The buzz about Hillary Clinton...Updated X2 | 11 comments (11 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

I tried... (4.00 / 2)

I suppose, to stay away from domestic politics, since I've seen nothing but how this plays out in America. This diary is more about how it might play internationally.

That being said, you raise an excellent point. The popular foreign policy debate in America runs something like this: either you're ready to send troops anywhere at any time to kick ass on anyone or you're less than the perfect patriot, and unfit for the presidency.

What if, given that debate, as a future White House contender she offered nothing as SecState that might jeopardize her future chances? She'd serve the country - and the world - poorly indeed.

If she's hypothetically considering a future white house run, she should decline. It is almost certain that there will be situations ahead as SecState where she'll have to make the choice: serve well, or harbor your ambitions?

"It Can't Be Just About Us"
--Frank Schnittger, ETian Extraordinaire

by papicek (papi_cek_at_hotmail_dot_com) on Wed Nov 19th, 2008 at 09:46:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I tried... (none / 1)

If Obama is smart he will have offered her the position on the basis that she has already decided not to run again - as a way of ending her career on a high - and rewarding her for her support with the highest position available to him. She is probably better off staying in the Senate if she does want to run again - that way she will not be tarnished by the inevitable erosion of popularity even good Presidents endure.

notes from no w here

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Wed Nov 19th, 2008 at 09:52:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I tried... (none / 1)

I don't know if that's a reasonable request to make of Senator Clinton, but it may well be a conclusion she came to on her own.

On the whole, I think she could eventually be a good, even great SecState, based just on her qualities of character. She does have some baggage coming out of the starting gates, though nothing that cannot be overcome.

As a matter of personal style, her stridency makes her the wrong face to put on US public diplomacy. That's absolutely the wrong way the US needs to go on public diplomacy in the near future.

"It Can't Be Just About Us"
--Frank Schnittger, ETian Extraordinaire

by papicek (papi_cek_at_hotmail_dot_com) on Wed Nov 19th, 2008 at 10:43:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I tried... (none / 1)

the key thing is that they have mutual confidence in each other and aren't pulling in opposite directions - see http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/opinion/19friedman.html?ref=opinion

notes from no w here

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Wed Nov 19th, 2008 at 03:25:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I tried... (none / 1)

The Secretary of State in the US is forgotten domestically about 20 minutes after being sworn in. Remember that the current Secretary of State is CONDOLEEZA RICE. If anyone took this job seriously this would of course not be the case.

by paving on Wed Nov 19th, 2008 at 02:24:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The buzz about Hillary Clinton...Updated X2 | 11 comments (11 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Top Diaries

Ireland 13 South Africa 8

UNGA: West Censors the South and East

EU VDL State of the Union -- Managing Decay

Rugby World Cup 2023 Week 1 review

Reactionary Visions and eNtiTiES

Sovereignty 2040

Recent Diaries

United Nations In Stalemate Position

Biden's Headache in Middle East: Israel

EU as Client State of Joe's America

Canada's Trudeau Honoring an Ukrainian Nazi Collaborator

Ireland 13 South Africa 8

UNGA: West Censors the South and East

A Tale by Benjamin Franklin

Fail in Democracy Return to Authoritarianism

Yemen From Ceasefire to Peace Talks?

Huge Cost Proxy War of Choice

EU VDL State of the Union -- Managing Decay

Reactionary Visions and eNtiTiES

Top Military War Planning Under Joe Biden - Ukraine

Rugby World Cup 2023 Week 1 review

Joe's Fuck the EU -- Showdown

Modi G20 One Earth, One Family, One Future

Conflict In Syria's Deir Ezzor Province

Sovereignty 2040

Some September Food/Ag Events

September 2023

Occasional Series