I think Hillary would be a good SoS, besides, her job is to do what Obama tells her to do, or he'll fire her. My issue is the national media isn't mature enough to handle the Clintons in the administration. News coverage will run rampant with rumors and "what is Hillary really up to?" and "what is Bill's take on this" types of questions. Despite how much good they can do, they would be a massive distraction. Obama really should go with someone else.
brb915
· 1 year ago
I'm betting Bill's dealings kill this before it gets very far.......................Let's all remember Bill pouted for just about the whole damn General campaign: he didn't give his fire and brimstone speech until VERY late in Oct., by then 9/10 of the electorate had made up their minds for or against Obama. Bill shrewdly had his say at a moot point, at least that's the way I saw it. Hillary would be great whatever Cabinet post is or isn't offered---I just don't see Bill's filing cabinet helping out her cause.
vkobaya
· 1 year ago
But, Mr. Clinton should do whatever he needs to do to.
I don't know about Bill, but wondering when Hillary does what she has to do, that is divorce Bill.
hawkseye
· 1 year ago
Amen. She is so dependent on Bill it destroys her opportunities.
Older_Wiser
· 1 year ago
Please. Wouldn't BC receiving funds from "foreign officials" for speaking engagements and other functions de facto be the largest hurdle? One I would think would squelch any appt for Hillary. What your spouse does SHOULD matter.
EmGD
· 1 year ago
Anyone want to point out to me why she'd be a better pick than say Richardson? All I keep hearing is it'd keep her out of the way domestically (as if she was going to create problems) or the incessant flogging of that stupid Team of Rivals book. None on why she'd actually be a good pick for State. All of her committee seats are Defense and intel related, if anything she'd be a good pick for DOD. Why is State such a good pick?
If you google it, you will find many references to Richardson having a problem keeping his hands to himself around women.
cosanostradamus
· 1 year ago
. Why would she want the job? She'd lose her power-base in NY; spend a lot of time overseas, where there are very few US voters; take flak for any diplomatic screw-ups; and possibly be sidelined by Obama's Kissinger & Cheney, whomsoever they may be. Hopefully not Kissinger & Cheney.
The only plus for her is, it puts her in the line of succession. But she'd be behind Biden, Pelosi & Inouye. What does she know about their health that we don't know? .
green_libertarian
· 1 year ago
This is ridiculous. There are at least a half dozen other folks who are FAR more qualified than Shillary, and given BC's conflict of interest issues... I say no way.
ZennButtKicker (tlhwraith)
· 1 year ago
While I agree, far better people out there, it seems pretty obvious this is basically a payback for the Clintons acting like good little soldiers for Obama in the general. You know there had to be a reason other than campaign debt for the Clintons to turn from Obamas chief detractors to some of his biggest cheerleaders...
dombo
· 1 year ago
"Avoiding conflicts of interest is, of course, important. But, Mr. Clinton should do whatever he needs to do to."
I don't object to Bill Clinton getting funds from any donor to fund the work of the foundation -- they do great work on global health. I've seen many examples around the world of their HIV/AIDS work, and the issue of conflict of interest with whoever those donors seems rather irrelevant.
But there is a huge difference between that work and many of BC's other business and personal financial entanglements. When he receives 6 and 7 figure speaking fees, when he is tied up with complex investments and business deals, that is extremely relevant. If he is making large sums of money from foreign governments or large corporations, it is hard to argue that doesn't present a huge conflict of interest for his wife. (After all, that money helps support their lifestyle, and contributed to the millions she gave her campaign.)
Equally problematic may be the anonymous Clinton Library donors -- a presidential library is not the same as a charity, it is an effort to shape a president's historical legacy, a personal ego trip of sorts. Foreign governments and business interests have given millions to the Little Rock library -- presenting another clear potential conflict of interest.
I'm not inherently opposed to Hillary being named SoS, but if it were to happen there would have to be some pretty serious conditions around Bill. A private vetting of Bill's financial entanglements is not sufficient, there would need to be complete public disclosure of all past and future donations/fees -- that is the only way the public could be assured that there is full transparency around potential conflicts. He would need to greatly restrict his large speaking fees, place all the financial dealings in a blind trust, and withdraw from Clinton Foundation fundraising, governance and functional activities as long as his wife would be in the position.
I somehow doubt BC would agree to these kinds of restrictions -- but I fear that HRC as SoS without such restrictions would draw the Obama administration into much too much drama about BC's monetary dealings.
hawkseye
· 1 year ago
Thanks for shedding further light on this. It's hard to imagine that Obama doesn't realize this and understand that Rethugs are salivating for the opportunity to provide Bill many more scars.
CPL
· 1 year ago
Sorry, Joe, but if Mr. Clinton gets to "do what he do" and its a conflict with his wife being Secretary of State, that means Mr. Obama picks someone else like Bill Richardson, who deserves the post, anyway.
Mrs. Clinton started the race-baiting of Barack Obama - Sarah Palin just continued to fan the flames Hillary lit. That alone should disqualify her, but I see Obama as being totally methodical in finding a reason not to give her the job - Wild Bill's dealings could provide him with the out he needs, and give Hillary no room for argument unless she's going to turn on her husband.
I didn't see the "snark" quotient in your post, either, if, in fact, you were trying to be snarky.
All Comments
Joe is this a snark? I couldn't tell.
I don't know about Bill, but wondering when Hillary does what she has to do, that is divorce Bill.
She is so dependent on Bill it destroys her opportunities.
http://thesebastards.blogspot.com/
Why would she want the job? She'd lose her power-base in NY; spend a lot of time overseas, where there are very few US voters; take flak for any diplomatic screw-ups; and possibly be sidelined by Obama's Kissinger & Cheney, whomsoever they may be. Hopefully not Kissinger & Cheney.
The only plus for her is, it puts her in the line of succession. But she'd be behind Biden, Pelosi & Inouye. What does she know about their health that we don't know?
.
Read this post, and you never will say it again!
http://brazilinhotpants.blogspot.com/2008/09/ir...
But there is a huge difference between that work and many of BC's other business and personal financial entanglements. When he receives 6 and 7 figure speaking fees, when he is tied up with complex investments and business deals, that is extremely relevant. If he is making large sums of money from foreign governments or large corporations, it is hard to argue that doesn't present a huge conflict of interest for his wife. (After all, that money helps support their lifestyle, and contributed to the millions she gave her campaign.)
Equally problematic may be the anonymous Clinton Library donors -- a presidential library is not the same as a charity, it is an effort to shape a president's historical legacy, a personal ego trip of sorts. Foreign governments and business interests have given millions to the Little Rock library -- presenting another clear potential conflict of interest.
I'm not inherently opposed to Hillary being named SoS, but if it were to happen there would have to be some pretty serious conditions around Bill. A private vetting of Bill's financial entanglements is not sufficient, there would need to be complete public disclosure of all past and future donations/fees -- that is the only way the public could be assured that there is full transparency around potential conflicts. He would need to greatly restrict his large speaking fees, place all the financial dealings in a blind trust, and withdraw from Clinton Foundation fundraising, governance and functional activities as long as his wife would be in the position.
I somehow doubt BC would agree to these kinds of restrictions -- but I fear that HRC as SoS without such restrictions would draw the Obama administration into much too much drama about BC's monetary dealings.
It's hard to imagine that Obama doesn't realize this and understand that Rethugs are salivating for the opportunity to provide Bill many more scars.
Mrs. Clinton started the race-baiting of Barack Obama - Sarah Palin just continued to fan the flames Hillary lit. That alone should disqualify her, but I see Obama as being totally methodical in finding a reason not to give her the job - Wild Bill's dealings could provide him with the out he needs, and give Hillary no room for argument unless she's going to turn on her husband.
I didn't see the "snark" quotient in your post, either, if, in fact, you were trying to be snarky.