Curiosity Rises Over Clinton’s Travel Itinerary

[ClarkUSA]

Some of you may have wondered when will the Secretary of State start travelling and where will she go, now that George Mitchell is tackling the Middle East and Richard Holbrooke is assigned to Pakistan and Afghanistan. Well, wonder no more...

“We’ll let you know as soon as we get it organized,” she told reporters earlier this week... In Mrs. Clinton’s case,
her celebrity lends the maiden voyage added glitter...

A secretary of state’s first foreign trip... has been further complicated by the fact that the White House appointed
two special emissaries who wasted no time booking their own foreign travel...

George J. Mitchell, the special envoy for the Middle East, is halfway through a weeklong tour of the region, visiting
Cairo, Jerusalem, the West Bank, Amman, and tacking on a stop in Paris. Richard C. Holbrooke, the special representative
for Pakistan and Afghanistan, is headed to those countries next week, stopping en route at a security conference in
Munich... Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Gen. James L. Jones, the president’s national security adviser, are also
heading to the Munich conference. Mr. Obama is heading to Canada next month for his first foreign trip as president.
And in April, Mr. Obama he will go to London for a summit on the financial crisis and a NATO meeting... With so many
old-world capitals and gritty hot-spots spoken for, what’s left...?

While no final decision has been made... Mrs. Clinton is leaning toward a trip that could include Japan and China,
according to officials. That would allow her to check in with a staunch ally and take stock of an economic rival...Asia
is not an obvious choice: her two most recent predecessors... started off in Europe and the Middle East.

I like how President Obama is spreading his foreign policy team far and wide in order to utilize their respective skill sets and
prior experience. What Barack's great liberal/progressive foreign policy leadership comes down to is good team management
and a strong policy emphasis on diplomacy without preconditions over warmongering or saber-rattling.

:woohoo: :party: :woohoo: Barack Obama Is 44 and Leader of the Free World! :party: :woohoo: :party: :woohoo:

[Captain Hilts]

1. Yet, you make a headline that suggests something unsavory. You are a marvel. nt

[lamp_shade]

2. Yuh... kind of misleading, isn't it?

[ClarkUSA]

4. It's the original NYT headline. I added "Travel" which is terribly sinister of me, isn't it?

:sarcasm:

[Phx_Dem]

7. Not at all.

The major international "hot spots" are being covered by Mitchell and HOlbrook, so it's perfectly reasonable that some might be "curious" as to where the SOS will head on her first trip. I'm not sure how "curious" equates to unsavory.

The NY Times headline was likely intended to get people to read the story.

[karynnj]

9. There is absolutely nothing misleading

It would be odd if there was no curiosity on which places she would visit first and which issues she will take on. This is just knee jerk reaction - defending when there is no need to defend.

[AtomicKitten]

20. I agree; this type of knee-jerk reaction to the innocuous has become a cartoon. n/t

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

33. I was thinking more like a jukebox that keeps playing the same old tired tune. . .

But cartoonish fits too.

[AtomicKitten]

65. It's a lame, impotent version of the Jedi Mind Trick.

[ClarkUSA]

3. Take it up with The New York Times, buddy. I'm sure the ombudsman will respond to your whine.

:tinfoilhat:

[ronnykmarshall]

10. You must have one of those alters set up ...

Please alert negative stories about:

X Bill Clinton
X Hillary Clinton
X Chelsea Clinton

Edit: Not not alert on:

X George Clinton
X Clinton's BBQ
X Clinton's Dry Cleaners

[ClarkUSA]

11. You must be yet another thin-skinned paranoid refighting the primary wars. Move on, will ya?

[ronnykmarshall]

24. Oh honey please...

YOU talk shit about getting over the primary. Look in the mirror, Taffy.

[ClarkUSA]

30. There you go again....

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

14. What's a marvel is the paranoia around here. Let's all just take a deep breath.

[Forkboy]

21. Get a grip.

[Jakes Progress]

48. It's his "thing"

[trudyco]

5. Asia? I was hoping Mexico. It's time for us to help our neighbor

[karynnj]

6. China would be very interesting for several reasons

1) There are various trade issues - in terms of honoring copy writes and not illegally copying fashion apparel and accessories - and lifting standards so their food exports don't include poisons.

2) They own a large part of our debt

3) They are now the number one carbon emitter, beating us out this year - together we are responsible for emitting 40% of the world's carbon. Kerry in the SFRC with Gore brought up the idea of a joint US/China research effort to help both of us to show good faith (on both our parts) before Copenhagen.

4) They are an emerging power in the world.

[Jennicut]

8. China is very important

for all those reasons. Hillary should go there.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

19. Agreed. Hillary also needs to speak out again for women's rights in China . . .

that's an area where she brings experience and has a lot of credibility.

[AtomicKitten]

67. and Afghanistan

:thumbsup:

[davidpdx]

36. Actually there is one other BIG reason having to do with North Korea

I read an article the other day that once North Korea collapses there will be a need for over 460,000 troops to stabilize the country (yes, North Korea has their own troops, but they would not be adequate in this instance as peace keepers would be needed).

Certainly the Middle East is a hot spot, but not the only potential problem.

Also there is bound to be a power struggle between China and South Korea for the right to North Korea. China will probably feel threatened by the prospect of having their boarder shared with a reunited Korea (granted that would be a long ways off). There will also have to be discussion on what to do in the interim and how to keep people from starving.

All this may sound like just talk, but I personally think once Kim Jong Ill dies, things will change quickly. Obama and Clinton are going to have the chance to shape how North Korea transitions.

[davidpdx]

37. duplicate

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

13. Mexico would be another good choice.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

12. Japan might be a safe place to start until she gets her sea legs.

[ClarkUSA]

15. That's a good way to look at it.

Team O seems to want seasoned diplomats like Mitchell and Holbrooke handling global hotspots that require immediate and long overdue attention.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

16. It only makes sense. They're seasoned veterans. I have no doubt that Hillary . . .

can contribute something to the peace process after Mitchell and Holbrooke have done the necessary groundwork and defused the situation. I wouldn't mind seeing Jimmy Carter also get involved. Maybe Hillary could use him to pacify the Palestineans.

[ClarkUSA]

18. I agree. That's the way it'll probably be.

Meanwhile, Hillary can visit with allies and trade partners like China.

[Baby Snooks]

23. Such as?

She should be doing the groundwork. That she isn't sort of sums up the situation. She wanted to be Secretary of State. So like Condoleeza Rice she will look pretty and smile and wave at everyone as she travels here and there. Unlike Condoleeza Rice that is all she will do.

At least she can't block any legislation and use the Senate to campaign for president in 2012. For those who believe Barack Obama is stupid, that right there tells you he's not.

I don't think anyone is really that happy with her as Secretary of State although her fellow senators probably are glad to be rid of her.

Bubba of Arabia, however, is very happy with her as Secretary of State. Now he can have a "Twofer Sale" as he travels around the Persian Gulf on his new two-humped magic cash cow camel with Hillary on the other hump. Holding the "Twofer Sale" sign.

Maybe one of the Saudi princes will give them bad directions as they head off into the desert on their way to another kingdom and another million dollars and we will never see either of them again.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

26. YIKES!! You have a very serious hate-on ...doncha?

:hide:

If your statements weren't so twisted and delusional, they would almost be funny ... in a sad, pathetic way.

She should be doing the groundwork. That she isn't sort of sums up the situation. She wanted to be Secretary of State. So like Condoleeza Rice she will look pretty and smile and wave at everyone as she travels here and there. Unlike Condoleeza Rice that is all she will do.

At least she can't block any legislation and use the Senate to campaign for president in 2012. For those who believe Barack Obama is stupid, that right there tells you he's not.

I don't think anyone is really that happy with her as Secretary of State although her fellow senators probably are glad to be rid of her.

Bubba of Arabia, however, is very happy with her as Secretary of State. Now he can have a "Twofer Sale" as he travels around the Persian Gulf on his new two-humped magic cash cow camel with Hillary on the other hump. Holding the "Twofer Sale" sign.

Maybe one of the Saudi princes will give them bad directions as they head off into the desert on their way to another kingdom and another million dollars and we will never see either of them again.

[ClarkUSA]

29. Let me try to address your points...

She should be doing the groundwork. That she isn't sort of sums up the situation. She wanted to be Secretary of State.
So like Condoleeza Rice she will look pretty and smile and wave at everyone as she travels here and there.

First, let's face facts: George Mitchell and Richard Holbrooke are seasoned diplomats, not Hillary Clinton. I'd rather experts
laid the groundwork in global hotspots, not a relative novice at diplomacy. That said, there are few who would draw more
global media attention as an SoS travelling the world spreading President Obama's foreign policy doctrine than Hillary.
There's a definite PR aspect to the SoS position and Hillary fulfills this role very well. Allies will love the "rock star" attention
her visits will bring and trade partners will appreciate it, too. Barack is simply utilizing out his foreign policy team according
to their talents and experience.

At least she can't block any legislation and use the Senate to campaign for president in 2012. For those who believe Barack
Obama is stupid, that right there tells you he's not.

He's definitely neutralized his top political rival and has co-opted her into supporting and unequivocally following his policy
decisions for however long he remains POTUS, which was very politically astute, though I fully expect Hillary to run for
president in 2016, this time with a foreign policy background she lacked this time around.

Bubba of Arabia, however, is very happy with her as Secretary of State. Now he can have a "Twofer Sale" as he travels around
the Persian Gulf on his new two-humped magic cash cow camel with Hillary on the other hump. Holding the "Twofer Sale" sign.

The annual public financial disclosure that the Clintons have to file with Congress and the ongoing private oversight by Pres.
Obama's general counsel Larry Craig over Bill's paid speaking sources should, in theory, make it more difficult for any pay-to-play
access to occur.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

35. Very well stated. I wonder which diplomatic vet Obama should send to handle the Korean situation.

[ClarkUSA]

53. Good question.

I'm sure Team O has a list of individuals who're fully qualified and experienced enough to negotiate with the wily but nutty
North Koreans, although I don't sense any urgency on their part to choose someone immediately.

[Beacool]

41. Just one clarification.

Some people kept saying that it was astute of Obama to offer the SOS spot to her so that she wouldn't run against him in 2012. Hillary would have never done that, she's not Ted Kennedy. She would have never ran against a sitting president of her own party, it's not who she is.

:-)

[AtomicKitten]

64. We got a good look at who she is in the primaries.

We saw to what depths she is prepared to stoop. Suffice to say she revealed herself to be a very different person than what you describe. We saw it with our own eyes, although I fully expect her blind faithful to continue to try to invoke the Jedi Mind Trick to persuade people otherwise.

[Beacool]

40. You're diatribe lacks too much merit to even bother responding

point by point. Suffice it to say that most of what you wrote is not even remotely true.

Must be sad to be so full of hate.

:crazy:

[ClarkUSA]

42. She/He's entitled to her/his opinions.

Having been demonized on this and other recent threads myself, I object to others being targeted for personal attacks as well.
Public officials like the Clintons do not have universally adoring followings nor are they free from flaws or public misgivings
about past actions. What you and others term as "hate" may be simply a perspective that is honestly different from yours. It's
time to stop the personal attacks against all those who don't feel the way you do about Hillary and/or Bill.

[Beacool]

44. Clark, you're too funny.

Coming from you, of all people, who constantly trash anything Clinton. You speak of attacks? If I wrote about Obama something as venomous as that poster and you constantly write about the Clintons, I would be banned from this board and you know it.

Hypocrisy much?

:eyes:

[ClarkUSA]

45. There you go AGAIN with the personal attacks... why can't you move on from the primary wars?

Explain exactly how I "constantly trash anything Clinton" and how I have been "venomous" anywhere in the OP or this thread.
You won't be able to, because your diatribe has no merit.

Projection... thy name is Beacool.

Move on. The primaries are over.

[Beacool]

54. Physician heal thyself.

You always find a way to bash either Clinton in plenty of your posts. Well, maybe it's YOU who should get over the primaries. Hillary and Obama are now in the same team and have the same goals.

;)

[Name removed]

55. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ClarkUSA]

60. Um, exactly how do I "always find a way to bash either Clinton". Links, quotes?

:tinfoilhat:

While you're at it, give examples off how I "constantly trash anything Clinton" and how I have been "venomous" anywhere
in the OP or this thread. :eyes:

I hope you and others get over refighting the primary wars soon and realize that all of us are on the same team now.

[AtomicKitten]

66. In theirspeak bashing = telling the truth, and they aren't having any of that

[ClarkUSA]

68. That's exactly it. It describes the Paranoid Pitchfork Mob that follow me around perfectly.

Thanks for the reminder. It really is true: the more things CHANGE, the more they stay the same.

Glad to see you're still the inimitable Atomic Kitten, by the way.

[AtomicKitten]

69. you betcha

Their retorts of dittohead (sycophant) and hater are becoming anorexic if not downright pedestrian up in this thing.

I thought about changing my screen name all the way up until it was too late. Hey.

[Arkana]

17. Good! She's now one of the major faces of American diplomacy,

along with UN Ambassador Rice and the POTUS himself--so the sooner she gets herself out there the better. And the goodwill that's no doubt built up for us in those countries might just show through.

[Beacool]

22. Asia is a good choice.

Particularly China since they're our largest creditor.

I hope that she then goes to Latin America, it has been very neglected during the Bush years.


Good job, Clark.

;-)

[geiger]

27. also that was where the world women's summit was years ago,

when she decided to go, even though some were saying it was not a good thing....

[Beacool]

39. If she had listened to all the naysayers

she wouldn't have gone to Beijing either. I'm glad that she followed her own instincts.

:eyes:

[underpants]

31. I wonder if this administration (unlike the last) is aware of the continent of South America

they have some economy too

[Beacool]

38. I think they will be.

Bill was aware of this and I have even seen pics of them in some LA countries of their visits. I don't think that Hillary will ignore them, neither will Obama.

;-)

[La Lioness Priyanka]

25. you make it sound so sinister. odd. nt

[PBS Poll-435]

28. A complete coincidence

I am sure of it.

[ClarkUSA]

46. What is a "complete coincidence"? That the same paranoid pitchfork mob attacks me on all my OPs?

[PBS Poll-435]

50. ROFL!!!

;-)

[ClarkUSA]

51. Nothing to say now? Know what? Y'all are all hat, no cattle.

Move on. The primaries are over.

Enjoy watching President Obama on PBS for the next eight years.

[PBS Poll-435]

56. :spewscoffee:

:rofl:


You were a hoot on the "Bill Clinton Recieves 6 Mil" thread.

We are supposed to all be on the same team now. Why won't you get on board?

Stop fighting the primary wars.

[ClarkUSA]

57. Still no explanations as to why my OP is "sinister" or "odd"? I didn't think you'd have any.

Thank you for memorizing my posts so well that you're repeating what I said to Beacool back to me:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8154369&mesg_id=8158280

I'm glad you agree with me that we're on the same team. Maybe now you'll stop stalking me from thread to
thread, as you have on two consecutive OPs now. If you don't stop, then it will be clear that you're not over
the primaries.

I am very happy with the President Obama's foreign policy team, by the way. I believe that they will do great
things under his leadership.

[PBS Poll-435]

58. Wow. Crazy

You are one of ummm I'll say 3 bitter enders that still shit on every single Bill Clinton/Hillary Clinton thread.

I will only assume that your therapist/spiritual advisor recommended that you post a neutral article as penance.

[ClarkUSA]

59. Prove it. Links to how I've allegedly "shit on every single Bill Clinton/Hillary Clinton thread"?

What's crazy is how you and the angry mob you run with constantly make up shit out of thin air. It's ironic that
you should call me a bitter ender, considering my man Barack won it all, won it big and is now 44; "bitter enders"
are usually the sorest of losers <cough, cough>.

Projection... thy name is PBS Poll-435.

Looks like you don't really want to be on the same team, after all. Too bad, 'cause I'd like you to be a happy ender
like me. Guess this means you'll keep stalking me from thread to thread and harassing me with your obsessive
primary war nonsense, eh? That's too bad.

[PBS Poll-435]

61. Stop it.

You are slaying me!

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[ClarkUSA]

62. Stop your personal attacks. They are false, as your refusal to provide proof clearly demonstrates.

Enjoy watching President Obama on PBS for the next eight years.

[ClarkUSA]

43. Your interpetation is very "odd" to me. Just exactly how did I "make it sound so sinister"?

[underpants]

32. OMG!! SHE ISN'T GOING SOMEWHERE NOW!!!

Not you, the Times

:eyes:

She just got the office a week ago

[mtnsnake]

34. The Goddess of Peace was, and still is, a world class rock star of epic proportions

so it's very understandable that the entire world will be anticipating her every move. :smoke:

[ClarkUSA]

47. Heh

[IndianaGreen]

49. Primaries are over, snake

Let's bury that "Goddess of Peace" nonsense.

Hillary's (and the USA first crisis) will be Korea. I take seriously the threats from North Korea that it might attack the South. We don't have the means to prevent Seoul from being overrun. I have friends stationed in Korea and I am worried about them.

[mtnsnake]

52. Yes they are, IG

and good times they were, especially if you liked both Democratic finalists like I did.

Let's bury that "Goddess of Peace" nonsense.

Nonsense? Not nonsense, it's a fact. :smoke:

Bury it? How about if I just make it dormant from time to time? :shrug:

:evilgrin:

[Lilith Velkor]

63. She goes by "Glinda" these days

but the "Goddess of Peace" nonsense is plenty good for nostalgia. :smoke: