John Podesta heads up the Transition Team. Rahm Emanuel accepts a position as White house Chief of Staff. Patti Solis-Doyle takes up residence in the White House, as well. Close Obama Advisors indicate that Hillary Clinton is being actively considered for a Cabinet Post.
Secretary of State? Hillary?
Before I continue to criticize the lack of qualifications of Dr. Condoleeza Rice, for the same position...I need to take a closer look at this prospective appointment.
Rice at least possesses a PhD in Political Science, has read extensively, studied, taught, in the area for most of her adult life, and served for several years in a high level position where direct interaction in a foreign policy capacity was a significant element of her everyday duties, prior to becoming Secretary of State.
Hillary Clinton was the First Lady for eight years, logged a few hours at State dinners and funerals, and lied about being shot at during a trip to Kosovo.
Nancy Reagan is still alive...sort of. She was First Lady for eight years, too...and, by all accounts, is at least as familiar with Presidential Protocol and world leaders as is Hillary. Maybe a President Obama should reach across the aisle and name a Republican Former First Lady to the position of Secretary of State.
Sure, Mommy doesn’t have a law degree, and never served as the Junior Senator from New York...but, having two law degrees myself, and having been personally acquainted with at least a few Junior Senators, I can safely say that neither will show up on the Official List of Qualifications for the Position on whatever page of The Plum Book is devoted to the Secretary of State.
Okay...Hillary is well aware that Africa is not a country, and has probably broken bread with many, if not most of the leaders located on that continent, as well as most other politically divided land masses spanning the globe. However...if, as we were all led to believe only a very short time ago...the reason Obama refused to consider Hillary as his Vice President, was the fact that the REAL VP in that scenario would have been Bill Clinton...and that an Obama Presidency would then have been over-shadowed, if not dominated by Bill Clinton...how in the world would Hillary Clinton, as Secretary of State in a time of turmoil, so great as to suggest that ANY cross-border or cross-cultural disagreement could result in World War III...prevent the Bill & Hill Show from rising to Number 1 in the Nielsen Ratings before Valentines Day?
So...what is the deal?
Or, better yet...what WAS the deal?
Again, prior to the Democratic Convention, we were told that Hillary wanted Obama to pay off her campaign debt, in which case, she would realize the return of the $20 Million Dollars which she had loaned to her campaign.
That didn’t happen.
Now...not only does the Plum Book indicate that Former Employees of the Clinton Administration will be given bonus points equal to triple the amount of Veterans Preference Points...but, those who have taken an entry-level course in reading between the lines can easily see that, "All others need not apply".
I hate to essentially take Barack to task two days in a row for transition-related issues.
I know that he has not been sworn in yet.
I know that Hillary has not been named to anything.
I know this may very well be a rumor and no more.
I know that the Hillary supporters are going to be headed for my rear end carrying non-lubricated rusty chain saw blades. However, I simply cannot emphasize certain points, strongly enough.
I worked for Barack Obama, actively. I volunteered my services as part of a group called "Counsel for Change". I spent more than 400 hours on campaign activities, including being told to make myself ready to travel to Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania...and ultimately spent all of Election Day responsible for multiple polling locations, where more than a few emergency lawsuits were filed in an effort to protect the voting rights of numerous citizens. I have been asked to go back to work for Barack Obama, indirectly, on December 2, 2008, by working as a legal volunteer in Georgia, on the Senate Campaign of Jim Martin. There is no more zealous advocate for, or believer in Barack Obama, than Your Favorite Sheep Dog.
And yet...knowing what I have come to know about the Clintons over the past sixteen years...it is all coming together at this point, just a little too well.
I was a candidate for public office in 1992, as well. Al Gore knocked on doors with me. He made appearances on my behalf. I met Bill Clinton six times in 1992, and attended at least two Inaugural Balls. I had an opportunity to come to know many people positioned very high in the Clinton Campaign, and was best friend to a person who was a pallbearer at the funeral of Hillary’s father, and a regular White House guest of the President and Mrs. Clinton during both of their terms in office.
Why...would Mrs. Clinton walk away from the Senate, at a time when her own legislative agenda has the potential to enjoy a filibuster-proof majority, along with a 50+ majority in the House? Why would Mrs. Clinton leave the Senate and run the risk that she would not be returned to the Senate following four or eight years of an Obama Administration?
Why would Mrs. Clinton accept any form of temporary position which could be perceived as lateral at best, if not an actual downgrade?
Is it possible that Mrs. Clinton sees Barack Obama as perhaps being so tarnished after a first term which may include a Depression, that she could go all Teddy Kennedy on a Sitting President’s re-election bid...and win?
Is it possible that Mrs. Clinton is looking to parlay a four year Cabinet Post as Secretary of State, into a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court?
Is it possible that Mrs. Clinton, and Bill, were so incensed by the Bill Richardson Endorsement of Obama in the Primary Election Cycle, that Mrs. Clinton would walk away from the Senate and demand that Obama deliver to her...the only position that Bill Richardson would ever want to hold in an Obama Administration?
Does anyone else remember the collective Clinton reaction to the Richardson Endorsement? When was the last time the word "traitor" was used in a Presidential campaign where the reference was NOT to Barack Obama?
So, where does this all leave Barack Obama,
Twenty Million people voted for him in the Primary. Sixty-six million voted for him in the General...and 9,000,0000 in the General, were first time voters who actually elected the Senator from Illinois?
On the Primary trail, Obama trotted out Caroline Kennedy and others who were fresh new faces. He told us Change was coming. On November 4th, he told us Change had arrived.
And, less than two weeks later, the only appointments being made are to former members of the Clinton Administration, or close personal friends and advisors to either Bill or Hillary Clinton...or ARE Hillary Clinton.
Look, there were great things which occurred during the Clinton Years. In fact, through complete fault of his own, though having little to do with his Presidency, Bill Clinton will never get all of the Presidential Props which he deserves
My issue is NOT with Bill Clinton. Nor, is my issue with Hillary Clinton or, for that fact, what each of the Clintons may, or may not stand for when alone in a room with their God.
My issue is the fact that Obama preached Change, Change, Change to an entire generation of voters who have not voted long enough to even recognize Change, or understand why it was a good thing. And 9,000,000 of those young people voted for Obama AND HIS PROMISE OF CHANGE. They voted for him in numbers which had been predicted in every Presidential Election for the last thirty years...but had never occurred.
Had those 9,000,000 new voters stayed home this year, Todd Palin would be able to see the DC Bureau of CNN from the lawn of his new home at the Naval Observatory. And Sarah Palin would be preparing to assume the Office of the Presidency, following John McCain’s impending stroke.
I gave my time for you, Barack...time I took away from my family. I gave my money to you. I campaigned actively for you, and spent 16 hours at polls for you, without a bathroom break. My family members made Election Day phone calls and drove hundreds to the polls. With your inspiration and our perspiration, we brought 9,000,000 people to your New Party, and promised them a big bow on a gift-wrapped Change Administration, dedicated to doing EVERYTHING the way it was never done before.
When do those 9,000,000 voters get to unwrap that gift, Mr. President?
Did you ever really have the gift of Change to give? Or, was it just a prop?
Don’t do this, Mr. President.
Don’t treat either those 9,000,000 new voters who elected you...or those of us who believed enough to make sure they made it to the polls...in a way which makes them know that Change was never possible. This IS the New Politics which you promised, Mr. President. And, if you do not deliver, on your message of Change... there are only two possible results.
- Those 9,000,000 new voters go away, and never come back...in which case not only you, but every Democrat that follows you, loses in 2012 and beyond, in a huge way.
Or 2...9,000,000 people who feel they were lied to...DO come out, over and over and over...to punish you and every Democrat who follows you...in which case we lose in 2012, and beyond, in a huge way.
I said at the beginning of this piece...I still believe.
But, if you wanted Hillary, and were not afraid of Bill...the time to make that Statement was at the Democratic Convention. Joe Biden, great guy that he is...was not Change. None of your Transitional Appointments have been Change, nor is Vice President-Elect Biden’s selection of the former Chief of Staff to Al Gore. Hillary Clinton is far more qualified to have been Vice President than she is Secretary of State...and Bill Richardson, is far more qualified to be Secretary of State, than is Hillary Clinton. Yes, Chicago is yet another of Hillary’s claimed hometowns, and you do have an understandable allegiance to anyone from The Windy City.
However...ALL OF US...yourself included, have worked too hard, to hand 2012 over to the other side, before you are even sworn into Office.
At the Catholic Roast in New York, you changed your middle name to "Steve," in fun, as part of your presentation. If you now feel compelled to change your name to "Barack Jefferson Clinton IV"...for real...you will be that one term President, which Hillary Rodham Clinton prays for you to be, each and every night of her life.
Deliver the CHANGE which you promised, Mr. President...the sake of the 9,000,000 new voters who elected you, the rest of us who believe in you, all of the citizens of this nation, and every Democrat whose name is placed in nomination for the next forty years.