Regarding Sen. Clinton's future . . .

[saltpoint]

She is by most counts under very serious consideration for the Sec. of State job, and she may take it.

Or not.

I wonder if she would prefer to let Richardson or Kerry or Holbrooke etc get that role and for herself, challenge Gov. Paterson for the Democratic nomination to run for Governor of New York State.

It looks as if Paterson is interested in keeping his current job, but I think Sen. Clinton would mount a very sturdy challenge. I think it would be a knock-down, drag-out fight but I feel that she would prevail.

[babylonsister]

1. I wish she'd let everyone know her decision. Either way,

I'm thinking this drama isn't helping, at least it's not helping my patience.

Senator Clinton will land on her feet no matter what. She's a great politician and deserves what she wants. We deserve to know what she wants. Please?

[saltpoint]

2. Hi, babylonsister.

Yes. I agree -- it would be good to know whether she wants the job at State or not.

I have no idea what the holdup is. It's a juicy offer. It seems untoward to drag it out so long.

I think she is more a governor than a senator, if she decides she doesn't want State.

This is going to get interesting.


:hi:

[babylonsister]

7. Hi, Old Crusoe!

:hi: Too much drama for me. I hope if she's selected this isn't a portent of things to come.

[saltpoint]

8. The governor's job is very suited to her, I think.

I think the success quotient in either role is dependent on other forces -- the economy in a State position and global strife of various kinds for the State job -- but I think she is suited best to the Governor's race.

Imagine a Clinton/Giuliani rematch for the NYState gubernatorial contest.

[No Elephants]

26. It's hard to battle a blind guy. Heck, once upon a time, it was thought dirty pool to hit anyone

who even wore glasses.

[saltpoint]

27. She runs some degree of risk either way. The world stage right now

is not a U.S.-friendly place and back home in New York, the ongoing economic bad news should give politicians at all levels serious pause.

[grantcart]

5. I think they are just going through all of the vetting material

[babylonsister]

6. Then why the drama? Leaks? That is what's been annoying. nt

[grantcart]

11. I think that the initial leak was done on purpose to spare Kerry and others

the embarassment of having to answer questions about being considered on a daily basis.

After that Hillary's people have leaked that she is conflicted about it because they want to leave a face saving out in case the vetting doesn't pan out.

I think that Obama is OK with the leaks because they are going through a serious vetting and if something comes up that is too hot to offer Clinton the position then the reason will be established that Hillary didn't want to give up her Senate seat and they have another job for her in the Senate.

[wisteria]

16. How thoughtful, so they just could consider him a loser.

I think it was done but the Clinton's on purpose to elevate Hillary.

[grantcart]

23. The sources for the leak were identified as Senior Democratic sources

and not Obama/Clinton aids. Could have been any senior Senator or Dean. Almost certainly was done either by Kerry or with his knowledge so the constant speculation and press enquiries would cease.

[liberalpragmatist]

3. No way Hillary's going to try and primary one of the nation's only black governors

... especially after 2008.

Besides, Paterson's fairly popular. She'll either stay in the Senate or she'll be SoS, though I could see her as Defense Secretary after Gates leaves in the event that she doesn't become SoS.

[saltpoint]

4. I agree that it would be a bitter battle, unless of course

President Obama taps Paterson for a Cabinet post.

That would clear a path for a Clinton gubernatorial run.

[AtomicKitten]

9. I admit she's on my last nerve airing this in public.

Let me just say I think an end to the speculation can't come a moment too soon. That would be best for all concerned.

[saltpoint]

10. Yep. A clean wrap-up one way or the other would be a plus.

:hi:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

24. Except SHE isn't the one "airing" anything

[ruggerson]

12. She's tight with Patterson

I don't think she'd challenge him.

[saltpoint]

20. Hi, ruggerson. Ok. I didn't know how it was with the two of them.

[kennetha]

13. Chill

This is a complicated thing.

Wonder why he'd want her as SOS, but didn't want her as VP. SOS is usually more visible than VP (except in Shrub's admin, where the VP was more powerful than even the Resident, it sometimes seemed.)

[DFLforever]

14. The SOS serves at the pleasure of the President.

He can fire the SOS if necessary. He can't fire the VP.

Maybe that's part of the answer.

[Mojorabbit]

17. I don't think he could fire her

politically. It would have to be a really over the top incident for that to happen and it would do a lot of damage to the party.

[DFLforever]

19. She wouldn't be fired. She'd resign to 'spend more time

with her family.'

Cabinet officials who don't cooperate with the President don't stay in their positions long.

[saltpoint]

21. No barking dogs are here kenneled.

The long drawn-out speculation is odd and a little annoying. If she takes the job the complex world awaits her fair attention.

If she doesn't take it for whatever reason, I think she'd be better suited for the governor's job than the one she holds now.

[wisteria]

15. I would prefer her in any position but SOS. But she will take this and she will be SOS. n/t

[Ragheed]

18. The leaks might also be intended to pre-empt

Republican attacks against her nomination. By showing there was an involved vetting process and major news outlets talking about Bill disclosing the names of the big Foundation donors, the drama that would ensue once her nomination is official is reduced.

[saltpoint]

22. I hadn't considered it from that angle. And by the way,

welcome to DU.

[No Elephants]

25. I have to believe that Obama made this deal with her before the

Convention.

[MBS]

28. good analysis of this in this morning's NYT

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/21/us/politics/21obama.html

. . talks about her frustration in the Senate

The discussions about an enhanced position for Mrs. Clinton are factoring into her deliberations over joining the cabinet, the officials said. Mrs. Clinton, the junior senator from New York, is wrestling with whether to abandon her independence to become the nation’s top diplomat or remain in a chamber where lack of seniority limits her influence.

Mrs. Clinton asked to join the Senate Democratic leadership after the Nov. 4 election, and party leaders began trying to figure out a way to accommodate her without dislodging any of the current leaders, Democratic officials said. The conversations, they added, preceded Mr. Obama’s approach to her about becoming secretary of state and are on the table if she turns the job down.

Although advisers to Mr. Obama have said he has not made a formal offer, most Democrats believe the decision is hers to make, and friends said Thursday that she was wavering.

One friend said Mrs. Clinton decided late Wednesday to say no, reasoning that she would have more freedom in the Senate. By midday Thursday, the friend said, she was “back in the indecisive column again.” By the end of the day, another associate said she could accept by Friday.

At the end of a confused day in which even Mr. Obama’s advisers seemed unsure what was happening, a transition official reached out to reporters Thursday night to say that the president-elect’s team believed things were on track with Mrs. Clinton and that her nomination could be announced after Thanksgiving.

The decision could affect the composition of Mr. Obama’s overall national security team as he tries to balance personalities and experience. The formation of that team appeared fluid Thursday. A senior Democratic adviser said Mr. Obama had talked with a retired Marine general, James L. Jones, former commander of NATO military forces, about serving as secretary of state or national security adviser.

The uncertainty, a week after Mr. Obama met with Mrs. Clinton in Chicago to discuss the idea of her leading the State Department, kept Washington spinning in feverish speculation about whether the two former rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination would team up. Mrs. Clinton was keeping counsel only with a tight circle of confidants, leaving even prominent veterans of the Clinton political operation guessing as to her intentions.

But driving her consideration, friends said, is a sense of disenchantment with the Senate, where despite her stature she remains low in the ranks of seniority that governs the body. She was particularly upset, they said, at the reception she felt she received when she returned from the campaign after collecting 18 million votes and almost becoming the first woman nominated for president by a major party.

“Her experience in the Senate with some of her colleagues has not been the easiest time for her,” said one longtime friend who insisted on anonymity in exchange for sharing Mrs. Clinton’s sentiments. “She’s still a very junior senator. She doesn’t have a committee. And she’s had some disappointing times with her colleagues.”

More at the link. Actual good reporting, offering detailed background info I haven't seen elsewhere.

[saltpoint]

29. Thank you for the link from the TIMES. I hadn't seen it yet, but the

paragraphs you highlight speak to her circumstances.

I could see her asking President-Elect Obama to arrange an appointment in his new administration for Gov. Paterson so she could have a much clearer path to the Democratic gubernatorial nomination from New York.

HClinton is not my first choice if she takes the SOS position, but I will honor Obama's judgment, as it has been awfully good to date.