I’m going to be gone all weekend, and likely won’t get a chance to post much. But I’ve got a few random issues I’ve been noodling over for the past couple days, so I’ll try and get them up tonight.
First on the list is the news that Hillary Clinton has flown to Chicago, presumably to interview for Secretary of State? I don’t have a strong opinion on this were it to pan out, but my first reaction is that it would be a somewhat unorthodox choice, for a number of reasons.
First, I’m not sure exactly what is in it for Hillary. She doesn’t seem the type who would particularly enjoy the charge of implementing Obama’s plans. Beyond that, it would bump her out of the Senate which seems like a long and plentiful road. But I wasn’t convinced she really wanted to run for president either and clearly that was wrong.
Second, State doesn’t seem like an ideal fit, even if she did theoretically want to be part of the Administration. I know it’s high-powered, but for all the talk of experience during the primaries, is there any particular reason to think she’d be better at this part of the job than the other candidates? I’m not sure. That said – and maybe it’s just the pain of four years ago speaking – I think I would rest a little easier knowing that Hillary was on the job over John Kerry.
All that said, Hillary is awesome and tremendously competent (especially when she’s not listening to people like Mark Penn), and would really help to bolster the administration. I’m not sure what it would do for health care. Having her as an advocate in the Senate would be valuable, but having her on the inside of the White House team (even in a role that doesn’t really relate to it) might help them to keep all the balls in the air. And maybe she could push for a more comprehensive plan.
It’s all just speculation of course. But if Hillary were appointed, I think it would also speak well to my previous thoughts about what we might be able to intuit out of Obama’s first appointments. She would certainly have no reservations about speaking her mind, and would have a lot to contribute.