Why John Kerry could be a better secretary of state than Hillary Clinton (Enter The Twilight Zone)

Washington Post ^ | Thursday, April 25, 11:59 AM | Aaron David Miller

[haffast]

Aaron David Miller is vice president for new initiatives and a distinguished scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. He served for two decades as an adviser to Republican and Democratic secretaries of state on Arab-Israeli negotiations.

George Marshall. Dean Acheson. Henry Kissinger. James Baker.

These are the sorts of names you’d see in a Secretary of State Hall of Fame, if such a thing existed. Enshrinement would depend on negotiating a consequential agreement, defusing a major crisis, articulating a successful doctrine or fashioning a strategy for peace or war that puts you at the center of American foreign policy.

Hillary Rodham Clinton didn’t get there. But John Kerry might.

This isn’t a knock on Clinton’s abilities or record, nor is it excessive optimism about what Kerry might achieve as secretary of state. Rather, it’s a recognition that 90 percent of success in life isn’t merely showing up — it’s showing up at the right time. And in showing up at Foggy Bottom for President Obama’s second term, Kerry may have done precisely that.

snip

[haffast]

"...the fact that Kerry, unlike Clinton, has taken the job at the end of his political career, when he can afford to take greater risks — all these forces come together to give Kerry a chance to shine that Clinton never had."

Hillary's career not over???

"....she had the misfortune of serving under the most controlling commander in chief — on foreign policy — since Richard Nixon."

"On those matters relating to peace and war, the president, his White House advisers and the National Security Council dominated."

"When it came to thinking big on the U.S.-Israeli relationship, Iran, strategy on Russia and China, and the so-called Mideast peace process, it was the White House again."

But that little Benghazi mishap, well, that was all Clinton-(Patraeus).

[D-fendr]

Damning with faint praise...

[dainbramaged]

Moe was the smartest of the Three Stooges, but he was still a Stooge.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Well, a “D” student is arguably better than an “F” student.

[2ndDivisionVet]

So would this individual. What's your point, Aaron?

[DuncanWaring]

Because he can’t be worse?

[haffast]

Manny, Moe, and Jack, The Poop Boys

"Buy five tires, get one less. Free rotation."

[Pollster1]

I suppose Charles Manson would be a better baby sitter than Kermit Gosnell, but faint praise is not a reason to accept mediocrity.

[okie01]

...nor is it excessive optimism about what Kerry might achieve as secretary of state. Rather, it’s a recognition that 90 percent of success in life isn’t merely showing up — it’s showing up at the right time. And in showing up at Foggy Bottom for President Obama’s second term, Kerry may have done precisely that.

In other words, Aaron David Miller is suggesting that Kerry's stock-in-trade -- arrogance coupled to stupidity -- is the key to success for the Secretary of State.

Somehow, I don't think that recipe is going to work...

[JimSEA]

Kerry and Obama sole mates? I’ll buy it. ;-)

[Rocky]

Not exactly a high standard.