Secretaries of State don't usually last more than a single
presidential term. And sometimes they don't make it that long. So, for
the life of me, I do not understand why Hillary Clinton would want to
give up what is in all likelihood a senate seat for life to run the
State Department for Barack Obama.Late Update: This post, not surprisingly, has generated a
big response. And a few of you have suggested that this is a way for
Hillary to angle for another shot at the presidency in 2012 or 2016.
But that strikes me as deeply, deeply improbable. Never an easy thing
to challenge a sitting president of your own party, next to impossible
to do it from his own cabinet. I don't have an answer on why either
party would want this appointment. But that ain't the reason.
Clinton may just be angling for some time in the spotlight perhaps. As a junior senator, it's going to be a long time before she gets any cherry committee positions. While she would have a great chance at shaping the future of the country through legislation, that's going to entail a lot of hard and not so glamorous work. But as Secretary of State, she'll also have an opportunity to help shape the future, especially considering how precarious the world stage is right now. And just look at Condoleeza Rice's experience in the spotlight.
Of course, if Hillary were to go cowboy and try to push her agenda over Obama's, she could find herself out on her ass in a heartbeat, and with nowhere to go. So it would be a big gamble for her, but not one that would be without its rewards. Think of all the places she'll get to travel, and all the sniper fire she'll get to dodge. ;)
Ultimately, it wouldn't bother me one way or the other. I think Bill Richards would be better at the job, considering the breadth of his experience getting the bad guys to the table during his time in the Clinton administration. But Hillary would do fine as well, I'm sure.
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