Foggybottom Watch: Hillary Edition

Hillary Clinton to be named Secretary of State Monday

Just over two weeks ago, President-elect Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton met in Chicago to discuss her selection as incoming Secretary of State. As soon as the meeting was leaked, the Obama-Hillary media frenzy approached the level it reached during the 2008 Democratic primaries. As I have already noted, initial reactions were glowing. And while the shine wore off long enough for realistic and procedural concerns to be expressed, the prevalent opinion still seems to be that Hillary Clinton will bring gravity and respect to the State department. As I have also already noted, the vetting of Hillary for SecState has gone as smoothly as her vetting for president was adversarial. Her hawkishness, which was perhaps her greatest negative on the campaign trail overall, is now being held up as an acclamation.

Today, the Associated Press reports that President-elect Obama will formally name Hillary Clinton as his pick for top diplomat and highest-ranking Cabinet official tomorrow, Monday, December 1st. Bill Clinton has agreed to all conditions of disclosure of the donors to the Clinton GLobal Initiative, along with a laundry list of other compromises, which has paved the rest of the road for Hillary. At least Bill is doing what he said he would, which was "whatever it takes" to help Hillary. It seems to me even former President Clinton is now aware that the Clinton Legacy now belongs to Hillary. The first feelers into the Senate have come back with a tentative yes, and it has been noted that she may have to answer some "uncomfortable questions" in the Senate confirmation hearings. Hopefully the Senate will have enough respect for her and for the President-elect to make the proceedings smooth and to remember it is Hillary that is getting the job, not Bill. I will also reiterate my opinion that Obama's main "mandate" is his power within his own party, which controls Congress. Obama carries a big stick; he will get the Cabinet he nominates.

An interesting bit of gossip is saying that Hillary "passed" on taking the Senate Appropriations Chair because Sen. Ted Kennedy "refused her" a position on the Health Care team he has assembled. Interesting considering just about every news source in the world reported that Kennedy had offered her a spot. Also interesting because Sen. Clinton does not have enough seniority to be a committee chair. It does seem that Hillary may have put out the feelers to see what kind of power base she could muster if she chose to stay in the Senate. But, with her scheduled to appear with Obama in Chicago tomorrow, it seems she has made her choice.