Hillary Clinton next Secretary of state?

[General Duke]

Obama holds secret meeting with HRC

By MIKE ALLEN & CARRIE BUDOFF BROWN | 11/14/08 10:31 AM EST Text Size:

 

Could Hillary Clinton be talking to Barack Obama's people about becoming the next secretary of state?

Photo: AP

 

President-elect Barack Obama met Thursday with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) at his transition headquarters in Chicago as a growing chorus of advisers pushes her for secretary of state.

 

This would give him a “Team of Rivals” Cabinet that would allow him to focus on the domestic economy while Clinton traveled the world to shore up America’s image with allies.

 

A clue to the secret visit was contained in a note last night from the protective pool of journalists who follow Obama: “Several minutes before President-elect Obama's motorcade emerged from the basement garage beneath his transition headquarters, another unidentified motorcade of approximately three SUVs left the garage.”

 

Several officials described the visit to Politico on Friday.

 

Clinton said during her primary campaign against Obama that she was running, in part, to “restore America's standing in the world,” and she may get her chance to try. Several key Obama transition advisers argue that she would be “force multiplier” for the administration on the global stage.

 

Among those who like the idea: Bill Daley, an Obama adviser who was commerce secretary under President Bill Clinton.

 

With rumors swirling that she might join the Cabinet, Clinton said Monday night on the red carpet at Carnegie Hall in New York at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards: "I am happy being a senator from New York; I love this state and this city. I am looking at the long list of things I have to catch up on and do. But I want to be a good partner and I want to do everything I can to make sure his agenda is going to be successful."

 

Clinton plans to remain coy. She had an event in Albany, N.Y., on Friday but did not plan to answer questions.

 

The president-elect already has shown signs of valuing proven competence over longtime loyalty, diversity or interest-group wish lists.

 

“If you want to avoid an early stumble — and he just can’t afford them, for a million reasons — he’s got to have people who know what they’re doing,” a well-plugged-in Democrat explained.

 

One explanation for Obama’s willingness to consider Clinton for chief diplomat can be found in a January interview he gave to Katie Couric, anchor and managing editor of the “CBS Evening News.” As part of her “Primary Questions” series, Couric asked him what books besides the Bible he would consider essential if he were elected president.

 

“Doris Kearns Goodwin's book ‘Team of Rivals,’” Obama replied. “It was a biography of Lincoln. And she talks about Lincoln's capacity to bring opponents of his and people who have run against him in his cabinet. And he was confident enough to be willing to have these dissenting voices and confident enough to listen to the American people and push them outside of their comfort zone. And I think that part of what I want to do as president is push Americans a little bit outside of their comfort zone. It's a remarkable study in leadership.”

[Emperor]

^It's not a good move if you ask me, this returns life back to the clinton machine in the democratic squares. Obama should have isolated those couple and started his own powerful machine in the democrat party arena.

[Naxar Nugaaleed]

two things. Its not really in the interest of the Hillary brand to take that position, it would be several steps down. She made history when she ran this last primary, there there is no histroy to be made as the sec of state. She will either step aside or Ask Obama not seek a second term in 2012. Even a supreme court appointment would be better but i have read that she has rejected that. And if his about helping Obama, she would be more helpful heading the treasury department, appearntly she has the the confidence of all the joe he plumbers in America.

 

Two, if Obama does appoint her to any position, she know where the "buck stops" because as much as this country is headed that way, its not a third world country.

[General Duke]

Oodweyne I think you got it old boy. If she is opart of his admin, if the ship sinks he neutralised one of his biggest threats.

[Suldaanka]

I think appointing the HRC as Secratery of State will not go well with Obama's promised change.

 

Instead, I think appointing the aspiring new leader and professor from Havard Samantha Power will go very well. I like Samantha for her broadminded aspect of seeing the world and specially the fact that she specialises in 3rd World issues. She will not only help highlight the change he promised but will also bring a new young face to represent America.

[Peace Action]

Oodka analysis is right on the money. As they say keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

 

Sixthly, make those 18 million Hilary voters happy as they have pushed Obama over the top.

[Dhagax-Tuur]

This woman with her threatening mentality which borders Bush like approach is no good for a sec of state. He should have given her health related post or something which had put much effort when she was the first lady. As for the old boy, Mr C, he should use him as an envoy or something, and then there you have it, these two powerful individuals in the party neutralised.

[Abwaan]

Does this mean that she gave up on running again? And even if she resigns well before time could it be a problem for her if Obama doesn't improve things and she will be labelled of his losses.

[LayZie G.]

instead, I think appointing the aspiring new leader and professor from Havard Samantha Power will go very well. I like Samantha for her broadminded aspect of seeing the world and specially the fact that she specialises in 3rd World issues.

Suldaanka, did you forget Dr Rice?

 

Who had a better credential than condi regarding world issues, who did her doctorate on international affairs and Poli. Science??

 

Condi, god bless her was non-factor. If anything, she will go down in history as being the best maltese puppy of the Bush Administration.

 

Everyone is on Samatha Power's tail but many of you fail to distinguish her from the likes of Dr Rice etc.

 

Its time this position was given to a sitting official from congress. Someone who actually has the experience of dealing with head of states and not someone who spend most of her time in lecture halls and who is no better off than Condi was. Some women just aren't cut out for such positions.

 

As far as Hilary Clinton is concerned, it will be a mistake on her part to take the job. The question of taking a cabin position was asked of her a while ago and I believe she gave the best answer that I have heard on the campaign trail. SHe said that she would do more good in her present status as a senator than serve in the cabinet. In other words, what becomes of her seat?

 

From what I understand, the governor will temporarily appoint someone to take her position but come election time, a good strong non democratic candidate can run for that office and yet again, the number game will be played out. All in all, Hilary did not reject the idea of holding cabinet position, she said if asked of her, she would welcome the idea.

 

I strongly believe, as many have already said that she would diminish her changes of running for the presidency if she takes this "supposed" offer.

[Naxar Nugaaleed]

What wrong with Dr. Rice? We have to keep in my the sec of state is just another member of the president team and you can only be as good as your team leader. The policies that u associate with her were Bush policies and am of the opinion that on a different team, she would have been a great sec of state.

 

As for this none sense, its not in the interest of HRC or team Obama. So much for change if Obama stuffs his cabinets fellow congressmen.

 

S.powers is the person needed to make the Obama wants.

And Hillary needs to pave her on political path, not be a subordinate to clinton or obama.

[LayZie G.]

^EEDO, this is not Canadian politics, where cabinet solidarity is highest on the agenda for the PM's office. Nor do members of cabinet have any threat against them if they don't obey their party leader and adhere to party discipline of canadian politics.

 

At the same time, I took condi as a fighter when she was first appointed, but she has not contributed anything other than being Bush's yes woman. If you can't speak against your boss, then you should quit and she didn't follow powell's footsteps.

 

PS: My question still stands for those tailing S. Powers, what is she bringing to the table? What makes her different from the likes of condi? Or are you just going with whatever nytimes or cnn is reporting? C'mon folks, you can do better than that...

[Kamaavi]

Originally posted by Oodweyne:

It just so happens, that unlike last time around in circa

1992, this political arrangement will be to their disadvantage).

^^Sxb O'weyne! You have to see it from Mrs. Clinton's point of view.

 

If the Obama presidency is successful he will be renominated and probably re-elected in 2012 thus freezing her out until 2016 when she will be 69 years old.

 

If the Obama presidency is not successful he will most likely be replaced by a republican in 2012 again freezing her out until 2016 or 2020.

 

Either way the future of Mrs Clinton at the presidential level is not very good at best.Why not take the high profile Sec of State job, makes sense to me.

 

Jeesto~

[Jacaylbaro]

Bill Clinton says wife would be 'great' secretary of state

 

(CNN) — Former President Bill Clinton is weighing in on the possibility of his wife becoming secretary of state, saying the New York senator would "be really great" in the post.

 

"She loves doing what she is doing. But if she decided — if he decided to ask her to do it and they did it together I think she'd be really great at being secretary of state," Clinton said Sunday during an economic conference in Kuwait hosted by the National Bank of Kuwait.

 

But the former president made clear his wife did not seek out a job offer.

 

"She worked very hard for his election after the primary fight they had and so did I and we were very glad that he won and we have a lot of confidence that he can do a good job. But she did not do what she did with the hope or expectation of getting any kind of job offer, much less getting this discussed," he said.

 

The New York senator is reportedly on Obama's shortlist for the position. Sources tell CNN New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is also in the running.