Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Idea That Makes Too Much Sense Not To Happen: HIllary for Secretary Of State

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In TBlade’s neat name the cabinet contest, 2 of the 8 entrants thought Bill Clinton might be chosen for Secretary of State.  I can’t see that.  

But THIS I can imagine, which none of the 8 guessed: Hillary.  

Is there likely to be much distance b/w her foreign policy instincts and Obama’s?  No.  Check.

Does her temperment and cautious style fit the job?  Yes.  Check.  

Would her world stature be useful in meeting with heads of state and getting deals done, more so than a Bill Richardson?  Yes.  Check.  

Is it a meaningful job and an adventure for her?  Yes.  Check.

Could she sometimes leverage Bill’s stature, world popularity, and knowledge without her being overshadowed?  Yes.  Check.

Would it give some cover for Obama to be more hawkish than the party’s left would like?  Yes.  Check.  

Could you imagine her listening to Rahm?  Well, no.  Okay, can’t have everything.  

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  1. From Talking Points Memo:

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    p>DON’T GET IT
    Secretaries of State don’t usually last more than a single presidential term. And sometimes they don’t make it that long. So, for the life of me, I do not understand why Hillary Clinton would want to give up what is in all likelihood a senate seat for life to run the State Department for Barack Obama.

    • Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State is quite possibly the dead end of her political career.  I’m not sure she’d give up that easy.

    1. The Secretary of State really should have lots and lots of experience in the world of diplomacy. On that dimension, Joe Biden or John Kerry is better than Hillary Clinton. I can’t think of a recent exception to that rule.

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    p>2. During the latter days of the primary, I preferred Clinton on domestic issues and Obama on foreign issues. The reason for the former is that Mrs. Clinton tends toward the militaristic. Democrats running for national office probably have to overemphasize their readiness to use military force as not to be accused of being DFHs. Possibly female Democrats have over-overemphasize this, so I’m being unfair to Mrs. Clinton. However, an article in The Nation warned that, in fact, Mrs. Clinton’s foreign policy advisers were a bit hawkish. I recall concluding at the time that the distinction was significant, even a little worrisome. (I can look up the article if someone thinks this is necessary for the discussion.)

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    p>3. IMHO, Hillary Clinton grew tremendously during the primary campaign. She’s become an amazingly good speaker. (If you think about it, the Republicans have no one at the level of Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, or Barack Obama in turns of oratorical skill.) It would be nice if she could take up some of the national spotlight — if only so that there’s even less spotlight available for Boehner, Romney, McConnell, Huckabee, and Palin. The SOS is not a showy position.

    • In response:

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      p>1. Colin Powell had more experience than Hillary Clinton?  More experience abroad, surely, but in diplomacy?   Isn’t diplomacy, or at least a part of it, trying to persuade people?  Her health care work, her Senate work — she has a lot of work in persuasion.

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      p>2. I think Obama will benefit from a strong, hawkish seeming SOS because, like it or not, some foreign leaders will perceive him as less inclined to act (than Bush/Cheney), no?

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      p>3. Perhaps.  But I always got the sense she didn’t like the showy stuff, she did that as necessary evil.  

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      p>

  3. Marc Ambinder had this to say:

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    p>http://marcambinder.theatlanti…

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    p>

    6. The CW in Washington is that Obama wants Clinton in his cabinet more than Clinton wants to be in the cabinet, the theory being that the moment she steps into the administration, she loses her power base, she loses her Senate seat forever, and she loses her voice on domestic policy. She concedes her political identity.  Actually, on policy: uncuriously silent in all this is Sen. Joe Biden, who has strong foreign policy ideas of his own and a bigger platform to share them with Obama.  Would Clinton become a glorified PR tool for Obama if she accepted the job? A Powell, rather than a Rice?

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    p>Meanwhile, Al Giordano has a completely different take on all of the rumors:

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    p>http://narcosphere.narconews.c…

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    p>I am not completely sold on Al’s thesis, but who knows?

  5. None of you know this competent woman?  This woman knows foreign affairs and served in the second Clinton administration.  Obama will pick the best people (I hope) because, after all, he wants to serve two terms.  And just what makes Kerry so special?  

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