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JMO

Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Daegu
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Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Seems like a good idea. Give your rival a position of power so they can buy into what you are doing. She also has alot of experience that would be stupid to waste. |
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Gopher

Joined: 04 Jun 2005
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Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 12:48 pm Post subject: |
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Excitement continues building around this scenario...
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[B.] Obama last week met with two former rivals for the Democratic nomination -- Sen. Hillary Clinton and Gov. Bill Richardson -- about the secretary of state position in his administration, sources told CNN.
Ed Rollins, a Republican strategist and CNN contributor, said Obama's meeting with Clinton "makes the Democratic Party very powerful."
"I think it shows Barack Obama's a bigger man than most people in the sense that he's willing to take the person who gave him a real race for his money into his Cabinet," he said.
Obama's transition team has made public some key staff appointments, but no Cabinet positions have been announced.
Republicans have praised the prospect of Clinton becoming secretary of state.
Henry Kissinger, who was secretary of state in the Nixon and Ford administrations, said Clinton would be an "outstanding" selection, Bloomberg News reported.
GOP Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona told Fox News, "She's got the experience; she's got the temperament for it."
And California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told ABC it would be a "great move..." |
CNN Reports |
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Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 3:23 pm Post subject: |
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John Dickerson on Hillary as SecState
| John Dickerson wrote: |
By picking Clinton, Obama may be making some kind of special political play, removing one of his rivals to protect himself from political harm, but I think he's more serious than that. There's been no evidence over the last two years that he engages in this kind of overly clever bank shot. It's more likely he's picked Clinton because she's smart and because he wants to surround himself with people who will challenge him.
During the presidential campaign, he regularly attacked President Bush for surrounding himself with people who only told him what he wanted to hear. He promised that he wouldn't do that. Every president says he's going to foster this spirit of candor (George W. Bush often said it), and we'll see if Obama really wants the kind of free-flowing dialogue he claims to. But the Clinton pick suggests that at least Obama is trying to make good on the promise. |
Some of the Obama supporters need to give their man some credit. He basically told us he was going to pick people like Hillary for top spots, but maybe some of you all weren't listening. |
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Gopher

Joined: 04 Jun 2005
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Kuros wrote: |
| ...but maybe some of you all weren't listening. |
Understatement of the year. I recently watched a B. Obama interview where he said these exact words, in fact.
And unfortunately, Kuros, from another angle, I must count myself as one of those who misunderstood him. Had I know the Obama Administration was going to look like this, I would have voted differently...
In any case, are you happy to see B. Richardson in the cabinet? |
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mithridates

Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Kuros wrote: |
John Dickerson on Hillary as SecState
| John Dickerson wrote: |
By picking Clinton, Obama may be making some kind of special political play, removing one of his rivals to protect himself from political harm, but I think he's more serious than that. There's been no evidence over the last two years that he engages in this kind of overly clever bank shot. It's more likely he's picked Clinton because she's smart and because he wants to surround himself with people who will challenge him.
During the presidential campaign, he regularly attacked President Bush for surrounding himself with people who only told him what he wanted to hear. He promised that he wouldn't do that. Every president says he's going to foster this spirit of candor (George W. Bush often said it), and we'll see if Obama really wants the kind of free-flowing dialogue he claims to. But the Clinton pick suggests that at least Obama is trying to make good on the promise. |
Some of the Obama supporters need to give their man some credit. He basically told us he was going to pick people like Hillary for top spots, but maybe some of you all weren't listening. |
It would be interesting to see a poll on GOP supporters' view of Hillary Clinton after this election where they spent so much time complimenting and referencing her, say compared to 2004 or so. |
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Gopher

Joined: 04 Jun 2005
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 6:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Mithridates: Republicans do not hold monolithic views on anything. Some Republicans believe this. Other Republicans believe that. It changes re: the issue, and that, too, changes over time... |
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canuckistan Mod Team


Joined: 17 Jun 2003 Location: Training future GS competitors.....
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 7:10 pm Post subject: |
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| I wonder what would happen when Joe Biden goes to Hillary and says "this is what we want to do"....... |
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Tiger Beer

Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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I think at the core of things, the same things Barack Obama wants to see happen, are the same things that Hiliary Clinton wants to see happen.
During the Democratic campaigns, the issue with Hiliary was WHO could most likely make these things happen. Turns out she'll still get her chance.
I felt immediate reservation about this move myself, but the synergy of it, with so many of the same agenda issues, could be quite powerful to make things happen in Washington. |
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Gopher

Joined: 04 Jun 2005
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 7:31 pm Post subject: |
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| canuckistan wrote: |
| I wonder what would happen when Joe Biden goes to Hillary and says "this is what we want to do"....... |
What makes you think H. Clinton will report to J. Biden? |
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Milwaukiedave
Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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I think it will end up being ok. Given the situation, I don't think Hillary is a problem. Bill Clinton being a former President and still having a hell of a lot of clout in the world (give credit where credit is due) could make comments to undermine Obama's Administration. That I think is my real concern. We only have one president at a time.
The fact that Bill Clinton was elected at such a young age and then retired (ok term-limited really) means that he will likely be alive for 30+ years after the end of his presidency. Granted Jimmy Carter is still alive, but Bill Clinton may yet break his record for longest amount of time alive after a presidency. |
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Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Milwaukiedave wrote: |
| I think it will end up being ok. Given the situation, I don't think Hillary is a problem. Bill Clinton being a former President and still having a hell of a lot of clout in the world (give credit where credit is due) could make comments to undermine Obama's Administration. That I think is my real concern. We only have one president at a time. |
I don't think this concern merits serious consideration. Not when one considers that William J Clinton is less likely to undermine Barack Obama while his wife sits as SecState.
Firstly, for William J Clinton to make such remarks to undermine Obama's administration would mean that WJC were undermining the administration that Hillary is an integral part of. Thereby, WJC would be underming HRC. The only circumstance in which this would be advantageous to WJC, is if HRC wanted to undermine Obama. And even in that case, Obama has recourse to firing HRC.
Indeed, Obama is better able to protect himself by hiring HRC. Obama will have leverage on the one hand, but he also will have invested the Clintons into the administration on the other.
Obama has to know he needs help and support to get his legislation going. He barely, BARELY squeeked out a win in the primaries. The Democratic party would be divided if he were to treat the Clintons as adversaries. Having the Clintons on his side will be an invaluable asset. |
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Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Gopher wrote: |
| Milwaukiedave wrote: |
| I think it will end up being ok. Given the situation, I don't think Hillary is a problem. |
I seem to recall your really going after H. Clinton here during the primaries, very angrily and full of the worst sorts of accusations against her and her husband. That seems hard to reconcile with this new attitude. |
Doesn't really matter. People are allowed to change their minds, right? |
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pkang0202

Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Milwaukiedave wrote: |
| Bill Clinton being a former President and still having a hell of a lot of clout in the world (give credit where credit is due) could make comments to undermine Obama's Administration. |
What kind of clout does Bill Clinton have with the world?
He sells books, and makes a crapton of money giving speeches. Other than that, what clout does he have?
I'm thinking the perception with Bill is:
"Hey, that Bill Clinton is a fun guy. He's a hit at the parties. Gotta make sure to keep him away from my interns. Wait, Bill came here with an agenda? Just give him some drinks and young women to flirt with. That old dog is all bark and no bite." |
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canuckistan Mod Team


Joined: 17 Jun 2003 Location: Training future GS competitors.....
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Gopher wrote: |
| canuckistan wrote: |
| I wonder what would happen when Joe Biden goes to Hillary and says "this is what we want to do"....... |
What makes you think H. Clinton will report to J. Biden? |
I see you've gotten the gist of my comment. |
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Milwaukiedave
Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong
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Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 1:18 am Post subject: |
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| Kuros wrote: |
| Milwaukiedave wrote: |
| I think it will end up being ok. Given the situation, I don't think Hillary is a problem. Bill Clinton being a former President and still having a hell of a lot of clout in the world (give credit where credit is due) could make comments to undermine Obama's Administration. That I think is my real concern. We only have one president at a time. |
I don't think this concern merits serious consideration. Not when one considers that William J Clinton is less likely to undermine Barack Obama while his wife sits as SecState.
Firstly, for William J Clinton to make such remarks to undermine Obama's administration would mean that WJC were undermining the administration that Hillary is an integral part of. Thereby, WJC would be underming HRC. The only circumstance in which this would be advantageous to WJC, is if HRC wanted to undermine Obama. And even in that case, Obama has recourse to firing HRC.
Indeed, Obama is better able to protect himself by hiring HRC. Obama will have leverage on the one hand, but he also will have invested the Clintons into the administration on the other.
Obama has to know he needs help and support to get his legislation going. He barely, BARELY squeeked out a win in the primaries. The Democratic party would be divided if he were to treat the Clintons as adversaries. Having the Clintons on his side will be an invaluable asset. |
I agree that he would be less likely to undermine his wife's activities unless she were put on the defensive. That could be a different story. I am encouraged that he is surrounding himself with people who have quite a bit of experience.
The only point I disagree with you on is the outcome of the primaries being close. |
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