Who thinks Obama started the Hillary rumors? Who thinks otherwise?

[PretzelWarrior]

This whole thing is just so one-sided. Many former Clinton staff have worked for Obama during general election. So someone who is ACTUALLY an Obama person speaking on condition of anonymity could be a Hillary insider.

I am hearing nothing officially from Obama team. I think if he came out and said all this speculation was driven by people outside the core group, people would believe them. They would still be free to name whoever they want if they indeed don't want Hillary.

Or, they could float it....get people understanding her name was in the hat, and then act as though the questions surrounding Bill were just too great and they had to pass on her.

I can't wait til all of this is settled. Looking forward to it.

[NYC_SKP]

1. I want a drama-free Secretary of State.

This shit is too serious for drama and self-serving power grabbers.

Like law enforcement officers, sometimes the people who want most to be one are least well-suited to the role.

[Dragonfli]

4. I Think she is quite capable, but far too hawkish for that role

She has a great deal to offer the Party as well as this administration, I just don't see how she can possibly represent a president in that capacity that ran on a pro peace and diplomacy platform. I am not claiming that Obama is a pacifist - he clearly outlined his position on going after those that have actually attacked us - he has also been clear about retaliating against a future attack. Nor has he ever ruled out war as a LAST option - reasonable positions IMO.

The Differences I see in HC, being human, she is capable of greatness in some areas, yet flawed in others, In foreign relations I see her at odds with his positions, she has supported the concept of pre-emptive war with Iraq and could be read as feeling the same way about Iran. That is hardly someone I would like representing us on the Diplomacy front where the difference between war as a first rather than last resort could hinge on reputation, type of approach and one's known support of pre-emptive strikes.

I do not know who started the "trial balloons" but the leak seems out of character for Obama after the way his campaign was run, so I deduced the probability was higher that it came from the Clinton Camp. I expect to be flamed for this as I also expect to be flamed in other threads because I believe accountability is important enough that Lieberman should be held accountable for his betrayals as well as his job performance concerning a position he held charged with presidential oversite that he refused to use to produce a single subpoena against the most corrupt administration ever to take office.

[Voice for Peace]

8. I don't think she's that hawkish. I think it was unfortunate political posturing

[Dragonfli]

13. I have considered that ...Knowing that "The Guys"

especially on the right, may "imply" that a woman would be incapable of being tough, she may have simply had to posture thus in order to be taken seriously due to some male prejudice. Unfortunately, from her votes and some of her rhetorical posturing it is near impossible to tell for sure, I feel I have to take her at her votes as that is what affects the legislation, so I came to a different final conclusion that you have. But yes, I certainly can see your point of view and concede I may be mistaken. The problem I see is partly based on reputation earned fairly, or even unfairly based on such things. In other countries such perceptions may even be extremely unfair based on the same info from "outside". You see the potential problem do you not?

[Voice for Peace]

21. not only due to male prejudice, but due to the extreme hate of the Clintons

that she had to overcome when she went into the Senate. I never was a fan of Hillary but I like her better since she started backing Obama. I was very disappointed in what I saw was political ambition overshadowing her good judgement. I'd rather she stayed in the Senate though.

[snake in the grass]

12. Give it a rest already!

The only drama that came out of the Clinton administration was that caused by the Republicans pointing their sanctimonious fingers at shit, the media which spread that shit around, and the dumbed-down, infantile populace (unfortunately not restricted to the Republican side), with its prurient interest in other people's PRIVATE lives, that eagerly wolfed that shit down like it was Beluga caviar. Imagine if, in another time, the Republicans and the media would have went after JFK with such a vengeance. Would we now be pissing and moaning about the "drama" of the skirt-chasing JFK administration?

And in case you didn't notice, Obama wanted it too. Does that make him somehow tainted? Fuck, some people really need to grow up!

[Metric System]

2. Who's leaking Holder, Daschle, Napolitano and Pritzker?

[PretzelWarrior]

3. good question. those seem to be greeted with unanimity

of thought. Only the Clinton one is being greeted by a lot of conjecture. I wonder why?

[Sebastian Doyle]

11. I haven't seen unanimous responses to any of the cabinet choices (real or projected) yet.

The commerce secretary probably gets the least attention because she's not well known. Napalitano' probably more of an issue because of what would happen to Arizona without her, than her impact on the Obamadministration itself. And there was a HUGE discussion of Eric Holder yesterday. Rahm Emanuel when he was chosen as well.

I suppose all potential cabinet members are going to be discussed if they're at all known, or greeted with a "who the Hell is that?" if they aren't. So it's definitely no case of Hillary being the only one under scrutiny.

[Beacool]

5. I'm not playing this game anymore.

I'm sick and tired of the constant Clinton bashing on this board. They bash two of our best party leaders more than they bash the Republicans.

Screw it all, play your inane petty games. Personally, I hope that she stays away from his cabinet. She has more control of her destiny in the senate.

:thumbsdown:

[elkston]

6. Clinton wants to serve the public.

She may be more of a team player than you realize. You want her to become President for your own selfish glory. Let Hillary do what she wants.

[Beacool]

24. My own selfish glory?

What the hell is that supposed to mean? I want Hillary to do what she thinks is best for her, just like any other person who is offered a job. She has to mull it over and then make her decision. What's the big deal about that?

[Sebastian Doyle]

9. Seriously, even Clinton fans like yourself have to admit

They are the greatest self-promoters in recent political history. Of course they're the ones who stirred this up, and the mediawhores love the resulting soap opera that comes whenever they're involved.

Now whether you consider that a good thing or a bad thing is up to you. But it's a fact in either case.

[Metric System]

7. The third option is silly. So of course it's getting the most votes. Why is Hillary and Bill being

vetted by the Obama transition team? Sure the media made a big deal about whether Obama would pick her for VP, but we all know now there was never any vetting done. However, we do know there is vetting being done now. Of course that doesn't mean she'll be SOS, but there's more to this rumor than all that VP speculation. The theory that Hillary is trying to force her way into the cabinet is delusional. Are they vetting her for fun?

[emilyg]

10. Your third option stinks.

[lamp_shade]

14. There were no leaks from either camp. The media decides who they consider

a "reliable source" and, God knows, that could be anybody from a groundskeeper to a next door neighbor.

[TexasObserver]

15. The logical conclusion: Obama and Hillary are employing an agreed upon strategy.

Obama has shown in the past that he likes to have public vetting in media of top questions. His choice of VP showed that.

Hillary wants to have an OUT, in case the process of clearing Bill's activities becomes too big a problem. She wants to be able to say she was offered the position, but decided to decline it for her own reasons, such as staying in the senate. Obama wants to be able to make sure Bill's activities will be sufficiently disclosed and vetted by media before Hillary accepts the position.

I think Obama, Hillary, and Bill are all on the same page.

[DeschutesRiver]

16. There is no drama around the other potentials, Richardson, Kerry, etc

only around Hillary. She is not the only candidate under consideration. Obama doesn't have to create any drama over his selection; no advantage or disadvantage to doing so. He hasn't done it with any other appointment yet.

This isn't coming from Hillary - I can't imagine her being a SOS, and I don't think she had any real interest in doing so either. It just isn't her bag.

Nope, this is coming from the big dog, Bill Clinton. It is Bill who wants back in, in any capacity he can find via using his wife. This feels like the VP deal all over again and based on that, we won't be seeing her as SOS either.

[From The Left]

17. Patterson Will Replace Her with NY AG Andrew Cuomo

Cuomo is so superior. He's a real liberal and not a DINO Dem like Hillary.

[Sensitivity]

18. IMHO its is all about keeping control of policy. The Clintonites dominate the transition and they

need Hillary in the key Cabinet position in order to make control of central appartus of government by their team more effective. Kerry in SoS would throw a wrench in all the plans to establish an effective adminstrative apparatus for Obama since he would be bringing many of his own people in -- who are not aligned with the Clinton team.

[brianna69]

19. I initally liked HRC for SOS

but there is way too much drama going on now over this. Maybe they need to cut their losses here, have Hillary remain in the Senate and pick someone else for SOS. It doesn't seem a move can be made with the Clintons without high drama. I love them but enough is enough. I have drama fatigue - we don't need it right now.

[bunnies]

20. Doesnt matter. Dont care. Carry on. nt

[AtomicKitten]

22. "Obama officials feel boxed in by Clinton team leaks."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/13/hillary-clinton-secretary_n_143735.html

Update 11/20: The New York Times reports that suspected leaks from the Clinton team are angering Obama aides and may threaten Hillary Clinton's position.

Both sides were engaged in a delicate public and private dance, maneuvering for position and reputation in case the deal falls through. Aides in each camp have grown increasingly sour toward the other in recent days as the matter played out publicly.

In their public signals, the Clintons are trying to take the former president's activities off the table as an issue, in their view eliminating any excuses for Mr. Obama not to give Mrs. Clinton the job. Some in the Obama camp are bristling at what they see as strategic leaks by the Clintons aimed at boxing in the president-elect and forcing him to offer the post.

The tension could foreshadow a complex relationship burdened by suspicion and enmity should Mrs. Clinton become secretary of state. By putting her in the cabinet, Mr. Obama could remove a potential thorn in the Senate on issues like health care and a potential rival for the nomination in 2012 if his term proves rocky. But he could also face a rival power center within his own administration with her on his team.

[PretzelWarrior]

23. they need to kill this deal NOW

I don't like the smell of it one bit. What really is to be gained?

[AtomicKitten]

28. it has devolved into Kabuki Theater just like it did during the VP search

DU archives are replete with examples of Clintonites actually suggesting with a straight face no less that Hillary can and should take the VP slot at the convention vis a vis a coup. It's the by any means necessary mindset that finds this chaos not only acceptable but applause-worthy.

[Marrah_G]

25. I just don't care.

Besides, everyone knows it's the fault of the mighty Clenis.

[cherokeeprogressive]

26. Your poll is invalid without a "Who the Hell Cares" option. n/t

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

27. You left off the possibility of Hillary haters close to Obama

The back and forth is probably between Hillary loyalists and Obama people who hate Hillary.

Hillary and Barack are probably the only people who aren't leaking.

[Phx_Dem]

29. Self-delete