Posted on 07/22/2009 8:10:01 AM PDT by bmweezer
President Obama made a perfect political decision when he made Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State. In doing so, the president pushed aside an obvious 2012 foe and mended some fences within his party in the same process. However, as the president begins to see that his 'all or nothing' approach to governing is starting to bring down his poll numbers, it will be interesting to see 'what Hillary thinks' as the months go on.
While Obama remains relatively popular amongst the believers, Clinton isn't going anywhere. Despite the fact that Obama has surrounded his 2008 primary foe with ever sort of 'special envoy' to keep her in check and to diminish her power, Clinton carries a significant title and after all, there is not much to run for in 2009 or in 2010, for that matter.
However, if 2010 brings with it electoral losses for the Democrats (who will blame Obama, of course), Clinton's alliance with the president may look less valuable.
If Hillary sees an opening to become the alternative Democratic voice as the march to 2012 begins, watch for her to resign her post and fast. Everyone knows that Bill Clinton cannot stomach the 44th president and feels to this day that his wife was robbed of the presidency thanks to an Obama operation that was much slicker than that of Clinton and if given the chance, would love to play a game of revenge. But that can only happen if Obama's poll numbers continue to crater and calls for 'Hillary' return.
This isn't to say that the Clintons don't fully support the socialist agenda being carried out by the president. But rather, on top of everything else, both Clintons understand that politics trumps any policy, and a president surrounded by increasingly unpopular ideas and policies is an unpopular one and one that becomes vulnerable. After all, it is President Bill Clinton that was stimied by an unpopular health care program that was then defeated and caused the 1994 GOP takeover in Congress. Thereafter, just twenty-four months later, Clinton - using triangulation - was releected to a second term.
If the Dems begin to look nervous, they will look to Hillary and 1980's Carter-Kennedy clash will look like a picnic compared to a Obama-Clinton rematch in 2012.
Ted Tally is a writer living in Las Vegas. He should not be confused with the Academy-Award winning screen-writer by the same name.
There’s a whole lot of “ifs” (I counted 7) in this scenario.
“If Hillary exits”, or “if Hillary exists”. Which is it?
A long, protracted primary battle involving a sitting president is not a likely scenario.
Wow she is fine
I dunno, over the past two days there certainly has been a string of stories about an unhappy Hillary coming out via her MSM friends. Sounds like she’s complaining quite loudly behind the scenes. My guess is that she’s either firing a warning shot across Obama’s bow, or getting ready to jump ship when his poll numbers finally hit rock bottom sometime in 2010 or 2011.
I was really flabberghasted over how demeaning Obama backers were to the first black President Clinton.
It was obviously a move to neutralize any further challenges from her. But she stupidly volunteered to let him be her boss.
Now she can shut up and get him his coffee or she can quit and have nowhere to go but the private sector. The idea that she'll seriously challenge him for the nomination from the "just quit" Secretary of State position is nonsense.
He involves her in none of the grandstanding political theater and no doubt ignores her input on any of the geopolitical issues. Biden gets more respect and he's treated like a retarded cousin.
I think that the Klintoons have been so outmatched by the Chicago thug machine that there is no recovery for them. If their campaign could not beat Urkel how can they face off against him again & win. Get that birth certificate lie in the open.
The first is pure speculation; the second, wishful thinking. :=)
Yes, that was a mistake. She had the Senate job for life, but she’s now at 0bama’s mercy. He could fire her at any time, or she could get fed up and quit (I don’t know how ANYONE could be happy working subordinate to him and his policies).
President Obama may be a one-termer just to get his agenda in place.
Neither Clinton would sacrifice themselves on the altar of liberalism, but I am confident that Obama may do just that.
Once healthcare and cap-n-trade are in place, it is game-set-match for liberals.
Your a little newer around here than me, but I agree with you. LOL
Never underestimate the Clintons or the lengths at which they will go to get what they want. Although she made a stupid strategic mistake in accepting the DOS job, make no mistake, she and Bill are still plotting on how to return to power. They can’t help themselves.
Why would he not seek a second term ? It would have to be because of a truly major scandal, he can’t claim to be too old !
Too bad it’s not a prison jumpsuit.
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