Twenty-One

[H2O Man]

"Every protest, every dissent, whether it’s an individual academic paper, or a Founder’s parking lot demonstration, is unabashedly an attempt to forge an identity in this particular age. That attempt at forging for many of us over the past four years has meant coming to terms with our humanness. Within the context of a society that we perceive – now, we can talk about reality, and I would like to talk about reality sometime, authentic reality, inauthentic reality, and what we have to accept of what we see – but our perception of it is that it hovers often between the possibility of disaster and the potential for imaginatively responding to men’s needs. …

"But we also know that to be educated, the goal of it must be human liberation, a liberation enabling each of us to fulfill our capacity so as to be free to create within and around ourselves. To be educated to freedom must be evidenced in action, and here again is where we ask ourselves, as we have asked our parents and our teachers, questions about integrity, trust, and respect. Those three words mean different things to all of us. Some of the things they can mean, for instance: integrity – the courage to be whole, to try to mold an entire person in this particular context living in relation to one another in the full poetry of existence. …..

"Trust. This is the one word that when I asked the class at our rehearsal what it was they wanted me to say for them …..What can you say about it? What can you say about a feeling that permeates a generation and that perhaps is not even understood by those who are distrusted? All they can do is keep trying again and again and again….to win again what we’ve lost before.

"And then respect. There’s that mutuality of respect between people where you don’t see people as percentage points, where you don’t manipulate people, where you’re not interested in social engineering for people. The struggle for an integrated life existing in an atmosphere of communal trust and respect is one with desperately important political and social consequences. And the word ‘consequences’ of course catapults us into the future. …."
--Hillary Diane Rodham; Wellesley Graduation Commencement Speech

When Senator Hillary Clinton was a 21-year old, preparing to deliver the commencement speech at her graduation ceremony, she was proceeded by US Senator Edward William Brooke III. The Massachusetts republican used his speech to attack college students who were engaged in protests across the country. Brooke not only discredited the student protesters’ tactics as "primitive breast-beating," but said they were "merely exploiting issues for the sake of some ulterior motive." Senator Clinton began her speech as it was prepared, but then began to speak off-the-cuff, in a poignant response to Senator Brooke.

In 2000 and again in 2006, I actively supported Hillary Clinton’s campaigns for the US Senate seat from my state – the same seat that was held by Robert F. Kennedy. In those years, I had the opportunity to meet her twice, and found her to be more impressive in person, in an informal setting, than on television.

However, during the 2008 democratic primary, I had concerns about the influence of people closely associated with her campaign. I expressed my concerns then, and am not looking to rehash the divisive primary contest again. Yet I recognize that Senator Clinton represents a significant number of democrats, including some of my closest friends.

Yesterday, I spoke with one of those friends in the early evening hours. Although she had hoped that Obama would pick Hillary Clinton as his VP, she fully supported the eventual democratic ticket. She and her husband had been at my house on election night, and had celebrated Barack Obama and Joseph Biden’s victory.

She asked me if I thought that Senator Clinton would accept the offer to become the next Secretary of State? I said that she already had, and that this would be announced publicly soon. This morning, my wife said that she was looking forward to talking to our friend at work, to hear her reaction to the news that Senator Clinton has indeed accepted the position.

As with anything and everything that President-elect Obama decides upon, there are both good and bad potentials with the selection of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. DUers have, in recent times, identified many of both the good and bad potentials with this choice. I’m confident that most of us are able to recognize that it isn’t a black-and-white issue.

While I believe that there were several other equally qualified choices, I respect that Barack Obama picked Hillary Clinton, and that she has accepted. It was an important decision on both of their parts. I suspect that Senator Clinton put a lot of thought into her decision-making process, and that this included reviewing what her goals have been since she was that young college graduate. And I hope that at some point, when she was alone and engaged in this self-examination, she remembered her commencement address at Wellesley.

[trumad]

1. Excellent post as usual....

Hill's nomination will be well received throughout the world. And God Damn we need some love from the folks abroad.

[H2O Man]

2. Thank you.

The nature of the problems that we are confronted with demand a united front, in my humble opinion. And I agree that Hillary Clinton's nomination will be very well received throughout the world.

[cali]

3. wonderful post.

I agree, particularly, that there will be good aspects and potential bad aspects to virtually every decision, and certainly every appointment, that President Obama makes.

[H2O Man]

4. There are not

perfect options in an imperfect world. But all things considered, I am convinced that the Obama administration will offer our nation the best option for the future.

[Me.]

5. This Morning Jonathan Capehart Reported

That:

1. Andrea Mitchell had been told to keep her powder dry as there wasn't nearly as much tension between the Obama and Clinton camps as has been reported

2. Part of the delay has been due to the fact that he wanted to be sure she would be following his agenda and not one of her own

[H2O Man]

7. There was a report

this morning that suggested that one person had been spreading misinformation, apparently hoping to derail the appointment of Senator Clinton as Secretary of State. I would think that this individual had to be from a fairly high level, although this is speculation on my part. The report said that both Obama and Clinton were interested in identifying who this person was, and that this was in large part the reason that there was the delay in confirming the appointment publicly. Although the report did not give a name, it indicated that Obama and Clinton had determined who it was.

[Me.]

9. Rut-Roh

Wouldn't want to be them. Any hints as to whether it was a Con or a dem?

[regnaD kciN]

27. Michelle...???

:evilgrin:

(I just remember reports that she was pretty adamant about HRC not being on the ticket. Not saying that has anything to do with this.)

[rvablue]

13. I find what you wrote interesting...mind providing a link or at least a recap

of where you might have heard, seen or read this this morning....thanks.

[H2O Man]

14. MSNBC.

I do not have a link, but it was reported on the morning news.

[happychatter]

6. If national security is at stake, perhaps the yellow press will get off her ass and let her work

just a thought

[H2O Man]

8. That would be nice.

It won't happen, of course, because there are forces who do not want either Obama or Clinton to succeed.

[SeaLyons]

10. Great Post....

Hillary will be a GREAT SOS. I have no doubt. Obama has truly impressed me with this appointment. Imagine....Obama, Biden, Clinton. I feel in very good hands.

[H2O Man]

17. It seems to me

that Hillary Clinton is likely to use all of her talent in a very positive way. And, exactly as you say, things will be along with both President Obama and VP Biden. It seems possible that we are going to have the single most talented administration in recent history. And, truth be told, we will need it, as well as an active, motivated, and effective grass roots.

[mzmolly]

11. Bravo

to you once again for a wonderful, thought provoking post H20 Man. :toast:

[H2O Man]

18. Thank you.

I am aware the the best part of the OP is the quote from a 21-year old graduate. And I think that part of it is indeed wonderful and thought provoking. It also captures the potential that I believe Hillary Clinton is capable of offering not only this country, but a world that is in need of those things she articulated all those years ago. I think it shows a side of her that is important for those DUers who are expressing some doubts about her as Secretary of State to consider .... and I say that as a person who fully appreciates some of the questions that people have raised on this forum.

[grantcart]

12. Ironically the same liabilities that undermined her Presidential campaign will make her a great SOS

Her campaign was doomed because it was perceived that her posturing for the IWR was politically motivated. This unbridled ambition was confirmed in the primary run where even when it became mathematically impossible to win she still got up at 4:00 in the morning and pushed on without respite to advance her cause.

She doesn't know the meaning of 'no'.

She now has the opportunity to achieve as Secretary of State with President Obama accomplishments that will also be marked for history. Coming in juxtaposition to the Bush years there will be a new kind of 'honeymoon' for the new administration and Obama will know how to exploit it, he already has begun.

Secretary of State Clinton will devour the minutae of policy. She will inspire a demoralized bureacracy. She will energize diplomats who, like the rest of us, have been treading water and now want to re-engage the world. She has a great opportunity to become the greatest Secretary of State in US history.

President Obama will engage not just world leaders but the citizens that they represent. Secretary of State Clinton will leaverage that advancing the interests of the United States. Reestablishing American leadership in security through multilateralism, human rights, development and climate change.

President Obama has already tipped his hand - he is thinking big and isn't wasting time going after the prime issues.

When people in the Middle East tell Secretary of State Clinton "no" that this cannot be done or that won't work. They are going to have to find another word because she doesn't understand the meaning of no.

Nominated.

[H2O Man]

20. Well said.

You are right on target.

Even in the best of times, I frequently think that the role of the President tends to require more than one strong leader. We do not live in the same world that our grandparents did. I think that we are seeing a strong team, with a number of natural leaders, who have the potential to coordinate efforts under the leadership of the person with the most outstanding vision, Barack Obama.

I've had thoughts about the potential difficulties that could come into play, with so many strong personalities in high positions in the Obama administration. But one thing that stood out for me in the primary debates between Obama and Clinton, was when Senator Clinton said that she felt honored to be there with Barack. I felt that she was being fully honest in saying that. It was distinct, in my opinion, from parts of her campaign which resulted in other people's influence.

And I agree fully that her determination, and unwillingness to accept "no," is a most important factor. Not only that, but I am convinced that "yes" is far more positive, and holds superior potential, to "no."

[Tatiana]

25. I really like your train of thought and I think you're absolutely right.

Her determination and passion are two traits that will serve her (and the U.S. by extension) well as SoS.

[Cha]

26. Thank you, grant..this

is what I'm hoping for.

[hootinholler]

15. Most importantly, this is not a consolation prize!

But rather, a real position offered to one whom Mr. President Elect considers to suit his goals.

-Hoot

[trumad]

16. kick

[H2O Man]

21. Exactly.

President-elect Obama picked Senator Clinton based upon what he determined to be the best of reasons, not due to anything less. While there were at least two other possible choices that I felt offered very real strengths, I respect Obama's choice in the matter.

[joshcryer]

19. Excellent post, difficult to find in the cruft that is DU:P. Thanks for it.

[H2O Man]

22. Thank you.

I think that the damage that the Bush-Cheney administration has done in the past eight years has had a very negative impact on how people view things. And that is evident by some of the posts that even good-hearted, intelligent people have contributed recently. It is a strange time on this forum.

[bigtree]

23. love that address

thanks for posting, H2O Man

[ismnotwasm]

24. I think she'll do fine

I have an alternate political mental universe I sometimes dwell in, a utopian, quasi-socialist, anarchy (don't ask)with peace, love and understanding everywhere, even distribution of wealth, and communities that care about one another and can call on other communities in times of need. Health care is available, education is available, art and craft-work are appreciated, we see ourselves as part of, instead of separate from our environment. We would no more poison the environment that we would poison ourselves. Instead of trying to be colorblind, we see beauty and value in diversity, instead of gender inequities we value the several genders that try to express themselves equally and value the beauty in that as well.

That kind of shit.

So here in the real world, I thought either Obama or Clinton would have been fine for president. I'm content enough with Senator Clinton as Secretary of State. We work with the system we have and the people who are in it. None are perfect, our system isn't perfect. We will, hopefully work to try and improve it a bit.

President-elect Obama represents a huge possibility or change. Even football, I heard the usual commentators talking about the lack of Black head coaches, with statistics. Indignant about it. It was cool. I hope to see more indignation about other issues, other social injustices. I do have hope.

[Cha]

28. Thanks for this thread

H2O Man. I only want the best for the Obama Biden leadership and since this is happening with Hillary as SOS .. I want to give positive energy to it.

This is a whole new setting than the primaries she'd been running in for 8 years and I'm thinking with a boss like Obama it will be a whole new ballgame. Whereas grantcart posted...her assets will be put to excellent use.

[Waiting For Everyman]

29. We shouldn't lose the ability to let people surprise us for the better.

I'm not a fan of HRC's, but I'm not expecting bad things from her. If she pulls some horrendous sellout, I don't think I'll have trouble recognizing that if/when it comes, and objecting accordingly. But I'm not going to assume that in advance, regardless of the past. I fully hope to be just as impressed by what she does next, as I was by Obama. Why is that impossible?

I think a lot of people are basically suspicious, and basically unable to trust their SO's, and project that onto politics. (That can be seen on any side of an issue.) And I've found that basic suspicion usually comes from having the same questionable integrity they suspect of others. Sometimes not, sometimes it comes from an abuse experience in the past, but everyone has bad things to get over. The point is, to do that, and not project the past onto the future.

Give people a chance to fail. Then, berate them. It's impossible to prove a negative - that they won't disappoint us - so it's a self-fulfilling prophecy, a trap of our own making, which doesn't make us any wiser but only bitter and unable to appreciate the good that does happen sometimes - if we allow it to.

(On the other hand, there are just some plain-old snakes in the grass, like the determined Corporatists. They're never going to do anything but what they do. But they're fairly easy to spot, after just a little watching. I don't see HRC in that class - yet.)