Hillary to be Secretary of State?

[Gan]

Hillary Clinton plans to accept the job of secretary of state offered by Barack Obama, who is reaching out to former rivals to build a broad coalition administration, the Guardian has learned.

Obama's advisers have begun looking into Bill Clinton's foundation, which distributes millions of dollars to Africa to help with development, to ensure that there is no conflict of interest. But Democrats do not believe that the vetting is likely to be a problem.

more...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/17/hillary-clinton-secretary-of-state
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http://bum.net/pics/facepalm2.jpg

[CrystalTears]

I saw this coming. I'm not surprised. I'm also unsure how to feel about it.

It would mean I'll see that face of hers as often as we do Rice, which is way too much for my taste. However it will give her a LOT of experience, so that excuse will be blown out of the water.

I don't know, I just see her being really obnoxious with this task. It worries me a little.

[Daniel]

No comment besides to say this is completely out of left field.

[crb]

Giving her the top cabinet position is very political of Obama, if she wasn't going to be President, or VP, Sec of State is a nice third choice. Obama gets shot, Biden has an anyeurism, someone drops Pelosi down a well, H-Dog is in the game!

Sec of State is also the one cabinent position that has been often used as a springboard for a presidential run.

I hope she watches out for snipers.

[Daniel]

Sec of State is also the one cabinent position that has been often used as a springboard for a presidential run.



Uh. Since when?

[Keller]

Uh. Since when?

Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, John Q. Adams, and Van Buren was the most recent as far as elected former Sec. of State.

[CrystalTears]

Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, John Q. Adams, and Van Buren was the most recent as far as elected former Sec. of State.
Good grief. :lol:

[Keller]

Particularly in the early years of the republic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic), the post was regarded as a natural stepping-stone to the Presidency. Secretaries of State who later occupied the White House (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House) included Thomas Jefferson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson), James Madison (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Madison), James Monroe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Monroe), John Quincy Adams (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Quincy_Adams), Martin Van Buren (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Van_Buren) and James Buchanan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Buchanan). Secretaries who unsuccessfully ran for President (either before or after their service at the State Department) were Henry Clay (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Clay), Daniel Webster (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Webster), John C. Calhoun (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Calhoun), William H. Seward (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_H._Seward), James G. Blaine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_G._Blaine), Walter Q. Gresham (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Q._Gresham), John Sherman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Sherman_%28politician%29), Elihu Root (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elihu_Root), William Jennings Bryan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Jennings_Bryan), Charles Evans Hughes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Evans_Hughes) and Edmund Muskie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Muskie).

[Gelston]

So it has often been a springboard for Presidency.... 167 years ago.

[Daniel]

Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, John Q. Adams, and Van Buren was the most recent as far as elected former Sec. of State.

How could you forget the most recent, James Buchanan? That was like yesterday!

[Tolwynn]

Maybe it's to effectively muzzle Bill while simultaneously tossing Hillary a bone. Fairly clever move by Obama, in that case.

[Keller]

So it has often been a springboard for Presidency.... 167 years ago.

To be fair, he did say candidate.

[CrystalTears]

I guess Condaleezza Rice missed her calling?

[Gan]

I figured that someone with more, I dont know, foreign relations experience/education, would have been considered.

:shrug:

[Miscast]

I dislike this woman. And her ugly daughter.

[Tsa`ah]

I figured that someone with more, I dont know, foreign relations experience/education, would have been considered.

:shrug:

Kissinger thought it was an excellent choice. No .... no, he said "outstanding".

Do you want to know why I think he lost his damn mind?

[DeV]

The only foreign policy experience Senator Clinton has that I'm aware of is was when she bravely dodged sniper fire.

Obama would be follwing Abraham Lincoln's legacy of selecting his chief rival as secretary of state if he were to choose Senator Clinton.

I think she's better suited to tackling a broad range of domestic issues. Give up a influential senate seat to become a international diplomatic yes woman, albeit a important and powerful position no matter who takes the reigns. This will be interesting.

[Keller]

Kissinger thought it was an excellent choice. No .... no, he said "outstanding".

Do you want to know why I think he lost his damn mind?

Kissinger . . . Kissinger . . . who is this Kissinger you speak of? What does he know about foreign affairs and who might be qualified to be Secretary of State?

[Gan]

Kissinger . . . Kissinger . . . who is this Kissinger you speak of? What does he know about foreign affairs and who might be qualified to be Secretary of State?

He's the same guy who backed McCain in the election. His second pick was Hillary as president.

You tell me if he's in his right mind?

[Keller]

He's the same guy who backed McCain in the election. His second pick was Hillary as president.

You tell me if he's in his right mind?

Oh. And here I thought he might have been someone important.

I thought about backing McCain for a minute, but never really considered backing Hillary. Maybe someday I, too, will be known for my endorsements.

[crb]

Uh. Since when?
Keller did a nice summary for those who are not well versed in US history, but in addition lots of Secs. have considered, even if they never formally announced, or have been on VP shortlists. Our two most recent Secs. for example.

[Daniel]

Keller did a nice summary for those who are not well versed in US history, but in addition lots of Secs. have considered, even if they never formally announced, or have been on VP shortlists. Our two most recent Secs. for example.

My question was "Since when" Not "Who". Considered, or on shortlists for VP don't even come close to counting.

I'm pretty well aware of US history and also know that no modern president has ascended to that position from the Sec of State in the last 150 years. When discussing modern politics I don't count anything that was done during a time when the Whig party was active.

Sorry.

[g++]

My question was "Since when" Not "Who". Considered, or on shortlists for VP don't even come close to counting.

I'm pretty well aware of US history and also know that no modern president has ascended to that position from the Sec of State in the last 150 years. When discussing modern politics I don't count anything that was done during a time when the Whig party was active.

Sorry.

If you dont respect history your doomed to repeat it. Dont blame me when the british burn down DC again.

[Cephalopod]

Maybe it's to effectively muzzle Bill while simultaneously tossing Hillary a bone. Fairly clever move by Obama, in that case.

I have this mental image of Hillary stuffing her penis in Bill's mouth while being rear-ended by Trent Lott. I have no idea why.

[Keller]

I have this mental image of Hillary stuffing her penis in Bill's mouth while being rear-ended by Trent Lott. I have no idea why.

Because you've been intimate with one too many chicks-with-dicks?

[Cephalopod]

Because you've been intimate with one too many chicks-with-dicks?

Well, that too.

[Parkbandit]

I don't know... I'm mixed on Hillary for this position. It certainly gets her out of the Senate.. so my view is that in hopefully 4 years.. maybe 8.. she'll be out of politics and the US can breath a collective sigh of relief.

[Kembal]

As a diplomat, I'm sure she'll do fine. Heck, I'm certain she'll be a good policymaker.

As a manager though, she's terrible. We saw that from the campaign. And State's a mess right now. I don't know if she's the right person for fixing that.

[Gan]

Hillary Rodham Clinton isn’t certain she would accept the Secretary of State post even if Barack Obama offers it to her, several people close to the former first lady say.

Press reports that portray Clinton as willing to accept the job – once the Obama transition team vets Bill Clinton’s philanthropic and business ventures – are inaccurate, one Clinton insider told Politico.

“A lot of the speculation and reporting is out ahead of the facts here,” said the person, who requested anonymity. “She is still weighing this, independent of President Clinton's work.”

Clinton, the person said, remains deeply “torn” between the possibility of serving in Obama’s cabinet and remaining in the Senate to “help pass health care and work on a broad range of domestic issues.”

That comment jibes with what others close to Clinton have been saying since the Secretary of State chatter began last week: that Clinton is conflicted and the deal far from done, despite screaming headlines in outlets including the U.K.’s Guardian newspaper claiming the offer was made and accepted.

Most of the speculation about Clinton’s frame of mind in the last few days has been off-base, sources say, because she’s played her cards close to the vest, consulting only her husband and two or three kitchen cabinet advisers.

“We’ve gotten rid of all the other idiots,” joked one Clinton confidant, referring to the Clinton campaign's propensity to leak.

Obama isn’t likely to make a formal offer of the post to Clinton unless he’s given assurances that Bill Clinton’s global charitable foundation won’t create future conflicts of interest with foreign governments.

The Clinton Global Initiative has earned praise for its efforts to eradicate AIDS, malaria and poverty in Africa. But it could prove problematic if the former president continues to arrange donations from foreign countries at the same time that his wife serves as secretary of state.

Obama’s vetting team expressed similar concerns about Bill Clinton’s overseas fundraising when Hillary Clinton was briefly considered for the vice-presidency.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15738.html

[crb]

In all honesty, I think Obama could do far worse than Hillary in that position. Her foreign policy was never something I had a huge problem with.

[Parkbandit]

Done deal.. Clinton accepts Secy of State position. While I really couldn't care less.. it sure doesn't seem to be the movement of Hope and Change it was made out to be.

[Sean of the Thread]

Oh well. I'd rather have Bill.

I don't even know if that's possible to have a former prez in a position but my position stands... I'd rather have Bill given the option between he or Hilary.

[CrystalTears]

Maybe due to the line of succession that on a cold day in hell could cause the Secretary of State to be the president should something happen to Obama, Biden and Pelosi.

[Keller]

You can have foreign-born Sec of States.

I imagine you can have former Presidents.

[Parkbandit]

Oh well. I'd rather have Bill.

I don't even know if that's possible to have a former prez in a position but my position stands... I'd rather have Bill given the option between he or Hilary.

Richardson will be Commerce Sec.

:rofl: didn't realize you meant Bill Clinton..

[Keller]

Richardson will be Commerce Sec.


I'm pretty sure he meant Clinton.

[Sean of the Thread]

Yeah not Richardson but he caught it my after thought and edited in time so YOU LOSE. Kidding.

But I'm spending some time searching just out of curiosity now if a former prez can stand in line for prez again via position.

[Keller]

But I'm spending some time searching just out of curiosity now if a former prez can stand in line for prez again via position.

Re interaction of 22nd and 12th Amendments:

Some have questioned the interpretation of the Twenty-second Amendment as it relates to the Twelfth Amendment (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelfth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitutio n), ratified in 1804, which provides that "no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States."
While it is clear that under the Twelfth Amendment the original constitutional qualifications of age, citizenship, and residency apply to both the President and Vice President, it is unclear if a two-term President could later be elected—or appointed—Vice President. Some argue[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-second_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution #cite_note-4) that the Twenty-second Amendment and Twelfth Amendment bar any two-term President from later serving as Vice President as well as from succeeding to the presidency from any point in the United States presidential line of succession (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_line_of_succession). Others contend[who? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Avoid_weasel_words)] that while a two-term President is ineligible to be elected or appointed to the office of Vice President, he or she could succeed from a lower position in the line of succession which he or she is not excluded from holding. Still others contend[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-second_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution #cite_note-5)[7] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-second_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution #cite_note-6) that the Twelfth Amendment concerns qualification for service, while the Twenty-second Amendment concerns qualifications for election. Neither theory has ever been tested, as no former President has ever sought the Vice Presidency, and thus the courts have never been required to make a judgment.

[Sean of the Thread]

Cool. Thanks.

[Sean of the Thread]

As a diplomat, I'm sure she'll do fine. Heck, I'm certain she'll be a good policymaker.

As a manager though, she's terrible. We saw that from the campaign. And State's a mess right now. I don't know if she's the right person for fixing that.

But does she give good head?

[CrystalTears]

Hmm, so it's never been attempted so no one really knows if it would be allowed.

I agree with Sean though. I'd rather have Bill in that role than Hillary.

[Keller]

Hmm, so it's never been attempted so no one really knows if it would be allowed.

I agree with Sean though. I'd rather have Bill in that role than Hillary.

I am 90% sure that a former president could be Sec of State.

First, the 12th Amendment doesn't prohibit it.

Second, we've had foreign-born officers in the Presidential line-of-succession. Sure, the SoState is the first in the line of officers, but he/she is really just first among equals. I can't imagine a court drawing a valid distinction between them.

Third, the 22nd Amendment prohibits the "election" of a President to a third term.

[CrystalTears]

I recognized all that, just thought it was interesting that it was never attempted so it was never tested.

If people nitpick where exactly people were born to be sure, I have a feeling they would have nitpicked a former president getting into the cabinet, but that's my opinion.

[Sean of the Thread]

I vote for Reagan's head for Sec of State. WANNA BRING SOME TALK TO THE TABLE... HERE'S A SEVERED RONALD REAGAN HEAD BEOTCH! (all kneel)


Seriously though I can't find any 100% evidence either way yet, but it does seem that a former prez could be in line-of-succession just from the reading.

[Gan]

Done deal.. Clinton accepts Secy of State position. While I really couldn't care less.. it sure doesn't seem to be the movement of Hope and Change it was made out to be.
It loos more like a change back to the Clinton era.

And I think Bill would be better suited for the roll than Hillary. Although I'd like someone else in that office entirely.

[Jorddyn]

Seriously though I can't find any 100% evidence either way yet, but it does seem that a former prez could be in line-of-succession just from the reading.

Yep, former presidents can be. They just can't actually become president again if they've already hit term limits.

[CrystalTears]

Go figure. He didn't like her stance on foreign policy... so let's have her roaming the foreign countries!

This really does go against the whole notion of change. I know people other than myself didn't vote for Hillary, not only because they didn't like her, but because they didn't want to see another Clinton involved in the White House in any capacity.

Le sigh.

[Sean of the Thread]

I didn't vote for her because she's fucking ugly!

~Denny Crane

[Gan]

Go figure. He didn't like her stance on foreign policy... so let's have her roaming the foreign countries!

This really does go against the whole notion of change. I know people other than myself didn't vote for Hillary, not only because they didn't like her, but because they didn't want to see another Clinton involved in the White House in any capacity.

Le sigh.

Its definitely going to be an interesting 4 years. Think of it this way, its posting material for the politics folder. :lol:

[Sean of the Thread]

Oh I'd rather not think of the politics folder for awhile.

[Keller]

I'll be the first to admit it: I'm thrilled that she accepted.

Hope and Change to me was always about who Barry-O was and the temperment with which he would govern the US and represent America to the world at-large. It was not the idea that he'd bring in entirely fresh faces. I'm not sure where people got that idea. They mocked him for picking Biden and they are mocking him in his cabinet selections.

I think Hillary will do a fine job as Sec of State and will definately provide an interesting and forceful perspective/opinion.

[Sean of the Thread]

Well she does have a penis so that being said you really can't argue with her forceful perspective/opinion.

[DeV]

I'll be the second to admit that I'm pleased with this decision, although still a tad perplexed that she opted to leave an influential senate seat. It shows real character on Obama's part and further strengthens the notion that he is entirely capable of looking beyond past division and grievances and recognizing people for what they're capable of. I believe she's an exceptionally determined individual who is willing and ready to step up to the challenge. Sure, she will have her work cut out for her, but who in Washington doesn't.

[Sean of the Thread]

Oh I'm confident that she is entirely capable of the position. That wasn't my problem with it.

[Parkbandit]

I don't know... I'm mixed on Hillary for this position. It certainly gets her out of the Senate.. so my view is that in hopefully 4 years.. maybe 8.. she'll be out of politics and the US can breath a collective sigh of relief.

I'm glad she decided to take an administration post.. which takes her out of the Senate and the end of the Clintons in politics is in sight.

[DeV]

Oh I'm confident that she is entirely capable of the position. That wasn't my problem with it.You didn't say anything that needed clarification. In fact, your last comment was perfectly in line with the fact that Hillary is a man, baby.

[Bokertal]

I'm not going to comment on any of this. But I would like to ask, you ever get that feeling...you know that feeling that something is going to just go horribly wrong. That feeling just before something blows up or right after the Chief or LT says, "oh shit".

I have had that feeling for a couple days. I'm not watching the news or reading anything political for a spell....till I shake the heebie jeebies at least.

[tyrant-201]

I'm a liberal. I'm not happy with the pick. I'm not fond of Hillary or Bill at all. Hillary's foreign policy experience has been very, very, very limited. I'm all for bringing in a team of rivals, it's just that her head is so damn big.