Barack is showing guts with Hillary as SOS

[Truth Teller]

I wondered aloud in this forum why Barack would take a chance on the "baggage" Hillary carried when there are a number of people as qualified, or, arguably, more qualified, for SOS.

To suggest he did it to prevent a Hillary 2012 challenge is an insult to both of them. Would Barack fill such a vital position with a poorly qualified person to advance his long term political prospects? Would Hillary accept if she actually was planning a 2012 challenge? The answer to both is a clear "no".

After some more thought, I think he is showing some guts and confidence in himself and Hillary. That "baggage" she carries includes huge popularity and goodwill throughout the world that another SOS would not bring. It brings a level of credibility both here and abroad the other potential candidates could not match.

This is a bold stroke, something of a gamble. But the advantages and upside are great. i say we see how it plays out - the rewards could be great.

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. Seems to be playing it safe by picking powerful people who can

start out at full speed.

[napoleon_in_rags]

10. That's kind of how I see it...He's gotta clean up a big mess.

His first step should be just gather together people who don't suck, as many as he can get. Get things rolling. Then try to advance his more specific agenda in term 2.

[aquart]

2. Could you be more condescending?

Thanks so much for being willing to wait and see.

[Truth Teller]

5. Seeing how it plays out is more condescending

than trashing the appointment as wrong, straight off?

[SoCalDem]

3. Campaigning for him came with a price..

Politics is not tiddlywinks:(

I'm guessing that he will be able to control her, as time goes on, and she doesn't go anywhere unless he sends her..

As popular as HE is, I'm betting that he will be the one "going places" for a long time..and he can delegate Biden any time he wants him to go somewhere..

She may still be thinking of running for Governor of NY (I hope), and a year of this "job" would be better than being junior senator-failed presidential candidate in the senate..

only time will tell..

[Truth Teller]

4. Quid pro quo?

That implication is an insult to both of them, really.

[SoCalDem]

6. we'll never know..and that's ok with me.. I voted for HIM

and trust him to manage any situation that comes along..

[Truth Teller]

7. Me too

Maybe I'm naive to think there was no such deal and that she simply wanted a Democrat to win and he simply wanted to appoint an effective SOS.

[fla nocount]

9. "Control," "send," "delegate,"

You're right, politics isn't tiddlywinks and Obama is the rookie, newbie, whippersnapper in any equation involving Hillary Clinton or Joe Biden.

Does anybody really believe Bush made an independent decision in the eight years? I might buy that he tried once and a pretzel convinced him that trying it again would be a losing proposition,

[Breeze54]

8. Really? "guts"?

I'm not so sure.

[Truth Teller]

11. What do you think it is? n/t