Hillary Rodham Clinton for Secretary of State - thoughts?

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by thetalady

By selecting her for this position, I think Obama effectively elimnates HRC's option of running for president in 2012 AND does a great job of shutting her mouth to disagreement for 4 years. Pretty smart move, when you think about it!

This really just doesn't happen. The incumbent very rarely faces serious reelection pressure, and there's almost no way HRC would run against him unless things had fallen through the floor (in which case Obama is screwed anyway).

[33girl]

Originally Posted by thetalady

Secretary of State can't exactly do that, now can she?? She can't even utter a word in public to criticize the President she serves!

I certainly wouldn't say that.

[b_estes19]

even though rice did a good job, i always wondered how the middle east muslams thought of it having a woman instead of a man to deal with. i wonder also about all of husband bills bagage.

[Kevin]

I said this in another thread, but I think Obama is playing by the old adage "keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

Whether or not she is an "enemy" is a matter of opinion. Whether or not she would have been a constituency in the Senate which would have to be accounted for and could possibly be an obstacle seems to be a definite possibility, if not a certainty.

By appointing HRC to the SoS post, he's effectively removed her ability to be an obstacle and further, he makes it in her best interest that his administration does well.

A master stroke, IMHO.

[RU OX Alum]

I think there are better qualified individuals, but since cabinet appointments are more about partisan politics than with actually finding the best qualified person for the role, I'd say that Kevin is pretty much dead on.

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I said this in another thread, but I think Obama is playing by the old adage "keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

Funny you say that because I thought the same thing. Well, I hope she does a great job.

[a.e.B.O.T.]

Its official, Clinton got it... Obama Biden Pelosi and Byrd better watch their backs, because Clinton does whatever it takes to be the pres...

[RU OX Alum]

whose Byrd? did the chain of command change again?

[honeychile]

I think the only thing that Byrd has to worry about is Father Time. President> Vice President> Speaker of the House> Secretary of State.

I agree with the other dissenters who have posted, but I also feel that the post should be held by a man. Yeah, I know that's not a popular opinion, but our SoS should be able to speak to and be respected by foreign leaders of all religions.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I think the only thing that Byrd has to worry about is Father Time. President> Vice President> Speaker of the House> President pro tempore> Secretary of State.

I agree with the other dissenters who have posted, but I also feel that the post should be held by a man. Yeah, I know that's not a popular opinion, but our SoS should be able to speak to and be respected by foreign leaders of all religions.

Corrected.

[LightBulb]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I also feel that the post should be held by a man. Yeah, I know that's not a popular opinion, but our SoS should be able to speak to and be respected by foreign leaders of all religions.

Your political record should be the thing that earns you respect. Leaders of any worth should recognize the value in others of different populations. If we ask non-Christian religious leaders to respect our mostly Christian leaders, why could we not ask male leaders to respect a female one?

It's something that world leaders will have to deal with, whether they like it or not. Please remember that Clinton is not the first female US Secretary of State and that a variety of countries have had female heads of state.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I think the only thing that Byrd has to worry about is Father Time. President> Vice President> Speaker of the House> Secretary of State.

I agree with the other dissenters who have posted, but I also feel that the post should be held by a man. Yeah, I know that's not a popular opinion, but our SoS should be able to speak to and be respected by foreign leaders of all religions.

I understand what you are saying and in the short term it may seem reasonable, but basically it rewards the sexism of other nations and perpetuates their bias. If we're ever really in a situation where we believe the sex of the SoS will make a difference in achieving OUR aims, since so far we've had male Presidents, we can handle things at a different level.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

whose Byrd? did the chain of command change again?

Nevermind, I figured it out.

[a.e.B.O.T.]

Well, this will make her the democratic shoe-in for 2016, of course, she will be 69 by then... I am worried that if that is her aims, that she will do whatever it is in her power to make sure that this administration goes her way, so that the democrats are in favor in that year. This makes me nervous.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by a.e.B.O.T.

Well, this will make her the democratic shoe-in for 2016, of course, she will be 69 by then... I am worried that if that is her aims, that she will do whatever it is in her power to make sure that this administration goes her way, so that the democrats are in favor in that year. This makes me nervous.

yeah...i don't think she'll do a good job