Will She Or Won't She?

[ProSense]

Will She Or Won't She?

by BarbinMD
Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 06:45:03 AM PST

The speculation on whether or not, and why or why not, Hillary Clinton may or may not become Secretary of State continues:

"She is definitely unsure of what to do," said one Clinton adviser...

The source added that if Clinton ultimately decides against the job, it won't be because of the vetting process but rather because her interest in domestic policy issues --

Sounds reasonable, right? Not so fast...this could be:

...a part of a power struggle between her and Obama; a public show of force to make clear that just because the president-elect has asked her for something doesn't mean she is in any rush to accede.

Or it's:

...entirely plausible that she legitimately hasn't made up her mind...

Or, or, or....

Oh, the drama.

[TwilightGardener]

1. This is starting to become an embarrassing spectacle for Obama. I have no idea

why he or his team decided to play it like this--leak, and then let the media publicize all of the back-and-forth (including Bill's vetting). If he DIDN'T let his team leak this and didn't want it to play out this way, then he needs to fire some people or drop Hillary from consideration if she or her people are to blame. I don't like the way this looks--it's amateur hour, and the Clintons won't hesitate to make a fool of him if they can.

[Nedsdag]

3. It's embarrassing because it's all about the Clintons.

They ALWAYS have to be the center of attention, even when it's not about them.

At first, I thought it might be a good idea if she became SOS, but now I think she should stay in the Senate. Sadly, even in the Senate, Reid is trying to cater to her whims.

OK, she received 18 million votes, We. get. it. Hillary. Enough!

[brianna69]

5. Too much drama

Time to move on to another choice for SOS. Richardson now gets my vote.

[Jennicut]

2. I think maybe Hillary is torn between domestic policy and foreign policy

How dare she!

[ProSense]

6. It's not about "how dare she"

it's about being interested and committed. If any of the sources, including this Clinton advisor, are to be believed, this episode is simply messy and ridiculos.

[Lucky 13]

11. Breaking news: IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT HER.

What happened to doing what is best for your country? What happened to, "I will serve wherever my President needs me?"

[sufrommich]

4. The chattering class drums up the drama then blames the

Clintons for the very drama they created. The netroots play along out of boredom. Same as it always was.

[TwilightGardener]

7. They're not "drumming up the drama"--it's simply being mishandled

by either one or both camps. Generally, you don't announce your choice (or even strategically leak it) until you are sure the person will accept and can most likely pass vetting, to avoid this sort of confusion, embarrassment, and a public power struggle. That's the way it was with Obama's other appointments (Holder and Daschle). Why is this one so badly handled?

[Arkansas Granny]

14. Absolutely right. The drama is being driven by the media.

[rvablue]

20. Exactly...what a wonderfully succint and utterly true post......oh well.........

[ProSense]

24. Who is the "chattering class"?

Could it be the people who from the beginning of year have engaged in the "what Hillary wants, deserves, should get" drama?

You know these people: the donors sending letters demanding this or that on Hillary's behalf, the people incessantly postulating about why she deserves the VP slot and others who were insisting that Obama has to repay her debt.

People respond when some in the media accommodate the "chattering class" because no one wants media-driven speculation to shape perception.

There are numerous positions being filled and many people being vetted, why is it that the "chattering class" always seems to be an exclusive club of Clinton surrogates?

I've heard it's becuase others don't sell papers, but I'm not buying it. At this point, anyone Obama considers for a position will be enough to sell papers.

[nomaco-10]

8. If it was a done deal, he would announce it today and ...

be done with all the media speculation and drama. We'll see.

I think the sos appointment has fallen apart. I don't think hillary wants it. I don't think she ever did. I think she'd rather be governor of the state she loves so much, ny, or stay in the senate and pioneer her causes that are near and dear to her heart. I think bill is the one that wants it. He loves being attached to power on the international scene. I also think the clintons desperately want their campaign debts paid off and that may be another sticking point in the discussions.

Then again, I could be wrong. I've been wrong before.

[snake in the grass]

9. I thought...

...this was going to be a thread about whether or not Palin takes up that porno offer now that she has no chance of becoming a Senator.

[Lucky 13]

10. This should be about what is best for the country... not what is best for HRC.

Like with the VP selection, DUers sit around wringing their hands speculating erroneously about every single appointment.

Here are the facts:

Obama's going to pick who he's going to pick and we have no say in it. We trusted him enough to elect him President, but we're freaking out about who he's selecting for what. The dude isn't even in office yet! And it is 99% likely that our speculations are going to be wrong one way or the other. The New York Times and the Washington Post are reporting two completely different stories about what's going on!

The f-ed up thing to me is that once again, it's all about HRC. You try to involve her and reach out to that faction of the party, and the only thing you are guaranteed to get in return is CONFLICT, LEAKS, and DRAMA. I'm beyond sick of it.

The other thing that struck me is that she (and/or her supporters) are trying to figure out what is best for HER. "Should she take SoS? She wouldn't be her own boss then! She'd have to be subordinate to Obama! She should stay in the Senate and take a leadership role and prep for her 2016 Presidential run!"

Remember when people used to say, "I am happy in my current position and am not actively seeking an appointment, but I will serve wherever my President and my country needs me."?? It demonstrates grace, honor, and sacrifice for your country. It conveys that your decision making is based on the betterment of your country and not the betterment of yourself. I would love to see this attitude adopted by HRC and her supporters. So far, I'm just not feeling it.

All of this "What is best for HRC's career?" crap feels inappropriate at a time when our new President faces challenges greater than any President has had to face in my lifetime. I don't give a fuck what is best for HRC. I only care about what is best for my country. Obama is now in charge of how to go about fixing our situation and coordinating efforts. If Obama thinks the country would benefit from her as SoS, I think she has an obligation to take it. If Obama thinks the country would benefit from her staying in the Senate, she should stay. THAT should be how the decision is made.

[Erin Elizabeth]

18. Great post, absolutely!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

12. God I Hope She Wants It. Accept Obama's Offer Hillary!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

13. Maybe Obama is actually vetting Bill for SoS.

What if it's not Hillary, but the big dog himself?

He might be a good one.

:hi:

[LostinVA]

16. If for no other reason: he can't be President again

[rvablue]

21. Not only do I disagree, it's not constitutionally possible.....

As far as I know, isn't the SoS 4th in line to the Presidency....can't happen. And I'm happy for it.

And this is coming from someone who thought President Clinton was a decent Prez and wouldn't mind seeing Hillary as SoS.

[scheming daemons]

15. If you look up "Drama" in the dictionary, Bill and Hillary's pictures are next to the definition

[AndrewP]

22. Yep. I just hope HRC stays in New York.

[Avalux]

17. LOL. I think Obama picked her knowing she'd turn it down.

She just won't be able to overcome her ego to accept the position and give up her dreams of becoming President, which is exactly what she'd have to do. There would be no way to continue along that path as SOS; she would need to be apolitical and give up contact with her supporters.

She will say no, and Obama will not be accused of not offering Hillary a prime position.

Very well played.

[CakeGrrl]

19. "What does Hillary *want*?"

She seems - seems - to want to resurrect the question she asked the last night of the Primaries.

:eyes:

If the media literally starts to ask the OP's question on the air, Obama should back away from this option if it really is a serious consideration.

[tekisui]

23. I don't even care anymore.

I'll find out when something is announced, other than that I could care less what is going on with this position.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

Whoever it will be will have to travel the world

I wouldn't like that bit

[Rosa Luxemburg]

25. Whoever it will be will have to travel the world

I wouldn't like that bit