When Will Hillary Resign?
Shortly before Hillary Clinton took office as the nation’s sixty-seventh Secretary of State, I asked, “Could Hillary be a great Secretary of State?“
It seems, however, that the man who appointed her is doing everything possible to make sure we answer that question in the negative. He has marginalized her as few (if any) of his predecessors have marginalized the highest ranking non-elected official in the Cabinet.
As John Fund notes in today’s Political Diary, “she has kept a low profile not entirely of her own choosing” becoming “invisible.” Having designated special envoys to trouble spots around the world, the president doesn’t appear interested in soliciting her opinion on how to respond to foreign crises. It doesn’t seem the President turns to her for advice as his predecessor looked to hers or as other successful foreign policy Presidents like Reagan, Eisenhower and Truman looked to theirs (George Shultz, John Foster Dulles and Dean Acheson respectively).
Watching the two of the them together, one doesn’t have the feeling that they respect one another, rather that he is being gracious to allow her into his august presence while her eyes shoot daggers at him. I couldn’t find any video online of Tonya Reiman, the body language expert (who appears regularly on O’Reilly) analyzing the joint appearances of the President and Secretary of State. It would be fascinating to hear what she has to say.
The White House scheduled a Rose Garden appearance for the President at the same time she had planned a speech to assert herself. Guess they don’t want this woman getting much media attention.
So, I’m just wondering how long can this ambitious woman stand to be marginalized?
I had hoped Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner or White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel would be the first major Administration official to step down, but now I’m wondering if it’s going to be Mrs. Clinton.
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Either Hillary steps down, or we find out that the TOTUS has been kidnapped somewhere near Fort Marcie Park.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — July 15, 2009 @ 6:35 pm - July 15, 2009
The way in which this Administration has completely fumbled the situation in Honduras gives pause to the suggestion that, once they realize what a HUGE mistake they’ve made by embracing the criminal former-president Zelaya, it may be pretty easy to throw Hillary overboard and blame it on her.
Of course, that also relies on the Administration actually realizing in the first place that they’re wrong about Honduras, so I may be way off!
Comment by ColoradoPatriot — July 15, 2009 @ 7:41 pm - July 15, 2009
Yes, it certainly is strange how little media exposure she gets. Is Pres. Obama deliberately trying to marginalize her? It would be interesting to hear someone make the opposite argument—that there is no conscious effort on Pres. Obama’s part to keep her in the shadows. I’m not sure that he definitely is, but if he is doing it accidently, it’s hard to imagine how it would look different if he started deliberately trying to marginalize her. I don’t know though that it makes much sense to marginalize her though, given that her supporters represent a pretty important block of the Democratic party. Presumably, millions of them, unhappy not only with Hillary’s defeat in the nomination battle but also the manner in which she was treated during that time, still went to the polls and voted for Obama as loyal Democrats. If Pres. Obama ticks them off during his first term, I think there is a good chance many of them won’t be forgiving a second time around. Treating her respectfully, it would seem, would do a lot more good for him politically than not sharing the limelight with her. Anyway, this is an interesting issue. It would be interesting to know what someone who supported Hillary last year thinks.
(BTW, I find it ironic that just a few days ago, a liberal friend of mine at church was disparaging Pres. Bush for not listening to Colin Powell enough. I wonder if Pres. Obama will ever have the same criticism leveled against him with respect to his Sec of State.)
Comment by chad — July 15, 2009 @ 7:42 pm - July 15, 2009
As far as W listening to Colin Powell… I think W listened to people he trusted (Condi, Rummy, Cheney); Powell was a political pick: a serviceable SecState but not someone Bush took into his confidence.
If Obama was “normal”, this would be an indication that he doesn’t trust Hillary. But the Obama administration is anything but normal – politics (and wrecking the country) is everything.
Hillary and SecDef Gates are probably the closest thing to normal there and we don’t see much of either.
Comment by SoCalRobert — July 15, 2009 @ 7:52 pm - July 15, 2009
What would she do if she resigned? She can’t go back to being senator, sure she can write and lecture, but where does that get her politically?
I doubt she’ll be able to run for President again. Maybe if some prestigious college offered her the top position. Otherwise, it’s just another woman who got shafted by the men in her party.
Having seen Condileeza Rice last night I got the exact opposite feeling. Here is a woman who has accomplished so much both academically and politically. Her return to Stanford feels more like a reward for service rendered.
Comment by Leah — July 15, 2009 @ 8:22 pm - July 15, 2009
The entertaining part is that Hillary seems to be the one exception to the rule of Obama’s Cabinet and advisors, which is to never pick people who are more intelligent than you are.
I give her another six months. Bet she’s wishing she’d never let go of that Senate seat.
Comment by North Dallas Thirty — July 15, 2009 @ 8:44 pm - July 15, 2009
I am dumbfounded that Kevin, Benu, Ash and Torrent havent offered any gems about this post.
Comment by Duffy - Native Intelligence — July 15, 2009 @ 9:33 pm - July 15, 2009
When she thinks she can get something out of it. If Obama becomes weakened to the point that she thinks she can challenge him for the primary? Thats when she’ll quit. Otherwise theres nothing in it for her. Besides, she can undermine him from her current position. She couldnt do that if she resigned.
Comment by American Elephant — July 15, 2009 @ 10:06 pm - July 15, 2009
Obama is in a difficult place. Hillary still has a strong following, especially among gays. He knows if she leaves, he will face a strong adversary who could damage his campaign for reelection, especially among gays. He also knows she despises him, as it’s obvious he shares similar feelings about her.
Will she run again? Too early to say; but he put her in his administration to neutralize her. When she leaves, and she will, he will be looking over his shoulder. She has her own presidential ambitions. I should be surprised if she is still part of the administration in March 2010.
Comment by Man — July 15, 2009 @ 10:23 pm - July 15, 2009
“Otherwise its just another woman who got shafted by the men in her party”.
THAT is sexist rubbish.
Hillary is a smart, capable woman who should be able to pull off any situation to her advantage. She has proven before that she is capable of just that. She is also, like all other women, particularly in politics, responsible for the situations she finds herself in, just like the big boys.
Comment by JimG — July 15, 2009 @ 10:59 pm - July 15, 2009
Obammunism isn’t working, which means it will become useful to sacrifice Geithner before too long. Meanwhile, keeping Hillary on to neutralize the Clintonistas is still very useful. And Hillary can’t afford to become known as the woman who tried to torpedo Obammunism. So, Hillary will outlast Geithner. That’s my prediction.
Let me add: Geithner has the furtive face of a criminal; a man who spews B.S. and knows it.
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — July 15, 2009 @ 11:43 pm - July 15, 2009
No, because it was spoken by a woman. (Leah at #6)
I mean, the above is straight from the Left playbook, right? It doesn’t count if the ‘right’ ‘minority’ spoke it, right?
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — July 15, 2009 @ 11:46 pm - July 15, 2009
Perhaps adding “Governor of New York” to her impressive First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State resume would get her closer to making Bill respond to “First Dude”?
Comment by Clint — July 16, 2009 @ 3:11 am - July 16, 2009
NDT, even if Hillary is Sec of State for only a short time, I’m not sure that she will regret giving up her senate seat. Back when she was picked by Obama, I was thinking myself whether she would want to give up her senate seat, which she could conceivably keep indefinitely, to be Sec of State for a few years (eight at the very most). But I think she was glad to have an excuse to get out of the Senate. Eight years as a senator and another eight as FL is certainly enough experience for a WH run. Being in the Senate longer would probably have just been a drag for her. However, just quitting would have made it look like she only valued being a senator as a stepping stone to president. The prominent cabinet job was a great legitimate excuse to escape the Senate, even if she doesn’t stay at the new job long.
BTW, in case it sounds like I’m picking on Hillary for being uniquely exploitative of political offices, obviously, a lot of ambitious Republicans also use certain elected offices and appointments as stepping stones to a higher job that they really want.
Comment by chad — July 16, 2009 @ 8:03 am - July 16, 2009
Hillary was a former Goldwater follower. Could the Repubs entice her at all? I think she could beet Obama as a Republican in 2012 or on a Republican ticket with someone else.
I know she is pro-choice, but I feel more moderate in that regard than Obama. I think that issue should be neutralized for both parties, don’t if it is possible though.
McCain, received 35% of the Gay vote, can you imagine how many women Hillary could bring on board for the Republicans.
I can’t stand what Obama is doing to our Republic. Me thinks, Hillary doesn’t like it either.
Just a crazy thought, I know. I can hope though.
Comment by Libertygal — July 16, 2009 @ 9:24 am - July 16, 2009
The best theory I’ve heard about HRC was in a blog somewhere when BHO nominated her. She knew that the biggest concerns facing our country the next few years would be economic, and the BHO wouldn’t have a clue what to do (boy was that projection spot-on). She would bide her time at State, hoping for no major disaster or attack, then ride in on her White Horse in 4 years to replace Obama, attacking him as an ineffective President, and that she has the experience to tackle the economic issues. She would also use her time as SOS to pad her foreign experience. She will resign sometime after the midterm elections, and then challenge Obama for the Democrat Nomination. She immediately would have 1/2 the Democrat base, and then easily takes away much of Obama’s support from the unhappy Hopey Changey crowd.
Comment by Paul — July 16, 2009 @ 9:24 am - July 16, 2009
Hillary has been such a bumbling embarrassment since she was pushed onto the world stage that I just assumed someone at Foggy Bottom was trying to torpedo her. Excellent translators come dime a dozen – her State Dept couldn’t find one to translate her foolish & embarrassing Russian Re-start Buttom. Sabotage? She obviously wasn’t prepped for her trip to Mexico where she ignorantly asked Who painted the Virgin? Forgetting / mangling names of diplomats at her own rank or higher – inexcusable. Looks like someone is cleverly enhancing Hillary’s natural clumsiness, lack of charm and flat-footedness. Who knows, maybe she fired everyone with experience and packed the ranks with her own people.
Comment by BBC — July 16, 2009 @ 9:54 am - July 16, 2009
Regardless of what happens with Hillary with respect to her being SoS, I don’t think anyone will challenge Obama for the nomination in ‘12 unless things truly fall apart for Obama. (Granted, I think that’s a real possibility.) Hillary, naturally, is the most likely person to beat Obama for the nomination in ‘12. But if Hillary takes on Obama in ‘12 and losses, I think it harms her chances for ‘16, being viewed as a divider of the party. It’s hard to think of anyone who has improved their standing with a party by taking on an incumbent president for the nomination. The only exception I can think of is Reagan, and that was against the unelected Pres. Ford. Anyway, it is definitely conceivable that Hillary will run against Obama in ‘12, but I wouldn’t bet on it at this point. Whether Obama wins or loses in ‘12, plan on her running in ‘16. In ‘12, she’ll be a private citizen and a supporter of Obama (at least publicly). And I don’t think she would want Obama to lose in ‘12, given how that would force her to face a Republican incumbent in ‘16.
As for Hillary being the Republican candidate—interesting idea, but never ever ever ever going to happen. It’s only been within the last two years that any Republicans have viewed her somewhat sympathetically. The ideological divide between Hillary and Obama is much smaller than that between Hillary and the GOP. I understand the argument that you don’t want to nominate someone from the right flank of the GOP, but what lesson did moderate Republicans (Colin Powell, David Brooks, etc.) teach the GOP in 2008? Pick a moderate, and we’ll still bolt the party. People who want a socially liberal, big government president are going to vote for the Democrat anyway. Democrat-lites lose to Democrats. If Obama is riding high in ‘12, it won’t matter who the Republicans pick. But if Obama is beatable, Republicans would do best with someone who is much different than Obama. (And IMHO, the issues to beat him on are the size and role of government, taking a hard stance against tyrants around the world, and judicial philosophy, all while not striking too moralistic a tone on social issues, which often bugs even social conservatives like myself.)
Comment by chad — July 16, 2009 @ 10:31 am - July 16, 2009
I can’t imagine Hillary giving up power, except in the pursuit of more power.
Comment by V the K — July 16, 2009 @ 10:44 am - July 16, 2009
Hillary will say and do what is best for Hillary Clinton. She does make political missteps from time to time, could this be one of them? Her position on Margaret Sanger, when the polls show more and more people are pro life.
http://youhavetobethistalltogoonthisride.blogspot.com/2009/07/logic-junkie-exhaustion-of-obvious.html
Comment by keyboard jockey — July 16, 2009 @ 11:16 am - July 16, 2009
It was obvious the day Obama announced that HC would be his Sec State his plan was to marginalize here. But she is not a newbie, I have to believe she saw this coming and already has a plan.
Comment by Wray Rives — July 16, 2009 @ 12:02 pm - July 16, 2009
It has been hit or miss and more miss than hit. This is only the second time since I´ve returned to El Salvador that I´ve been able to access the site.
As for Hillary, I think she and the President will be coming to a parting of the ways. Last week, watching her interview with Leopoldo Castillo, of Globovision of Venezuela, she was trying awfully hard to articulate Obama´s policy. Her take on the situation in Honduras and on Chavez´s violation of human rights and liberties in Venezuela and his alliance with Ahmadinejad are at odds with Obama´s. Her sense of diplomacy is to try engage withou kissing the butts of dictators and terrorists. I give about six months to a year before she resigns. Mayba Obama will elevate Eric Holder or some other wimp to the post of Secretary of State.
Comment by Roberto — July 16, 2009 @ 1:56 pm - July 16, 2009
Having met Leah once and listened to her talk about a variety of subjects, I doubt very much she is spouting feminist rubbish. I think she speaks her mind and should not be accused of getting away with something just because as a woman she can say what a man cannot….or whatever.
Dan, why did you think Rahm would be among the first to leave the Obama administration?
Comment by Not Always Right — July 16, 2009 @ 2:04 pm - July 16, 2009
“It doesn’t seem the President turns to her for advice as his predecessor looked to hers ”
I think you mean his, unless you’re accusing Bush of being dickless and/or having no balls
Comment by docweasel — July 16, 2009 @ 4:00 pm - July 16, 2009
With respect to Rahm, I have to wonder…if and when Hillary departs, will other Clintonistas follow? It would seem especially likely if the Obama administration truly starts sinking (rather than merely having mediocre poll numbers as is the case right now).
Comment by chad — July 16, 2009 @ 5:33 pm - July 16, 2009
I do not understand why Clinton took this job. Did she not realize she was going to be marginalized?!?!? It’s kind of embarassing. I’m embarassed for her, actually. No one with any kind of self respect would want to be in this position. The fact that she took it says a lot. She should resign.
Comment by Scherie — July 16, 2009 @ 9:40 pm - July 16, 2009
Scherie,
No, I don’t think she saw she’d be marginalized, at least not this fast. i think she thought she’d be able to undermine him, or at least push her own adgenda, and it didn’t pay off.
Comment by The Livewire — July 17, 2009 @ 8:59 am - July 17, 2009
#10 – “She is also, like all other women, particularly in politics, responsible for the situations she finds herself in, just like the big boys.”
You mean like marrying the man who occupied the Oval Orifice from 1993-2001?
Or becoming SoS through her own experience and education (i.e. Condoleezza Rice)?
Try again.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — July 17, 2009 @ 2:59 pm - July 17, 2009
#15 – “Hillary was a former Goldwater follower. Could the Repubs entice her at all?”
For our party’s sake, I hope not. Even if she did renounce the dark side and became a Republican, I would never support nor endorse her. Talk about a Fifth Columnist!
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — July 17, 2009 @ 3:00 pm - July 17, 2009
The problem is that if she waits too long to step down, she will be blamed for a number of mistakes. I say sometime in the next year she’ll have to step down. It’s unfortunate that she is in this difficult position. I think she’ll have to wait for another major policy dispute where she can legitimize her opposition and highlight her differences. She has Honduras as one example, and Iran as well. But she’ll need a big one that has received a lot of press attention as an Obama error. Frankly, Obama was able to pass off his Iran position believably (not supporting the demonstrators) and very few people know or care about Honduras. So she’ll just have to wait for something big.
Comment by keegan — July 18, 2009 @ 8:31 pm - July 18, 2009