Unless you’ve been under a rock, you know that President-elect Barack Obama has designated former rival Hillary Clinton to be Secretary of State. I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, I think she will make a great S of S. On the other hand, I think this marks the pinnacle of her political career and in a few years, the end. In so many ways, I wish she had remained the Senator from New York, as I feel her abililty to accomplish her stated goals for America would have been easier there.
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17 Comments
Don’t you think she’ll have more of an impact as Secretary of State than as the Junior Senator for New York ?
Actually, no, I don’t think so.
But think about it this way.
Given how far down in the ranks of seniority she is, and the fact that most of the people in front of her are unlikely to leave the Senate in any manner other than feet first, it’s pretty unlikely that she’d be moving up the leadership ladder anytime soon.
She wouldn’t be able to run in 2012, and she’ll likely be considered too old in 2016.
It’s an Arnie Vinick all over again.
I’m not thinking about advancing her political career. I’m thinking about her advocacy for the domestic issues that she put forth during her campaign.
(And 2008 was her only shot at the presidency - she’s 60 already.)
Perhaps you will still get your wish. Someone of political influence and respect for the U.S. Constitution may yet discover that Senator Clinton is prohibited from being confirmed. See Article 1 Section 6 U.S. Constitution (emoluments clause). More on my post here:
http://the.virginianfederalist.com/2008/11/hillary-ineligible-for-secretary-of.html.
One may also think that the appointment of Susan Rice as U.N. ambassador and elevation to cabinet rank may be intended to keep Mrs. Clinton in a gilded but stout cage.
Actually, I understand that the way around that problem is to reduce the salary. So I think that one will be moot.
And the Rice appointment is another reason I’d just as soon Hillary had stayed in the Senate.
There was an article last week that made the point that any effort on her part to take the lead on issues like health care would have been fruitless given that more senior Senators — Ted Kennedy being one — have already taken the lead on that topic.
It’s called the Saxby fix, and Richard Nixon used it back in the 1970s.
But, there’s a pretty credible argument from one law professor that the Saxby fix doesn’t get around the problem:
http://tinyurl.com/6ntxan
Strictly read, the Emoluments Clause would seem to bar Clinton from serving, but I doubt it will ever come to that.
Vivian, I consider what Hillary Clinton did, in accepting the post of Sec. of State, in the best patriotic interest of our nation and the world … she has proven once again that she is an awesome force never to be underestimated … I feel relatively certain her voice in the cabinet will advance her many causes more than if she had remained a Senator from NY … and we will all be better for her contributions
Doug - articles notwithstanding, I think Hillary would have been a force to reckon with in the Senate. She’s earned it.
And Shawn, I don’t think her serving in the cabinet will advance her causes, especially not the domestic ones. Everyone has to stay in their own lanes.
Vivian,
Nonetheless, she accepted the job.
Which may be an indication that she thinks she can contribute more as Secretary of State and that the domestic issues she campaigned on aren’t as important to her as she led supporters to believe.
Doug - that doesn’t change what I think. And it doesn’t change the fact that I wish she had stayed in the Senate.
With you completely on the substance of the original post. She’ll be a fine SoS, but I really wish she’d remained in the Senate. Ah well.
A snake in th white house be careful mr. presdient always look backward have food tasters.
If Hillary (or Bill) gets out of line she can be asked to resign or be fired.
As a Senator the voters could have kept sending her back in there.
Yeah, I’m actually with you on this one, Viv. I was an Obama supporter starting about seven days after Warner dropped out, but I’ve always been a Hillary fan (especially compared to some of the other folks here, apparently, geez). I think she would have had greater impact on a great number of issues–domestic and international–had she stayed in the Senate and worked with (while remaining separate from) the new administration.
Hillary got a whole hell of a lot of votes during the primary, and she has some very good lists. Heck, I somehow got added to her email list before Obama’s, and Obama’s PAC people should have had my email address as early as 2005 when I went to an event for Gov. Kaine. Who f*cking cares whether she’s the junior Senator or has less seniority than Kennedy? She has the resources to directly communicate with hundreds of thousands of voters nationwide, and a high enough profile that if she wanted to weigh in on any given day with some thoughts on education or healthcare or piracy in Somalia or militant bases in the NWFP of Pakistan, there would be a bank of cameras and a pool of reporters eagerly taking down every word she said.
Who else can do that in the US Senate? Harry Reid?
Silence Dogood,
I guess I am in agreement with you.
However Hillary has evidently thrown in with Barack. Instead of opposing him, she is going to attempt to help him. Kind of warms my heart that Barack was willing to accept her help.
I am torn. On the one hand I am grateful that Barack is going to have Hillary’s help he will be successful. On the other hand I regret that I do not know who I can turn to if Barack proves himself to be incapable of the extremely difficult job of leadership and turns out to be a disaster.
Perhaps with Hillary’s help I will not need to look for alternatives to Barack. And perhaps if we need change some new stars will emerge?
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