS (for once, the perfect acronym, not used, to my knowledge, by the Department of State) might be seen as evidence that the U.S. under the new administration intends to pursue the same hegemonic (rather than "leadership") foreign policy as its immediate predecessors.
Hmmm... not exactly encouraging words.
As for nicknames, from what I've heard, the SoS is referred to simply as "S." But that may be only a Condi thing.
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