Clinton eyes Biden for secretary of state

[TomCADem]

Source: Politico

Joe Biden is at the top of the internal short list Hillary Clinton’s transition team is preparing for her pick to be secretary of state, a source familiar with the planning tells POLITICO.

This would be the first major Cabinet candidate to go public for a campaign that’s insisted its focus remains on winning the election, and perhaps the most central choice for a potential president who was a secretary of state herself.

Neither Clinton nor her aides have yet told Biden. According to the source, they’re strategizing about how to make the approach to the vice president, who almost ran against her in the Democratic primaries but has since been campaigning for her at a breakneck pace all over the country in these final months.

* * *
But she’d also be choosing someone with whom she repeatedly clashed as secretary of state, with the vice president often playing the skeptic while she supported more aggressive action. They differed over leaving troops in Iraq, the surge in Afghanistan, and whether to arm Syria’s rebels and bomb Libya -- and Clinton took the more hawkish line in every case. During the Obama administration’s lengthy review of Afghanistan policy early in his tenure, for instance, a skeptical Biden urged the president not to escalate the war, while Clinton backed Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s request for 40,000 more troops.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/clinton-biden-secretary-of-state-230428

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It is interesting that Hillary would hire someone who is not necessarily her ideological twin. Also, why would Biden want the job given that he is currently VP and may want to wind down after a long career in public service. Still, Biden is as experienced and qualified as they come.

[wisteria]

1. And why not keep Secretary Kerry on for another year? He has done a great job.

[milestogo]

4. I love John Kerry as SoS and I will miss him in that position.

He may be hoping to retire - but I think it would be great if he could stay on.

[TomCADem]

6. I Admire Their Willingness To Continue to Serve

John Kerry is 72. I personally would be hoping to retire and spend time with grandchildren by the time I get to be 72. Likewise, Biden is 73. I just find it amazing that they remain willing to serve after all these years. I love my job, but would I continue to work past 65 if I have enough to retire? I do not know.

[Jason1961]

7. Agreed

John Kerry has done an amazing job considering how complicated the world has gotten.

I'd have a lot of trouble deciding between the two of them but I think Kerry would make a great Secretary of Defense.

[Zen Democrat]

2. Joe has public service in every fiber of his being. I think he would accept.

[babylonsister]

9. I think you're right and think he'd be a great SoS. He

lives for this stuff!

[videohead5]

3. They Read My Mind

I thought about this a few days ago.

[Jason1961]

5. Joe Biden

I'm not sure how many of you have had the pleasure of meeting Joe Biden but I worked with him, Joe Libierman, and Leslie Geln on the plan to split Iraq into three regions that would have given virtual autonomy over their territories and would form a central government.

The plan was ultimately rejected by Condilizza Rice, Donald Rumsfield, and General Tommy Franks. I think Colin Powell would have supported it but it wouldn't have mattered anyway so he sided with the "winners" at the time.

Joe Biden is a brilliant statesman and would make the best SOS we've had in a long time (even better than Hillary herself!).

[babylonsister]

10. That must have been some experience.

How fortunate you were, and welcome to DU; thanks for sharing.

[Jason1961]

16. It really was

I always tell people, especially young people, to get involved with our Party and stay involved as much as possible. If you do you'll meet a ton of really great people and who knows where they (or you!) might end up one day.

This is OUR Party, so every generation should take ownership and make the Democratic Party what they want it to be.

[TheDebbieDee]

8. VP Joe Biden is qualified - Why shouldn't he be considered for Sec of State...

For that matter, Former President Clinton is also qualified. I wonder if he made the list for any cabinet positions that the campaign managed to hide from Politico?

[Cha]

11. This thread needs a pic..

Joe Biden, who chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee before joining the administration, is one of the most experienced and respected Democrats on the world stage. | Getty

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/clinton-biden-secretary-of-state-230428

Mahalo, Tom

[moonscape]

17. Wonderful - thanks! n/t

[sarcasmo]

12. Great choice. Kerry has done a fine job. HRC needs to pick her own people and Biden

would be a great choice.

[Botany]

13. 2 points

1) Good to see the HRC like President Obama is willing to think of picking somebody
who might not agree w/her 100% of the time.

b) HRC, John Kerry, & Joe Biden ..... heavy hitters!

[Blandocyte]

14. There have been some big verbal gaffes from Biden

He's a good guy, but I have reservations about putting him in SoS.

[JustAnotherGen]

15. I think Kerry or Biden -

Both would be excellent choices.

But - there's this part - deep down in my heart - that just LOVES Joe Biden. I don't want him to wind down. He's too much fun and loves the people of this country too much to just 'fade away'.