Holbrooke lobbying to be secretary of State

[ProSense]

Holbrooke lobbying to be secretary of State

The former U.N. ambassador faces a diplomatic test: convincing Obama to give him the prized job when he has a history of conflict with some of the president-elect's advisors.

By Paul Richter
8:44 PM PST, November 17, 2008

Reporting from Washington -- Former Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke negotiated an end to a Balkan war, helped normalize relations with China and advanced American interests as envoy to the United Nations.

But now he faces a diplomatic test like none before: persuading President-elect Barack Obama and his team to give him the prized job of secretary of State.

Holbrooke is among those under consideration to be America's top diplomat. Known as the "Bulldozer" and the "Raging Bull," Holbrooke -- a 34-year foreign service veteran -- has a negotiating tenacity that is beyond dispute.

But this most recent task is a challenge because of Holbrooke's history of conflict with core members of Obama's foreign policy team. In addition, some liberal Obama supporters, fretting that leading candidates for his Cabinet seem too centrist, believe Holbrooke is too much of a hawk for the job.

<...>

"He's a guy who gets things done," said Peter W. Galbraith, who was U.S. ambassador to Croatia during the Clinton administration.

"I wouldn't count Holbrooke out," said another Obama foreign policy advisor. "Obama's first goal is to have talented people around him."

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[Starry Messenger]

1. Holbrooke hater!

I'm kidding! I'm kidding! Don't kill me.

[Muttocracy]

2. Biden is a Holbrooke fan, and didn't Holbrooke support Clinton in primaries? nt

[JI7]

3. which Obama advisors does he have a history of conflict with ?

this could be good.

[EFerrari]

7. I heard on Charlie Rose that it is Rahm. n/t

[Thrill]

4. PNAC

no thanks

[politicasista]

5. But he'll kill his chances just like Kerry did by lobbying for it

rather than waiting for Obama to offer it to him. :sarcasm:

[wisteria]

11. Yeah can you believe this hype about kerry trying to hard when we have had wall to wall Clinton

coverage. What the hell do you call this?

[liberalpragmatist]

6. This article doesn't even mention Hillary

I find that odd -- since pretty much everybody is conceding that Clinton looks, at this point, to be the likeliest pick (although -- Guardian notwithstanding -- I don't think anything is finalized and no firm offer has been made).

[ProSense]

8. It does

Holbrooke reportedly is being considered along with Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.); retired Marine Gen. James L. Jones, the former NATO commander; Sen. Clinton (D-N.Y.); Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.); and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.

All these reports are still speculation.

[liberalpragmatist]

9. You're right

Still, it was such a small reference -- really striking compared to all the other coverage.

I admit, my fear at this point is that the Clinton speculation has gotten completely out of hand. If she doesn't become SoS -- unless she makes clear she turns it down -- he risks angering a lot of people and getting a lot of bad press. It could be a bit of a bruising situation.

[FrenchieCat]

13. So you are saying that it would be better to have Obama pick his

SOS out of pressure and distress so that he doesn't anger people and get bad press?

Wow.

[liberalpragmatist]

14. No

He should pick whoever he feels the best person for the job is. I just worry that if at this point, it ISN'T Hillary, it's going to cause a lot of bad press and that their may be a lot of bruised egos.

I'm not saying he should pick Hillary just to avoid that. I'm just saying that at this point if he doesn't pick Hillary, he'll have to face those consequences.

For the record, I prefer Kerry or Gen. Jim Jones over Clnton.

[wisteria]

12. You mean you are hearing she is the pick from Clinton people only and their media minions. n/t

[wisteria]

10. That is my problem with Holbrooke- he is too opinionated and perfers his own to others.

This is why I think Kerry is the best fit for this position.