The Secretary of State sets neither policy nor tone.

[Stinky The Clown]

The Secretary of State does what the President says to do or the Secretary of State will be named the Former Secretary of State.

Why is this not clear?







(For the literal minded - yes, the President may delegate a lot to any cabinet member and that may **seem** like the cabinet member setting tone or policy. It is not. The President stops the buck - **every** buck.)

[DireStrike]

1. I'm of the understanding that the SoS determines what and who the prez sees.

If that is the case, even in part, he has enormous power over the presidency.

Doesn't matter how it SHOULD be or SEEMS to be. Controlling the world's input to the president can vastly influence his views on anything and everything.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. "... determines who and what the prez sees..." ?

Actually, that's the role of the White House Chief of Staff, newly-named Rahm Emanuel.

The Secreatry of State works for the President, serves at the President's pleasure, and does what the President orders him or her to do.

The Chief of Staff controls access to the President.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. And even as powerful as that post seems to be, if he fails to serve well the president .......

...... he will quickly become the FORMER CoS.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

15. That's what

"serving at the pleasure of the President" means, yes.

[DireStrike]

9. You're right, I'm sorry.

Got my titles mixed up.

[Alexander]

4. No, that's the Chief of Staff.

The Secretary of State generally performs diplomatic and foreign policy functions.

[DireStrike]

8. Oh you're right. My mistake.

I thought the post was about COS and not SOS.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. To agree with what you say implies that, apart from what the SoS tells him, the Pres is clueless.

I don't think that's true.

If the SoS is seen to be stove piping, stonewalling, obstructing, or freelancing, the SoS will be **very** quickly named the FORMER SoS

[DireStrike]

10. Alright. I meant CoS so I have to backpedal now.

I can see how the president has much power over the SoS.

The only real protection the SoS would have would be that he or she might be able to make it look bad if the prez threw him or her out.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

18. Poor DireStrike

One slip-up and you're rapidly educated by the incredibly quick DUers.

Of course you knew. To mix up the SOS and COS isn't all that hard, especially if you've not spent your life watching Washington politics.

Bet you'll never make THAT mistake again, huh?

:toast:

[DireStrike]

20. Haha!

That's for sure. I've been reading AND typing too quickly lately.

Deep breaths and less caffeine are in order! :P

[karynnj]

12. That's not even remotely true

There are other people who also provide input to the President on Foreign Policy. Obama has a VP who has 30 years of foreign policy experience - and he is not walled off from foreign policy or foreign leaders. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee and its House counterpart have oversight responsibilities. There is also who ever has NSA. Not to mention the President may have direct contacts himself with other leaders - many of whom he met while in the Senate. (Biden, Kerry (chair of SFRC) and the NSA person will not be filtered through the SoS.)

[Phred42]

2. That could have been said about VP - before Cheney

[Stinky The Clown]

6. "Cheney" will never happen again.

[Phred42]

13. He won't have to

It's over

[wuushew]

11. Henry Kissinger was pretty damn ambitious

All those fuck ups were Nixon?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

14. Thank you

I am still furious that that war criminal is allowed to walk free.

[Stinky The Clown]

17. He is what he is because Nixon didn't stop him

Period.

[Stinky The Clown]

16. All those fuckups were Nixon and they were Nixon *choosing* to let Henry continue in office.

Nixon (as does every president) had the power to make it stop.

[Lyric]

19. They might not have been Nixon-originated, but

I am positive that they were at least Nixon-approved.

No President comes up with ALL of his or her ideas; that's what advisors are for. The Sec of State can think up ideas, but he or she CANNOT implement them without Presidential approval.

So yes, indirectly, all of Kissinger's fuck-ups were Nixon's too.

[opihimoimoi]

21. It Has to Be...otherwise its a Cabinet of Nilly Willy Ideas/directions

The CEO sets the tone with advice from his cabinet,,,he is not bount to use said advice...

[wuushew]

22. kick

:kick: