Interesting 2008 article about Hillary being considered for Secretary of State

[snagglepuss]

It looks at the appointment from both sides. When discussing whether Hillary would accept the appointment and why it would be in her interest the following comment particularly struck -

"Being in Foggy Bottom would spare Clinton four (or eight) years of politically sensitive votes. And both the glamour and the gravitas factors would be greater, a rare combination."


That her being SoS would spare her having to pin her self down on sensitive issues is an angle I've never heard but one that speaks volumes.






http://nymag.com/news/politics/powergrid/52428/index1.html

[jillan]

1. How did that work out for her? Maybe she should have gone back to the senate.

[snagglepuss]

3. Being SoS allowed her to strut as a chickenhawk. Do her fans hold Libya against her?

[forest444]

2. Looked at from that purely self-serving angle (as is her style), she should have asked to be VP.

All (or most) of the glamour of the Secretary of State post - but with almost none of the risks.

Plus, it would have made her the natural nominee to succeed Obama (which she certainly isn't now, as much as she likes to parade herself like she is).

My guess is that she didn't because she was convinced Obama would stumble under the weight of the Bush crisis, and lose re-election in 2012.

[jillan]

4. They wanted Biden. Michelle wanted Biden too. But Obama gave Biden the choice of VP or SoS.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/19/biden-had-a-choice-betwee_n_159159.html

Posted the link for those that don't remember this story - or never knew the story.

He chose VP to be closer to his family.

[forest444]

5. Excellent insight. Thank you.

My impression at the time was that Bubba practically put laid down the law to Obama after Hillary conceded in June, and insisted that the Missus get anything she wanted or there'd be no help from him in the general.

As fate would have it, Obama didn't need anybody's help winning in '08 - what with the financial and economic calamity that erupted that Fall. But of course, when those negotiations took place in June, very few people thought that by September we'd be staring down the abyss.

What a difference a day makes.

[HoosierRadical]

6. I always thought President Obama offered SoS

to her to get her out of the senate where she could be nothing but trouble.