BREAKING NBC NEWS: Obama To Nominate Sen. Clinton for Secretary of State

[MadBadger]

On Mornin Shmo

[alphafemale]

1. I told friends I thought she'd be a great SOS during the Primaries.

Good choice.

[KewlKat]

2. So, what happens to her senate seat? nt

[tekisui]

6. Democratic Governor Patterson will pick a replacement.

[Bonn1997]

8. I hope it will be an African American

There's none in the Senate right now. Not one.

[tekisui]

10. Jesse Jackson, Jr. is lobbying hard for Obama's seat in Illinois.

[Bonn1997]

33. There should be more than AA in the entire US Senate anyway

JJ Jr and one in NY would be good.

[Captain Hilts]

44. And women are 52% of the population and 12% of the senate. nt

[Bonn1997]

50. And that is a shame too. nt

[Captain Hilts]

52. They both suck.

And fewer lawyers and Ivy Leaguers while we're at it!

[Captain Hilts]

46. I think he's a 'former' Marine, which is a plus. nt

[Captain Hilts]

43. RFKjr. wants his dad's seat. nt

[my3boyz]

3. I respect Obama so I will trust his judgement on this. Hope he does not end up regretting it. nt

[Submariner]

4. Umm,.......you're late...it was breaking news 3 or 4 days ago

[MadBadger]

5. That was more of speculation, Andrea Mitchell broke today that he will nominate her.

[Bonn1997]

9. It was also reported that Hillary accepted, right?

I only had it on the background but I thought they said that

[MadBadger]

12. I think it was implied when they said he is going to nominate her (that she wants it)

[SuperTrouper]

47. oh, Andrea again...

[4dsc]

7. Bad choice....

Richardson is better..

[MadBadger]

13. I agree Richardson is better, but that doesnt necessarily make it a bad choice.

[Evergreen Emerald]

29. I disagree

he has proven himself a light weight in comparison.

[Leftist Agitator]

42. An ardent Hillarite to the very end...

Congratulations on Senator Clinton being nominated for Secretary of State! She will do a wonderful job (but she's no Bill Richardson).

[Captain Hilts]

45. I supported Richardson before I switched to Clinton and I dropped him because...

he's not a good politician and he's not someone people want to be in a room with.

[cwydro]

11. Very glad about this choice.

[Captain Hilts]

48. Survey out shows 8 out of 10 Dems agree with you. Except on DU, of course. nt

[bdamomma]

14. She didn't accept it yet.

did she? I thought Richardson would have been good choice, and good for the Latinos.

raw story article

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Its_official_Clinton_to_be_named_1120.html

[DCBob]

15. She will.

According to Andrea and others this has been a "done deal" for quite some time. It was just the Bill issue that needed to be settled.

[bdamomma]

17. oh well, she would be much better in the Senate.

do you see her taking orders from Obama in Foreign policy? I don't know she likes doing her own thing.

[DCBob]

20. No doubt, it will be quite a change for her to not be "in charge" but..

I think she has come to grips with that. She knows exactly what's the situation is going to be and has discussed it thoroughly with Obama and Bill. I think it will work out fine. She is smart and competent. Obama and Hillary will work it out.

[bdamomma]

21. well one thing, I rather see the media obsessed with Hillary

than with Palin.

[DCBob]

24. Have you seen the Palin Turkey slaughter vid?

The media is now obsessed with that.

[bdamomma]

54. yes, and palin's response was No Worries.

she is not a well woman at all.

[Mass]

16. Well, they said she was expected to be nominated, which is no more

than we knew yesterday. My guess is that they want to continue making news on a non news. (I will not be surprised if she is nominated, but Andrea on the Today Show was already a little less sure. It seems more that Bill has turned all the papers. In addition, the lingering question is not whether he will offer it. At this point, my guess is that he will if she accepts. What seems clear though and that she may not want it. Why would she want it rather than a promising career in the Senate that is just starting? The real news is that the Senate is trying to bend backwards to give her a leadership role of some sorts to allow her to stay.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_11/015755.php

(excerpts from the NYTimes)

Democratic leaders in the Senate are prepared to give Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton a still-undefined leadership role there if she does not become Barack Obama's secretary of state, Democratic officials close to the situation said Thursday.

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. <...>

Senate Democrats gathered Tuesday to re-elect their leadership, including Mr. Dorgan, without offering any of the top slots to Mrs. Clinton. But Mr. Reid told those at the closed-door meeting that he was looking for a way to create a new leadership role for her, two people who were in the room said. The same day, Mr. Kennedy also chose her to head one of three health care working groups looking at legislation.

Mr. Reid wants to come up with some sort of leadership position to recognize Mrs. Clinton's standing as one of the party's most popular figures, and aides said he was confident that he could arrive at something with sufficient muscle to appeal to her.
If the leadership could give Clinton a better role in the chamber, would she be more likely to stick around? I guess we'll see soon enough.

As for her interest in joining the Obama cabinet, the New York Times quoted sources close to the senator saying she was prepared to decline the offer on Wednesday, was back on the fence by midday Thursday, and by last night, was inclined to accept the job.

"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 Times added.

[high density]

18. I guess the question is, how many times can Andrea Mitchell/NBC news "break" the same "story"

[ErinBerin84]

19. exactly.

[bdamomma]

22. the media is obsessed with this story.

[DCBob]

23. It's more than just Andrea and NBC...

WASHINGTON (AP) - President-elect Barack Obama plans to nominate Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state after Thanksgiving, a new milestone for the former first lady and a convergence of two political forces who fought hard for the presidency.

One week after the former primary rivals met secretly to discuss the idea of Clinton becoming the nation's top diplomat, an Obama adviser said Thursday that the two sides were moving quickly toward making it a reality, barring any unforeseen problems.

The senior adviser, speaking on condition of anonymity because the president-elect is not prepared to officially announce the nomination, said Obama believes Clinton would bring instant stature and credibility to U.S. diplomatic relations.

Obama is convinced the advantages of Clinton serving far outweighed potential downsides, the adviser said.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20081121/D94J7UM01.html
=======

Sounds like it's done deal to me.

[ErinBerin84]

25. I still feel like they are basically restating the same story over and over

heh, my local news just put it as "inching closer....possibly..."

[DCBob]

28. There was no "senior advisor" quoted before.

Andrea just had "sources" before - probably mid-level staffers.

[ErinBerin84]

30. sorry, same variation to me. Andrea had made her

past sources seem like top dogs too. I mean, it's probably going to happen, but I just don't see how we are breaking new ground here. I think they need to fill the news gap.

[FloridaGrl]

26. (yawn) yup

[rasputin1952]

27. Just my 2 cents...

I have no idea what the president-elect is thinking, and I don't have any say in his choices, however, i don't understand why he is taking a D Senator, a powerful one, out of the Senate. There are plenty of people who are qualified for the position, Richardson and Clark come to mind, while taking experience out of the Senate, this may not be the best of ideas.

There is no doubt, (at least in my mind), that HRC is qualified for the position. However, there is contention that comes w/this. For one thing, it has the definite appearance of "pandering"; another, as stated above, is that the Senate loses an individual that has political power, is on several powerful committees and can get things done in said body. The biggest problem I see is that HRC would come into the position w/more baggage than was seen at Ellis Island during the time it was open.

As for HRC, I wonder what she is thinking? She loses a 6 year at a time job w/wonderful perks and prestige, and takes a job that is tenuous at best...after all, one mess-up, and she is unemployed...:shrug:

We shall see where this goes, but I for one, think this is a relatively poor choice, after all things are considered. When one adds to the equation the usual "items", she is a woman, she's married to a former president, etc, that people bring up and weigh in on...I just think she's better off in the Senate. We should never lose sight of the fact that we are going to NEED a strong Congress, one that will change things and get us back on track...stripping the Senate or the House of good D's is not the way to get to the point where we are laying the road to change.

Just my ideas, an opinion that is worth talking about, just like everyone else's. I just don't get all worked up about things like, the "SoS is a woman", "Obama is the first black president", "Richardson is Hispanic", "Clark is military"...all of that is peripheral and has no bearing on anything of great importance. What we need are intelligent and capable individuals, ones that can act in the best interest of the nation...we should not worry about peripherals.

:patriot:

[DCBob]

31. You make some good points but there are also good points that suggest this is a good choice:

-- She has "star power" and is well known and well respected around the world.
-- She knows the issues, is a tireless worker and could deliver on some key issues.
-- It solidifies the party and defuses a potential challenge from a strong rival.
-- She is a woman and Barack needs a few good women in his cabinet.
-- Bill on her left arm will be a benefit.

She's not perfect but I do believe she will be successful.

[rasputin1952]

38. "star power" is a peripheral, it can be lost far easier han gained...

being female is a peripheral, it makes no difference in the big picture.

I think it will actually divide the party, but that is only a personal opinion/observation.

BC actually has more baggage that HRC. It could easily be overlooked, but it will be pounded home by the RW for the entire term, win/lose/draw. Since he knows many leaders, he could be a phenomenal addition to the equation, or a complete disaster.

She most certainly knows the issues, is a tireless worker and can deliver on key issues...and hat is what counts. In the same case, that is why I'd like to her remain in the Senate.

The bottom line, will the president-elect ask me about this...no; so I have little alternative than to trust, (and hope), he's made the right decisions.

:hi:

[ErinBerin84]

32. that's pretty much how I feel too.

Though of course if it happens, I hope it works out for everyone.

[loudsue]

I don't know that congress needs to move in the DLC direction

which is the Clinton's baby. Maybe a DLC senator is best making nice with our foreign neighbors.

[Erin Elizabeth]

39. I agree with everything you wrote.

I wonder what he's thinking (if this is true).

And I REALLY wonder what she's thinking (if she's been offered it and takes it). Seems like it wouldn't be such a good deal for her. My husband, not a Hillary fan, is cackling at the thought of having her as SoS, because you serve at the president's pleasure.

[Barack_America]

53. My opinion....

...on his reasoning.

1. Get an adversary and competition out of the Senate and put a gag on her regarding all domestic issues.

2. Give the appearance of being conciliatory, which makes for an interesting story about his Presidency (i.e. Team of Rivals: The Sequel)

This sounds cynical, but I that's just what I think the pick was, unfortunately.

[cal04]

34. Obama plans to name Clinton to state shortly after Thanksgiving

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15843.html

President-elect Barack Obama is "on track" to name Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) as his secretary of state shortly after Thanksgiving, two senior Obama aides said.

Financial disclosure issues have been worked out, aides said.

The officials said they expect her to accept. Clinton aides had no comment.

The choice unites the two rivals in the most protracted presidential primary in American history, giving Obama the Team of Rivals Cabinet he had promised.


Obama aides say Clinton 'on track' for secretary of state job
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/21/obama-aides-say-clinton-on-track-for-secretary-of-state-job/

[TwilightGardener]

35. Dumb. Very disappointed.

[BREMPRO]

36. Obama nominates a revival drama...

I'm not happy with this choice, but I do believe they can make it work. They seem to have come to a good understanding and personal rapport, and actually share many of the same goals on FP. I question whether she and bill can stay on the reservation without freelancing. We'll see...

[Triana]

37. So she snubs Teddy Kennedy re: heading up the new healthcare bill?

That's sort of sad.

[WI_DEM]

40. No, Ted Kennedy knew she was under consideration for Secretary of State

and he will support her for that position. If she decided to stay in the senate then she would head up health care.

[apnu]

49. Right, Teddy was offering her a backup job. Very good of him. (nt)

[WI_DEM]

41. I'm very pleased by the choice. I think she will do a fine job.

[SoonerPride]

51. That was "drama?"

A few days of speculation and talking heads worrying?

That was drama?

Really?

pfffft.