Hillary as Secretary of State. What's in it for her?

[Bunny]

Can you help me understand why Hillary would be interested in this position? Assuming she continues getting re-elected to the Senate, she could sit in that chamber for another 20 years or more. If she takes the SOS position, she's out of a job in either 4 or 8 years.

She will only continue to accrue more power if she stays in the Senate, and if she were to take another stab at the Presidency, wouldn't she be coming from a better position if she is a sitting US Senator rather than a former Sec of State?

I guess I just don't see why this would appeal to Hillary and frankly I'd rather she stay in the Senate. Now Bill Clinton would make a great SOS, IMO, but I don't see Barack giving that any real consideration.

[LostinVA]

1. There's nothing in it for her, and I personally don't think she's want it

I think she's wasted outside of the Senate or a judgeship. I trust her on the USSC to make the right decisions for me and this nation, and she's a TERRIFIC Senator for the Dems.

[Bunny]

9. She is a great Senator and I truly hope she stays there.

I'd love to see her on SCOTUS, though, also. Either way, we win.

[BlooInBloo]

2. Weird - TPM said exactly the same thing...

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/244345.php

"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."

[Skwmom]

5. If he makes her SOS, he could NEVER take it away without a MAJOR

scene. Bill Clinton said in FL that Obama called him and Hillary and said tell me what to do (in regards to the financial crisis). Can you imagine how much more angry he would be if Obama DARED to challenge Hillary about how Hill and Bill wanted to run the state department.

I think making her SOS would be a HUGE mistake. They are already calling it the third Clinton term and Obama will NOT be able to control her and Bill.

[Bunny]

8. Why would Barack want to 'take it away"?

If Hillary accepted the job, she's much too professional to undermine Barack's authority as POTUS. There wouldn't be any need to "take it away".

[Skwmom]

12. The Clintons are 24/7 drama. She would undermine his authority in a heartbeat b/c she

and Bill already believe he's is unqualified to lead. Obama picking Hillary would show a HUGE lack in judgment, at a time when this country and the world need to believe in him.

The Clintons need to go quietly into the good night and for once put the country ahead of their own desires for power.

[Bunny]

13. Uh, the primaries ended in June. It's now November.

You may want to catch up a little on what's happened in the interim.

[Skwmom]

14. I'm well aware of what has happened in the interim. The Clintons are polarizing and NOT the way

to unite this country. They are already running the 3.a.m. ad which says that Obama is unqualified to take that call.

Did you watch Bill Clinton in FL say that Obama called him and Hillary and said tell me what to do (in regards to the financial crisis)? I think you need to tell the Clintons that the primary ended. And it was amazing how anytime one Clinton did anything favorable for Obama, the other or one of their major surrogates would undermine him.

Yeah, I have been paying attention and not liking what I see.

[11 Bravo]

19. Seek help. Some pathologies are treatable, so it's worth a try.

[Bunny]

25. The Clintons are, right now, running the 3 AM ad? Where did you see this?

Please give me the details.

[Skwmom]

15. self-delete

[Zuiderelle]

18. Give it a fucking rest.

[Marrah_G]

27. delusions and paranoia

[Beausoir]

16. Paranoid ramblings.

[cali]

3. people forget that Hillary doesn't have any real power in the Senate

she isn't chair of any committee and she won't be in the next Congress. SoS is a very prestigious position, and perhaps she'd like to run for Governor of NY in four years.

[Bunny]

6. Okay, if she really is pondering a run for NY Governor (which I doubt), that might make more sense.

I know she doesn't have a committee chair in the Senate yet, but I think that will change over time. As another poster stated upthread, she can probably count on being a Senator for the rest of her life, and with Byrd giving up his chairmanship, and if we manage to get Holy Joe evicted from his, that may leave more room for her to get a committee chair somewhere.

There's certainly prestige involved in being SOS, and it could line her up for some very lucrative and fulfilling positions in the private sector, but I just don't see her as someone who would want to do that. I think she enjoys the limelight and the status of being on the national political scene too much to give it up so soon.

[cali]

10. She won't be getting a Commitee chair for at least another couple of years

and probably longer. there are just too many dem senators with greater seniority. and seniority is the bottom line in the senate.

[Bunny]

11. Yeah, you're right about that.

[sfam]

4. She gets a piece of the action nt

[DrToast]

7. Yeah, piece of the action... (I'd rather be SoS than a Senator)

Plus, SoS would add nicely to her resume if she's going to run for President in 2016.

[SeaLyons]

17. If she accepts the offer.....we can thank our lucky stars

She will be a great Secretary of State.

[mtnsnake]

20. What's in it for her is that she would want to help the country in the best way possible

It's not always about what Hillary feels she can do for Hillary, it's about what she can do for the country. If Obama feels she is the best one suited for SOS, and if she agrees she'd be good for the job, then the country would be better off for it. I'm putting my trust in Obama that no matter who he picks, that person is going to accept the job in the best interests of the country, not in the best personal intersests of themselves.

[Bunny]

28. I think Hillary is noble enough to accept the position if it is offered in the manner you suggest.

If your President comes to you and asks for your service, it might be very difficult to turn him down. And I don't question her dedication to her country. I just wonder why the job would appeal to her. I think her husband would be tickled silly over this job, I just don't see her being especially interested in it.

[mtnsnake]

32. "I think her husband would be tickled silly over this job"

Did you happen to see Jay Leno the other night?

Leno: "And there's a new rumor that Hillary Clinton may end up Secretary of State, which means she would have to spend the next four years traveling all around the world. To which Bill said, 'Yes!'"

:evilgrin:

[Sensitivity]

21. POWER. She has little direct power in the Senate

[Jennicut]

22. Hillary's stature would rise even more at SOS

Since she has no real power in the Senate, why not? And if she does want to eventually run in 2016 then she could position herself well. We rarely elect Senators. This election was an anomaly because we had two senators so one would be elected no matter what.

[Enrique]

23. that's a huge position

Secretaries of State are a historic figures.

[shayes51]

31. And she would do a fantastic job!

[Beacool]

24. I agree with you.

I kept saying it last night. Why would Hillary want to leave a position of power in her own right to be in a job where she would be serving at the pleasure of Obama?

Greta had Newt Gingrich comment on this, and for the first time, I agree with him on something. Newt thought that she would be better off staying in the senate than taking a cabinet position. He said that in the senate she can express independent views, while as SOS she would have to follow the administration's policy line. He didn't see it as a win for Hillary and I think that he's right.

Hillary can accomplish more in the senate and I hope that she chooses to stay there for now.

[peace13]

26. Unfortunately Bill has made many promises to his friends in Dubai

He was distraught when Hill did not get the Presidential nod from the Dems because he has made promises for money around the world that need to come to fruition. With Hill as SOS their worries are over. Too sad, if you ask me.

[Freddie Stubbs]

29. What specific promises did he make to his friends in Dubai?

:shrug:

[peace13]

35. Let's start with the port deals and work our way around the world.

Don't get me wrong President Clinton can make his money now that he is out of office. I am uncomfortable with mixing current American politics with the power and money he has made since he left office. I am sure that you are aware of this. Simply google DU for Bill Clinton and Dubai and you will see plenty.

[Lumpsum]

30. I think she's eventually aiming for a spot in the Supreme Court.

Please Obama. PLEASE. Don't hire this woman. Not for SoS.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[alcibiades_mystery]

34. Hillary will be the VP pick for 2012

No doubt about it. Biden was good for one term, but Obama will put up Hillary for VP in 2012, setting her up for 2016. This is a roadmap to that transition.

[wyldwolf]

36. Late 1700s, early 1800s , SOS was the springboard to the presidency..

...just some irrelevant trivia...

[ClarkUSA]

37. It sets her up perfectly for Hillary 2016 - no more lies about sniper fire or brokering Irish Peace

Now she can fill that hole in her resume with more than votes for IWR and Kyl-Lieberman.

[WI_DEM]

38. Well, SOS is considered a honor to be appointed to. But it's up to her if it's offered

what she wants to do.

[fed_up_mother]

39. Eight years on the world stage? SOC can be a very powerful position

And she would do the job with grace and dignity.

[BritishDemocrat]

40. Help out a brit!

If she joins the cabinet does she have to lose her Senate seat? You can keep your Commons seat here if you join the cabinet, but I always thought that was a stupid system here in the UK.

[Bunny]

41. Yes, accepting a Cabinet seat would require her resignation from the Senate.

[Hippo_Tron]

42. Would anybody know or care about Henry Kissenger if he had been a Senator?

Secretary of State can be a position of incredible influence.