What's happened to Secretary Clinton?

deanhills · Jun 9, 2009

I only saw Secretary Clinton in action right at the beginning in February when she was annointed Secretary. There was then a bit of a tour, with very little real substance to report, other than introducing herself to everyone. And then Obama seems to have taken on her role as the Secretary of State?

I have not noticed her absence until I read the article below by Thomas Friedman, a columnist from the New York Times. It is quite an interesting article focussing on Secretary Clinton's priority in the Middle East, being the peace process in Iraq:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/07/opinion/07friedman.html

DodgeFB · Jun 9, 2009

She is doing interviews on TV and I see sound bites once in a while. He loves to be the star and she has turned into a groupie. Makes no difference which one is speaking it is all "party line". I really thought she had more "grit" to her. But when she sold out she went "all in".

deanhills · Jun 9, 2009

DodgeFB said:
She is doing interviews on TV and I see sound bites once in a while. He loves to be the star and she has turned into a groupie. Makes no difference which one is speaking it is all "party line". I really thought she had more "grit" to her. But when she sold out she went "all in".

Good point, they perhaps feature as a "package deal"

But still, she's getting a good size salary, maybe time for her to "come out"

myp · Jun 11, 2009

I never really thought about where she has been- but that is a very good point. She has definitely faded into the background of the administration. Part of it is probably because the main focus is currently on the economy and domestic affairs, so people like Geithner and the financial advisors are getting more of the attention. Also, Obama seems to have taken the spotlight on the administration's major foreign affairs events thus far with his visits abroad to Egypt, etc.

DodgeFB · Jun 12, 2009

myp said:
I never really thought about where she has been- but that is a very good point. She has definitely faded into the background of the administration. Part of it is probably because the main focus is currently on the economy and domestic affairs, so people like Geithner and the financial advisors are getting more of the attention. Also, Obama seems to have taken the spotlight on the administration's major foreign affairs events thus far with his visits abroad to Egypt, etc.

If something goes very wrong Obama may let her take the blame and fall on the sword. He seems to back away when the heat gets hot.

omej · Jun 13, 2009

I don't really think shes becoming irrelevant. I see her smashing down on N. Korean almost daily. In fact, after their nuclear test, she was out front and center using surprisingly touch language.

She's been been discussing Iran and Pakistan pretty frankly as well. I think she's going to come out strongly over the next few weeks as Obama seems to be serious about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I'm really curious as to what Netanyahu is going to say tomorrow (as well as Clintons response).

I don't quite agree with Friedman on Iraq. What can the state dept. do at this point? Don't be fooled by what you see, Iraqi's still don't have much sovereignty.

DodgeFB · Jun 14, 2009

omeythehomie said:
I don't really think shes becoming irrelevant. I see her smashing down on N. Korean almost daily. In fact, after their nuclear test, she was out front and center using surprisingly touch language.

She's been been discussing Iran and Pakistan pretty frankly as well. I think she's going to come out strongly over the next few weeks as Obama seems to be serious about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I'm really curious as to what Netanyahu is going to say tomorrow (as well as Clintons response).

I don't quite agree with Friedman on Iraq. What can the state dept. do at this point? Don't be fooled by what you see, Iraqi's still don't have much sovereignty.

You have much more faith in them than I do. She lost all credibility with me when she sold out to Obama. In my opinion better presidents and others have been just as or more serious about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. If "talking" will fix the problem he will succeed.

I would feel as well with a Paris Hilton/Jim Carey team in charge as I do with Hillary Clinton/Obama. I actually think they would do less damage to the country.

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q...Or0cyNDw&sa=X&oi=news_group&resnum=1&ct=title

deanhills · Jun 18, 2009

omeythehomie said:
I don't really think shes becoming irrelevant. I see her smashing down on N. Korean almost daily. In fact, after their nuclear test, she was out front and center using surprisingly touch language.

She's been been discussing Iran and Pakistan pretty frankly as well. I think she's going to come out strongly over the next few weeks as Obama seems to be serious about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I'm really curious as to what Netanyahu is going to say tomorrow (as well as Clintons response).

I don't quite agree with Friedman on Iraq. What can the state dept. do at this point? Don't be fooled by what you see, Iraqi's still don't have much sovereignty.

Why has she then not been with Obama when he was in the Middle East and in Cairo? She should at least have been doing her rounds to show some presence in the area?

DodgeFB · Jun 18, 2009

deanhills said:
Why has she then not been with Obama when he was in the Middle East and in Cairo? She should at least have been doing her rounds to show some presence in the area?

Clinton fractures elbow in fall

Hillary Clinton will have an operation on her right elbow next week

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has fractured her right elbow in a fall, her chief of staff has said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8106327.stm

curious · Jun 19, 2009

What news do you read and watch? She has been making statements nearly every day. I actually am very pleased with her so far.

And what do you mean 'sold out to Obama'? He is the President of the United States. She is not. And I don't think they disagree about much in a major way.

You all seem soooo determined to be down on Obama.

DodgeFB · Jun 20, 2009

curious said:
What news do you read and watch? She has been making statements nearly every day. I actually am very pleased with her so far.

And what do you mean 'sold out to Obama'? He is the President of the United States. She is not. And I don't think they disagree about much in a major way.

You all seem soooo determined to be down on Obama.

Just look at what she said about him when she was running. Then she drank the Obama-Aid. Now she sounds like his parrot.

It is just as easy for me to be down on Obama as it was for so many to be down on Bush. And just as it was for Bush, the more stuff that goes wrong the more he will be blamed. That is the job he wanted so bad for 2 years. Now he has it. He needs to remember if he is still blaming Bush for everything 4 years from now he is out of there.

curious · Jun 21, 2009

DodgeFB said:
Just look at what she said about him when she was running. Then she drank the Obama-Aid. Now she sounds like his parrot.

It is just as easy for me to be down on Obama as it was for so many to be down on Bush. And just as it was for Bush, the more stuff that goes wrong the more he will be blamed. That is the job he wanted so bad for 2 years. Now he has it. He needs to remember if he is still blaming Bush for everything 4 years from now he is out of there.

That's politics. Have you not paid any attention to what always happens after elections? You run against someone in your party, and then when you don't get the nomination, you rally behind the member of your party that wins. During the primaries, it is always understood that no matter how harsh the criticisms, all of the candidates in ones party are infinitely better than any of the candidates in the other party.

Well, it may be that Bush didn't have anybody that ever disagreed with him in his cabinet, but that would be because he is unduly focused on what he calls 'loyalty'. Meaning suck-up.

DodgeFB · Jun 21, 2009

curious said:
That's politics. Have you not paid any attention to what always happens after elections? You run against someone in your party, and then when you don't get the nomination, you rally behind the member of your party that wins. During the primaries, it is always understood that no matter how harsh the criticisms, all of the candidates in ones party are infinitely better than any of the candidates in the other party.

Well, it may be that Bush didn't have anybody that ever disagreed with him in his cabinet, but that would be because he is unduly focused on what he calls 'loyalty'. Meaning suck-up.

Oh Bush had a couple that stabbed him in the back. One even wrote a book. And I have paid very close attention to elections for years. I even took notice when they said she needed to "get on board" if she was to get any help with her campaign debt. And to his credit Bill was not big on Obama from the word go. And if you notice Bill still spends more time with the Bush's than with the Obama's. He even appeared with our last president recently. And disappointed many when they took up for each other.

curious · Jun 22, 2009

Bill is seen as a liability by a lot of people, probably including Hillary. He was a big factor in her losing South Carolina. As far as I can tell, he lives in New York and she lives in DC.

deanhills · Jun 23, 2009

curious said:
Bill is seen as a liability by a lot of people, probably including Hillary. He was a big factor in her losing South Carolina. As far as I can tell, he lives in New York and she lives in DC.

I think he was a liability for her during the election as well. Perhaps still is while she is Secretary of State. Probably a nice and affable guy, but perhaps her daughter has a much more positive role in her life. I really like her.

DodgeFB · Jun 23, 2009

deanhills said:
I think he was a liability for her during the election as well. Perhaps still is while she is Secretary of State. Probably a nice and affable guy, but perhaps her daughter has a much more positive role in her life. I really like her.

I have no problem with the daughter. Would not say if I did. But I think Bill has more "backbone" than Hillary. And no, I never ever voted for Bill for anything. Bill owes Hillary and is trying to pay her back for her support in past years.

omej · Jun 23, 2009

DodgeFB said:
I have no problem with the daughter. Would not say if I did. But I think Bill has more "backbone" than Hillary. And no, I never ever voted for Bill for anything. Bill owes Hillary and is trying to pay her back for her support in past years.

I don't know about that, I think Hillary has the same, if not more "backbone" than Bill. She's the most powerful female politician around right now.

curious · Jun 23, 2009

One of the reasons that I wanted her to be president is that I think she is really, really tough, and doesn't shy away from hard decisions.

I'm really happy with this combination, however, with Obama in the White House and her in Foggy Bottom.

deanhills · Jun 24, 2009

curious said:
One of the reasons that I wanted her to be president is that I think she is really, really tough, and doesn't shy away from hard decisions.

I'm really happy with this combination, however, with Obama in the White House and her in Foggy Bottom.

I'm not sure that is working for the country as a whole however. I am almost convinced that Obama has not forgotten what she had to say about him on her campaign, and he is giving her as little space as he possibly can. I don't see that much of her anywhere.

curious · Jun 25, 2009

If poliiticians sought revenge for everything that is said during a campaign, the whole political system would fall apart. They attack each other within the party, and unless something is really down and dirty, it's all forgotten. It's sort of like a member of the Boston Red Sox being traded. They are suddenly playing with people who were trash-talking them the last time they were playing. It's their new team, and they do their job.

I see her several times a week. The media is so focused on Obama she may be getting less attention than before.

I do think it is working for the country as a whole. I see a definite improvement in our approach to other nations. The Bush attitude that America is always right and everything we do is OK just because we do it is gone. So is the belief that we should be imposing democracy on everybody.

What's happened to Secretary Clinton?

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