Sadly, Bill is part of the package

[cali]

and so is all the attendent drama that invariably surrounds him. For that reason alone, I have my doubts about Hillary in the Cabinet at all.

No, I don't hate Bill Clinton, but I don't trust him either. And I don't relish his business deals over the last 8 years being once again made an issue.

Too much drama for No Drama Obama.

[gauguin57]

1. I'm with you. I was always worried that, if Hillary had been the nominee, Bill's fishy finances ...

... would have sunk her (once the Repugs started digging).

If even 1/16th of that Vanity Fair article about his business dealings since he left the presidency is true ... ewwwwww.

[Metric System]

2. I don't want to get into hypotheticals, but let's just say that Cindy McCain's financial dealings

were barely touched. If it had been Hillary vs. McCain I don't think the McCains would have the upper-hand.

[gateley]

4. And that's too bad -- because I think Hillary would make an excellent SOS.

Obama's job application for mere mortals is exceptionally thorough (as we've seen), so I'm surprised that Obama would pursue Hillary in this position knowing the cloud that hangs over many of Bill's business dealings and library donations. ;shrug;

[springhill]

27. deleted

It's fruitless.

[4themind]

3. BIll was commenting on the rumors from a business conference...

...in Kuwait, now from articles I've read he was giving advice on the global financial crisis, which is fine, and having someone Globetrotting & giving out advice to foreign business leaders while well within his rights, is also something that may spur further questions into the full extent of his overseas activities vis a vis hillary's possible role in the SoS, just on the face of it. If Obama is going to have crap thrown on him by the repubs, fine, but at least make them work for it. This is just inviting a lot of questions right of the bat, and I don't see the benefits being so great over kerry or Richardson, to take on that history and cost, but if he does appoint her, they will have my support and best wishes, it will be badly needed for the world we are in now

[MannyGoldstein]

5. Bill Can Be An Asset As Undersecretary In Charge Of

Kazakh "businessmen" with duffel bags of cash, untraceable.

[mtnsnake]

6. Hillary won't be accepting SOS position, & DU won't know what to do with itself

I just love how this place thrives on all the speculation over what Hillary will do or what Bill what do. If Bill and Hillary never exixted, most of DU would have nothing to whine about. This place would die.

[cali]

8. look, there's no doubt that there's some absurd shit around here about Hillary

but like it or not, Bill's business dealings are an obstacle to her being SoS. Furthermore, try letting go of your Clinton martyr complex. They're hardly the only dems that regularly get trashed here. And DU will ALWAYS find someone or something to focus obsessively on and howl about

[marylanddem]

12. You've hit the nail on the head with that "Clinton martyr complex"

It is getting quite annoying.

[karynnj]

25. Why do you think this?

There are some advantages for Obama taking her - instant name recognition around the world, and getting a potential rival out of politics. For Clinton, it would be the same huge opportunity it would be for anyone, depending on what portolio is offered. If most people thing Kerry, who actually has powerful positions it the Senate - he may chair SRFC and if not that, he might have the potential of heading Commerce, would take it if offered, why would HRC turn it down?

[political_Dem]

7. Who says he's given up on White House interns?

:scared:

[cali]

9. yeah, that's a pertinent comment. Not.

[political_Dem]

10. But nevertheless, that too also adds to the drama equation.

No one (except those born within the nineties, maybe) will ever forget the Lewinsky scandal. And it is a pertinent question in the vetting to ask Bill if he can keep his pecadilloes discreet.

If he can't, Obama's going to face more drama than just having two Clintons for the price of one.

[marylanddem]

11. I totally agree with you.

When Monica blew Bill, he blew the Presidency. And if there's spillover on She Who Forgave Him, so be it.

[karynnj]

26. Even the early 1990 born kids knew a lot -

believe me - I drove a car pool for a 1990 kid and her friends. Kids in car pools seem to think the cars drive themselves or the parent can't hear. I was shocked what they knew.

That said, I don't think that impacts HRC - the fact that the spouse of the SoS might be unfaithful has no real conflict of interest.

[political_Dem]

28. Judging from the reaction about Edwards, I think it does matter.

The GOP is waiting for something to explode from the Obama Administration. Let's just say she does get to be SOS. If Bill is caught in the midst of one of his indescretions, it will not only affect how people perceive Hillary; there will be blowback upon the rest of the Administration. It's sad to say, but beyond Scaife and McCain (as well as Hillary's RW/neocon friends), the other RW'ers are waiting for the Clintons to be scandal prone once again. Since they work as a team, if either one does anything wrong, it will affect both of them.

[karynnj]

31. Politically - you're correct

For another lower profile choice - it might not even be public, but it would be for Clinton or the other people already known. The hard part is you can't vet for something that has happened yet.

[political_Dem]

33. You can't. But you can use that foresight to not court problems when they could be avoided.

That's all I'm saying. People can discuss how much they want Sen. Clinton to be the SOS. But, they also have to know the problems which exist with such an appointment (especially when reviewing the promises as well as the warts of the Clinton Presidency). Both of the Clintons have many questionable things that should be thoroughly vetted. And frankly, Bill Clinton's inability to be monogamous should be one of those things.

Personally, I still don't think that they are totally for Obama--especially in the way they've shunned him in place of McCain. I am fascinated how it is forgotten the length of time spent by the Clintons saying how much they were friends with McCain. Sen. Clinton also campaigned on the fact that there were only "two people experienced enough to be President (and one of them wasn't Obama)." These weren't idle words--especially when the Obama campaign started out with a lukewarm response from Bill Clinton.

All of these these things must be put into consideration.

[No Elephants]

32. What if he were unfaithful with a head of state or the spouse of a head of state?

[yourguide]

13. I concur.

Why is her possible appointment the only one that's turned into a 3 ring circus?

[greguganus]

39. Cause she's married to Bill? n/t

[asjr]

14. I believe Obama will make a fine choice

no matter who it is. He was in charge of a magnificent campaign and will do the same with his choices for his cabinet.

[abumbyanyothername]

15. You can't post on DU unless

You either LOVE the Clintons.

Or HATE them.

No calm, rational, thoughtful, patient thinking allowed.

[marylanddem]

17. It's hard to be neutral toward the Clintons.

[cali]

18. So point out where my OP was hateful, or irrational, or wrong.

[CK_John]

16. Bill could be replace her in the Senate and he will tied down in DC by senate rules. n/t

[JCMach1]

19. IF he has chosen Hillary, I believe Obama has made the right choice

I love the weasel wording in the original... why doesn't the article explain the 'fishy'?

I know where some of those library funds came from... the Al Maktoum family and the Al Nahayan family in the UAE.


And, just why did they donate quite a lot to the library?


THEY LIKE AND RESPECT THE GUY!




I like Obama, but would never be construed as a koolaid drinker... but I am QUITE willing to give Obama some credit and let him put together the team he wants AND America needs.

Besides Hillary is not a DONE deal...

In terms of my own preference, I would prefer to see Richardson or Hillary equally.

[tekisui]

20. I am thinking the same thing.

The qualifications, ability and recognition are there.

But, if you want to know what follows the Clintons just look at the headlines here and around the media.

It is too much. Whether for good or bad, it is just too much hoopla.

[CakeGrrl]

21. The question for Obama is whether assembling this "Team of Rivals"

is worth all the drama and distraction that, for good or ill, attends the Clinton name.

If this goes through, I'll just have to trust Obama to have thought this through serveral moves deep.

[tekisui]

23. Yeah, I have confidence he knows what he is doing.

If she is given SoS, she is there for as long as she wants, it is not easy to fire a Secretary, even if warranted.

[Renew Deal]

30. I think the team of rivals stuff is overplayed.

Is there anyone better suited than Hillary to be SoS? Maybe, but she's about as good as it gets. My greatest worry is Bill's interests and affiliations. It makes it look like there could be some serious conflict of interest.

[jobycom]

22. The drama will find Obama. I think he's using Clinton as a shelter from some of that.

90% of the crap surrounding Bill Clinton was and is media and Republican creation, and Obama will face the same crap. Nothing magically changed the media or the Republicans. Obama is still a Democrat, and the media is still the PR department for the Republican Party. And Obama doesn't have to give them anything to work with--they'll just make stuff up.

Obama's biggest danger concerning Clinton is perception. If people begin to perceive (with media help) Obama as relying too much on Clinton, then Obama will be undermined. He could try to ignore Clinton, but Clinton was the last Democratic president and Obama will be getting advice from former Clinton people, so the connections will be there no matter what, and the media will spin it as a party feud, and that would get in Obama's way. Plus, Clinton might try to defend himself, and the media would play that into a personal feud. That would hurt the party, too, and Obama needs all the support he can get.

The second approach to Clinton is to keep him visible. Obama can consult with him, even maybe give him and Senator Clinton a defined role in his administration, and make sure people see who is boss. I think that's what Obama is doing. Obama can even use Clinton for the politically dangerous work, so that Clinton (either one) gets blamed for the less popular decisions Obama will have to make, especially if they fail, and then Obama can publicly distance himself from them--good cop, bad cop, in other words. Through it all, Obama and the Clintons will have to make sure Obama is always seen as "in charge."

Clinton is our generation's Teddy Roosevelt. He's a larger than life ex-president still in the prime of his political vigor, and he was--even if the media denies this--the most successful president of most of our lifetimes. And when you add Senator Clinton into the mix--the wife of the former superstar president and a powerful leader in her own right, there are just no parallels in our history. The Clintons are just another of those things Obama has to deal with.

So far, he's handling it brilliantly. If he makes Clinton one of his cabinet, she becomes his employee, and he can then control her (and Bill) in ways he can't if she's senator. And he can destroy her career if she rebels. Make your competitor your servant, and you are doing well. I'd frankly be surprised if Clinton put herself in that role, but who knows? There's a lot of power in it, so maybe she would.

I still think she'd be a better Attorney General than Secretary of State, though, just because her work as a senator has been along legal enforcement and watchdog lines more than international relations. Then again, the world knows and respects the Clinton name, so she would be an asset as SoS, too. We'll just have to wait and see what Obama is up to. But you have to look carefully--nothing in politics is as it seems on the surface.

[BattyDem]

24. I honestly don't believe Bill could be that close to power and not meddle in it.

I don't really fault him for that. After all, he was the POTUS and he's used to being the guy in charge ... but I don't see how he'll be able to live under the "restrictions" of being the spouse of the SOS. There are certain rules he's going to have to follow and certain relationships and/or international dealings that he'll have to avoid. I don't see him playing it that way ... do you?


edited: typo :blush:

[Renew Deal]

29. Bill has always been Hillary's anchor

He's always causing her problems.

[No Elephants]

35. Maybe, but it's hard to know where she would have been today without Bill.

[Metric System]

36. It's also hard to know where he would be without her.

[Metric System]

34. Sadly, you love the drama, just like so many others here.

[mkultra]

37. you are really hot after the haters today huh?

something lit a fire under you.

[Metric System]

38. Just tired of thread after thread after thread on the same topic, rehashing the same things and

filled with insinuations.

[mkultra]

42. you know

Its really coming from assholes on both sides. By joining the fray, you only make more terrorists. I personally am struggling to stay out it.

[Forkboy]

41. The drama seems to be loved by a handful on both sides.

You're in far more of the Clinton threads than cali is. :shrug:

[Skittles]

40. oh gawd

[mkultra]

43. dont take the bait skittles

[vanderBeth]

44. Please, don't discuss this or anything

It wasn't hateful or disruptive. But you just choose to interrupt it with your sarcasm.

[demokatgurrl]

45. I agree. I like both Clintons, however

appointing Hillary now, and having to go through vetting of her and Bill, and finding God-knows-what, even if there is nothing fishy or illegal or shady, will be a huge distraction. Repukes will jump on it, MSM will jump on it, and it will be top-of-front page news and a drain on Obama's time, when he has much larger issues to deal with.
Appoint someone else who will garner a little less attention, and think about her in the cabinet during his SECOND TERM.