As one who doesn't LOVE the idea of Hillary Clinton as SOS.....here are some thoughts......

[FrenchieCat]

I am not a fan in a long run of Hillary Clinton, and
I have never been, and there are those here who know this well...
So this is not a choice that has me doing cartwheels.
In fact, I'm still getting used to the idea,
and coming up with very good reasons it shouldn't be done...
and understanding that it isn't yet a done deal, till it is.

There are conspiracy theories:
One that this was a done deal long ago....
Which don't make a difference to me at all.

There is also the theory that Obama, in choosing Clinton, is farming out his foreign policy,
which is a theory that I do not ascribe to, because I know better in reference to Obama's character and his importance on the world scene. He has made his policy views clear, and it would be noticeable if what he has espoused was not what he practiced once in office.

So in keeping an open mind, because after all I am a progressive first and foremost,
and although I do believe in Identity politics, i.e., when I find a pol I like, it is very hard to stir me away, same if I don't like a pol....

Here are two paragraphs that allows food for thought to feed my pragmatism,
As what I call the required mindset of a reasonable progressive.

As he wrapped up his second week as President-elect, it was clear that Obama was taking the long view in both diplomacy and politics. How else to explain the fact that he had all but offered the most prestigious job in his Cabinet to a woman whose foreign policy experience he once dismissed as consisting of having tea with ambassadors? Or that Clinton might accept an offer from a man whose national-security credentials, she once said, began and ended with "a speech he made in 2002"? Nowhere did Obama and Clinton attack each other more brutally last spring than on the question of who was best equipped to handle international relations in a dangerous world. That they could be on the brink of becoming partners in that endeavor is the most remarkable evidence yet that Obama is serious about his declared intention to follow another Illinois President's model in assembling a "team of rivals" to run his government, in what could be a sharp contrast with the past 40 years of American Presidents. "I've been spending a lot of time reading Lincoln," Obama told Steve Kroft on 60 Minutes. "There is a wisdom there and a humility about his approach to government, even before he was President, that I just find very helpful." (See pictures from Voting Day).

And a shrewdness as well. The surprising proffer to Clinton came the same week that Obama sat down with John McCain in Chicago and helped engineer a commutation for Senator Joe Lieberman, who had backed McCain in the election and faced possibly being stripped of his committee chairmanship. The general amnesty campaign, part of a promise to change the way Washington works, impressed some longtime partisans. "It's brilliant," says a senior Republican Party official. "My hat is totally off to the guy." Viewed more cynically, bringing Clinton into the tent could co-opt a potential adversary in 2012 and put a leash on her globetrotting husband, who has a propensity for foreign policy freelancing. Which raises a question: Would this move, if it happens, be just the first manifestation of that new kind of politics that Obama was promising in his presidential campaign? Or proof that he understands the oldest kind all too well?
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1860727,00.html

I'd say that Obama's pick of Clinton most likely is manifestation of that new kind of politics that Obama was promising in his presidential campaign AND proof that he understands the oldest kind of politics all too well.

He may be more brilliant than I even thought....even as I keep in mind that this is not a done deal, of course....and that he is not perfect, as none of us are,

But still, he may yet be the smartest motherf*cker in the room, bar none.

[monmouth]

1. I'm starting to get the feeling I'm not worthy to have this brilliant man

preside over me. Everyday he just gets more awesome. Today's picks, superb. Sigh, nice way to start the weekend...

[janx]

5. It's a GREAT way to start the weekend.

:party:

[janx]

2. Frenchie, I'm loving all of the cabinet posts I'm hearing about...

and the transition teams (as well as the web site you posted) are just amazing! I'm actually giddy right now! :party:

[FrenchieCat]

3. Aye......

I'm reconciling my prejudices, and coming up feeling pretty good.

In fact,
possibly,
Fired up, and ready for January 20, 2008 like it is 1999!!

[onehandle]

12. You mean 1993?

Ha ha.

Even with Recession, that was a good year. 2009 will be even better, even with Recession.

Thank God we retook the White House!

[FrenchieCat]

14. No....1999. That's from a Prince song that I have always loved,

and reminds me of nothing but good things.

[unblock]

30. ironic considering the lyrics

[mzmolly]

32. Prophetic

lyrics in hindsight...

[mzmolly]

31. Indeed. 1999

was the last year of our collective "innocence" in a sense? Back then many of us believed in the tweedle dee and tweedle dum (no difference) theory. However, I proudly supported Gore in spite of my naivete. ;)

"It was the best of times .. it was the worst of times" seems especially poignant today ~ But, I'm focusing on the best of times right now, AHHHHHHHHH. :D

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

4. Good points. I vehemently disagree with Hillary's appointment to the SoS, but

I am willing to give this a shot and open my mind to the possibility that it may all work out in the end.

[NorCalDem]

19. Exactly.

I question her appointment, but it could work out to be absolutely genius! Or it could bite him the a$$ :)

[AtomicKitten]

6. He just might be the smartest mo-fo in the room.

Still Clinton in that particular spot makes me nauseous. I voted for Obama's foreign policy and national security point of view and I reject hers. Still not convinced it's a done deal though.

[FrenchieCat]

9. We are on the same page....... my dear

as are many others.

That 2nd paragraph does tell me that Hillary as SOS may be the most effective way to tap Bill Clinton for his brain power and yet keep him in check more than not. That's the interesting part that comes out of all of this.

[blm]

15. Bill's brainpower consists of doing what GHWBush and Kissinger need to keep Dubai and Saudi royals

happy and Chinese industrialists on board with the global fascist agenda.

You think Clinton was pushing that Dubai Ports Deal only for the 20 million he pocketed from Dubai?

[FrenchieCat]

16. Didn't say using all of Bill's brain all of the time, just when required.

What I believe is that Bill Clinton won't be pushing for shit in the future without checking in with President Obama.

That's my point; the "check" factor.

[blm]

18. More likely that BFEE already made Obama aware of what he stands to lose personally if he doesn't do

for them what Clinton did for them.

[Maru Kitteh]

37. How do you an internet connection

through all that G-damned aluminum foil and duct tape?

Amazing.

[blm]

47. Well....why don't YOU educate us on how Bill handled all the outstanding matters of BCCI and

IranContra and CIA Drugrunning once he landed in the WH. Since you are certain he DID NOT continue GHWBush's agenda, then you must have seen proof that he handled those outstanding matters to YOUR satisfaction as a citizen.

Please share with those of us who only read his book and the original BCCI and CIA drugrunning reports and never discovered how GHWBush and his cronies were held accountable. Thankyou.

[AtomicKitten]

49. It's easier to yell "hater" in a drive-by than to actually engage in a substantive discussion.

A difference of opinion cannot be endured by some here. The accusation of "hater" (and variations thereof) is a manipulate ploy to stymie discussion.

[Egnever]

10. Not to worry

He is going to put her to work!

I really believe she is going to follow his lead too.

[AtomicKitten]

51. if this thing actually happens, time will tell

:hi:

[SeaLyons]

7. He's doing GOOD.....

It's very exciting....good times are ahead.

[Egnever]

8. It is gonna be a great 8 years

We did good. He is an amazing man calm cool and always thinking 5 steps ahead of most everyone else.

Now if we can just get to the 20th!

[rug]

11. So, which is it? You don't like Clinton or Obama is smarter than you?

[FrenchieCat]

I dont necessarily like Hillary for this position,

and yes, Obama is smarter than me.

How's that?

[Barack_America]

13. I recognize that the appointment is historic.

I still fail to see how it is good.

Considering it appears to be a done deal, I look forward to being proven wrong.

[FrenchieCat]

17. If it happens, we will see.......

My point is that it may be more brilliant than we understand.

just maybe.

[blm]

20. Considering how UNQUALIFIED she is, why would it be considered brilliant? Funny how she wasn't

even on the radar for SoS until after Obama's meeting with Bush at the WH.

[FrenchieCat]

21. I didn't say she was unqualified.......

Let's keep the discussion honest, if nothing else.

[blm]

22. I didn't say you said it....I said she's unqualified....and she IS unqualified.

Let me know when someone posts one serious foreign policy issue she has led on the last 8 years as senator.

[SwampG8r]

35. how is it "historic"?we have had women as SOS before

[Barack_America]

43. It's historic in the "team of rivals" sense.

It will become part of Obama's legacy.

[Lumpsum]

23. Ugh.

You think Obama will be able to put a muzzle on Bill once he moves back into the limelight?

You think the right is just going to let all the scandals that will arise out of Bill's business dealings just slide?

You think Hillary's piss poor job at running her campaign ISN'T going to translate over to her job as SoS?

And wasn't one of Obama's tenents of his campaign a respite from the Bush-Bush-Clinton-Bush-Bush era? WTF?

This whole appointment smells like business as usual. Obama caved into the politics. Sad.

[Cha]

24. Yes, this was my answer to the question, also.

"I'd say that Obama's pick of Clinton most likely is manifestation of that new kind of politics that Obama was promising in his presidential campaign AND proof that he understands the oldest kind of politics all too well."

It doesn't have to be either or with Obama.

[ruggerson]

25. Maybe it's something simple: he thinks she's brilliant

and thinks State would be a perfect fit for her.

WE already know that the President Elect is far more impressed with Hillary Clinton than some DU'ers are.

And I think they actually like each other.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

26. I think you are right!

[stillcool]

27. I'm not understanding the hoopla...

over all this. The drama leads me to believe that someone is playing games...or that the negotiations are very complex.

[political_Dem]

28. This is a intelligent way to look at it.

I also have my doubts as well, but will wait how this pans out. My argument tends to be on trust and qualifications.

The problem here is that whether she has enough humility to do her job and not be an attention-seeker. Can Bill and she be completely trusted?

[FrenchieCat]

29. I want to be intelligent about this.......

for sure! ;)

[akbacchus_BC]

33. K&R Frenchie, a very rational post! n/t

[FrenchieCat]

36. Yeah for Rational!

:woohoo:

[cliffordu]

34. Yep. K&R.

Nice work, FrenchieCat!!

[RollWithIt]

38. I wish the any discussion of Hillary as not being a top flight 150% cool Democrat would end...

I am a huge Obama supporter and I am a huge Clinton supporter. I wish people would understand that both of them are one and the same in their own way. They as a team equals what we want. Let it go and let them work together. Stop griping. At least give them the first six months.

[akbacchus_BC]

40. Totally agree with you. I fervently believe that both Senator Clinton

and PE Obama will work together for a better America.

[bridgit]

48. That makes the most sense to me & by Malcolm Gladwell's: 10,000 hours of deliberate practice...

Hillary Clinton has already logged her time. I'm a supporter of both as well; and with both having been caught on tape saying less than smart stuff, with one then saying too much and one saying too little it seems the time has come to let this process go forward and into what I hope is a state of balance.

[dkf]

39. Brezinski had some interesting points today.

He said that Hillary Clinton is a quick study, but does not have the background in foreign policy necessary to design the intricacies needed. Therefore, he sees that foreign policy will come from Obama, assisted by Biden. He sees Hillary as simply executing since on her own, she does not have the expertise to assert herself as strongly as she might if she knew everything inside and out.

This was in a segment with David Gregory. I hope you catch it because I found it fascinating.

Found it!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27847683#27847683

[kwenu]

41. It's okay. The SOS will be put in charge of answering that DAMN phone at 3am.

[cboy4]

42. Gee, you hate Hillary Clinton? Wow, what a revalation!

What spectacular piece of info. can we expect next?

[Lady-Damai]

44. This will come back and bite him on the ass like the Rev.Wright drama.

It's gonna be only one term for Obama.

Oh well....

[a la izquierda]

45. Well said...

I am not worried about his choices. We elected him to make them. I will probably not like all of them (i.e. HRC as SOS).

What I find mildly amusing is how quickly my ignore list has grown in the past week or so, BECAUSE of P-E Obama's choices. I must say, it is good for the blood pressure.

[olegramps]

46. What would be her primary job if she is SoS?

As the article correctly points out it would be to rebuild our alliances that have been utterly destroyed by the neo-con miltarists. It is going to be a super good will tour by a person that is well respected throughout the world and I am confident that she will do a bang up great job of it.

So just what is it that those who oppose her nomination object to? I well understand why the right wing fanatics hate the Clintons. They, and never kid yourself that they aren't a shrewd team, made the Republicans look the like fools they are when time and again they out smarted them. To my way of thinking all of Democrats that hate her, appear to have far more in common with the Limbaughs, Hannitys, O'Reillys,etc. then they have with me.

[liberalpragmatist]

50. My concern is that Obama's loyal foreign policy staff will get shut out...

... where will the "Gang of 300" that assisted Obama throughout the primaries go? And what happens to people like Susan Rice, who were his top foreign policy aides? Will Samantha Powers be able to come back to serve in some capacity?

I'm not thrilled with Clinton at State -- I like Hillary, I just feel foreign policy is not her strongest suit -- but I'm willing to wait-and-see what happens.