Before Hillary Clinton has been formally offered the job as Secretary of State, a purge of Barack Obama's top foreign policy team has begun.
The advisers who helped trash the former First Lady's foreign policy credentials on the campaign trail are being brutally shunted aside, as the price of her accepting the job of being the public face of America to the world. In negotiations with Mr Obama this week before agreeing to take the job, she demanded and received assurances that she alone should appoint staff to the State Department. She also got assurances that she will have direct access to the President and will not have to go through his foreign policy advisers on the National Security Council, which is where many of her critics in the Obama team are expected to end up.
The first victims of Mrs Clinton's anticipated appointment will be those who defended Mr Obama's flanks on the campaign trail. By mocking Mrs Clinton's claims to have landed under sniper fire in Bosnia or pouring scorn on her much-ballyhooed claim to have visited 80 countries as First Lady they successfully deflected the damaging charge that he is a lightweight on international issues.
Foremost among the victims of the purges is her old Yale Law School buddy Greg Craig, a man who more than anyone led the rescue of [Bill Clinton's] presidency starting the very night Kenneth Starr's lurid report into the squalid details of the former president's sex scandal with Monica Lewinsky were published on the internet in 1998. Despite his long and loyal friendship with the Clintons, Mr Craig threw his lot in with Mr Obama at an early stage in the presidential election campaign. As if that betrayal to the cause of the Clinton restoration was not enough, Mr Craig did more to undermine Mrs Clinton's claims to be a foreign policy expert than anyone else in the some of the ugliest exchanges of the battle for the Democratic nomination.
Until this week he was poised to be the eminence grise of the State Department, organising as total revamp of America's troubled foreign policies on Mr Obama's behalf. Its turns out that Mrs Clinton's delay in accepting the president elect's offer to be his top foreign policy adviser had much to do with her negotiating the terms of the job and insisting on the right to choose her own state department staff and possibly even some of the plumb Ambassador postings. She wanted guarantees of direct access to the president without having to go through his national security adviser. . . .
Mr Craig's crime was not so much that he enthusiastically backed Mr Obama for President and helped run his foreign policy advisory panel, it was his lacerating attacks on the putative Secretary of State's claims that she passed the "Commander-in-Chief test" as a foreign policy expert in the Clinton Administration. In a devastating memo of 11 March last, which he addressed "to interested parties," Mr Craig said: There is no reason to believe, however, that she was a key player in foreign policy at any time during the Clinton Administration. She did not sit in on National Security Council meetings. She did not have a security clearance. She did not attend meetings in the Situation Room. She did not manage any part of the national security bureaucracy, nor did she have her own national security staff." . . . The memo went on to say that Mrs Clinton "never answered the phone either to make a decision on any pressing national security issue not at 3 AM or at any other time of day." Earlier this week Mr Craig was tapped to become White House counsel, a totally anonymous position, and shunted him out of the line of fire from the Secretary of State.
A question remains about the fate of Susan Rice, the public face of Mr Obama's foreign policy throughout the campaign. She too had been expected to take a prominent position at the State department, but in a conference call with reporters during the campaign she ridiculed Mr Clinton's claims to foreign Policy experience. She may now end up as Deputy national Security adviser to the president, in the expectation that she would be frozen out by Mrs Clinton at the State Department, a situation that does not augur well for the future.
Hope and change! Hope and change! We are the ones we have been waiting for!
Posted by: Mike ||
11/23/2008 09:59 ||
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#1
Not thrilled about Clinton's third term, but definitely better than FDR's fifth term, or Carter's second.
#13
The growing number of Clintonistas and the beast herself as State are beginning to make me wonder if Obama is being controlled(blackmailed) over his dubious citizenship or ssome other issue.
#15
With no actual abilities he ran and won the President's seat. He has no clue how to run a country or even how our government works. He is probably now scared to death that he will actually have to make a decision. The only democrats that have any salt are the clintons, even though I don't like them, they are better than anything else the dems have to offer. He is scrambling for anyone that can actually spell State dept. The last thing he wants is to fail miserably.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
11/23/2008 17:32 Comments ||
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#16
reminds me of "The Candidate" where Redford gets in the car after winning the campaign and says "what do we do now?"
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/23/2008 17:35 Comments ||
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#17
The last thing he wants is to fail miserably.
He may not want it, but it's coming to him. I plan to do my small part in bringing that home to him with a great deal of vigor.
#18
I doubt the bugger thought that he had a snowball's chance in hell of winning nomination, let alone the election. Beyond the campaign rhetoric he's clueless, no solid plan, no team. Probably more shocked at his win than any of us. The Clintonista redux may be due to his asking Rahm, WTF do I do now, and Rahm ringing up everyone on his rolodex from the bad old days. I smell industrial strength panic.
#19
He is probably now scared to death that he will actually have to make a decision.
He should be. The experience issue was ignored or derided during the campaign, but even the mayor of Podunk, USA has to make decisions. Do we fix the office copier or plow the roads this winter? As a community organizer, you can sit around making jaw-jaw about mission statements and position papers and who to extort next for grant money. Quite different from the proverbial 3am phone call.
The weekend isn't bringing any respite in the Minnesota Senate recount.
Ballots in the ultra-close race between Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken are being counted in at least three counties today. Fifty-three counties have reported complete results to the secretary of state, meaning fewer than three dozen remain. As of Friday night, at least 60 percent of the estimated 2.9 million ballots had gotten a second look.
Coleman entered the recount with a 215-vote edge over Franken. That lead has dropped when comparing totals in precincts where the new count is complete. But the total doesn't include ballot challenges, which have caused vote tallies for both men to drop. There have been 1,525 challenges between the campaigns, although some could be withdrawn before the Canvassing Board's Dec. 16 meeting.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
11/23/2008 00:00 ||
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Two more senior managers at the Ohio agency where computers were used to dig up information about "Joe the Plumber" have been suspended without pay for their roles in the searches, an official at the agency said Friday.
Let's consider this: suppose someone had confronted John McCain during a tour of a swing state, one that's controlled by Republicans. How about Indiana. Now suppose that officials in Indiana abused their positions to toss the files of said individual. And now suppose the Republican governor had passed out 2 and 4 week suspensions for the guilty officials.
Now ask: how do you think the MSM would have handled it?
Fred Williams, the Department of Job and Family Services' assistant director, will be placed on two weeks unpaid suspension beginning Monday, spokeswoman Scarlett Bouder said in a statement. Doug Thompson, the department's deputy director of child support, is facing a four-week unpaid suspension, also starting on Monday. Two other agency employees are facing disciplinary action based on conclusions reached Thursday by Ohio's government watchdog, she said.
The department's director, Helen Jones-Kelley, improperly ordered staff to look up records on Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, the Toledo-area man who became a household name in the final weeks of the presidential campaign, Ohio Inspector General Thomas Charles said in a report. Gov. Ted Strickland immediately ordered Jones-Kelley be placed on a one-month unpaid suspension after reviewing the report's findings.
Charles' report also outlines roles played by Williams and Thompson in the searches, as well as Paul Fraunholtz, the deputy director of family stability, and Judi Cicatiello, the deputy director of unemployment compensation.
Fraunholtz and Cicatiello will receive written reprimands, and all four employees must undergo ethics training on handling confidential data, Bouder said.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/23/2008 00:00 ||
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#2
If they'd been seaching medical records, it'd be a federal beef. As it is, it looks like RICO should apply here...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
11/23/2008 1:07 Comments ||
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#3
Fred is right. If this had been republicans, the MSM would have gobe into a feeding frenzy.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
11/23/2008 1:54 Comments ||
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#4
Does Joe have any legal recourse?
Posted by: One Eyed Mike N. ||
11/23/2008 1:56 Comments ||
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#5
Legal recourse? Anyone can sue Bush, Cheney or Rove any time for anything. Joe probably can't get the time of day from the legal system on this mess...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
11/23/2008 2:04 Comments ||
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#6
You notice that at first they were trying to blame the clerk that actually was ordered to do the search. Glad the blame is going in the direction of the Supervisors that actually ordered the search.
#8
And the somewhat clandestine 'Joe the Plumber' illegal gov't investigation went up the chain of command exactly how far? I smell more smelly fish in that pond.
#9
The election is over, but Joe the Plumber continues to root out evil in Ohio government. Hip, hip horray for Joe!
Posted by: Richard of Oregon ||
11/23/2008 8:46 Comments ||
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#10
We threw Taft out because the dumb ass couldn't say "No" to lobbists buying him golf outings. Strickland ran on the idea that he was the ethical candidate.
Plain as day, Strickland shows us that, in his mind, abuse of the public trust is no big deal.
#12
Now ask: how do you think the MSM Donk party propaganda organs would have handled it?
I believe its now been pretty well established that the MSM is simply the sock puppet of one party in the vast majority's perspective. The mask is off.
#14
Any plaintiff's attorney's reading this, here's a question.
If nothing else, could Joe construct a claim of damages with a floor amount of the value of all the "unpaid" leaves and suspensions and vacations which are piling up? It seems the state is admitting damage to at least that extent. Now, the rest of his claims could be the damages above and beyond that, but the state as kindly started digging the hole their in.
When Mayor Bloomberg deployed his vast personal and political power to overturn the term limits law, he began to demystify the public relations image he had purchased at considerable expense.
It was only then that New Yorkers began to recognize the danger of making Gotham's wealthiest man its chief executive. That recognition is the reason his approval rating slipped by nine points in the latest Marist poll. The public chose a mayor; they didn't expect an elected monarch.
The latest furor over his unaccountable power is his unlawful refusal to send out property tax rebate checks that have been due since Oct. 1. "We have no money . . . this is not a legal issue, it's a fiscal issue," he says, an argument that boils down to "I know better."
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
11/23/2008 00:00 ||
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Bloomberg is used to operating in boom times. His company was/is extremely successful riding two waves: the internet and credit derivatives (Bloomberg's first product was proprietary pricing and tracking of mortgage loan pools). Never in his career in business or mayor has he ever had to face falling revenues.
Change we can believe in has some old, familiar faces.
United States President-elect Barack Obama has chosen Tom Daschle as the next Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/23/2008 00:00 ||
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#2
could be worse - Teh One could've selected someone competent to implement National Health Care. Tom Thumb will just be "disappointed" often
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/23/2008 8:24 Comments ||
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The Canadians at least had the US to go to for competent and swift medical care. God knows where we will have to go after a Nationalized Health Insurance System is passed. And any system designed by Teddy K and with Tiny Tom running it, one can have no doubts about its overwhelming cost being matched to incomparable incompetence.
#4
The US already spends 16-17% of GDP and rising, while other advanced nations spend 10% or less with a higher proportion of old folks. There is nobody In the US keeping a lid on the money jar and demand to stay alive is infinite. This is not sustainable and will collapse on itself and take the country's finances (what little is left) with it.
Rationing is coming either by restrictive health insurance policies, limited personal finances or government a set pool of taxpayer money.
Posted by: ed ||
11/23/2008 11:25 Comments ||
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#5
or government payed health care limited by a set pool of taxpayer money.
Posted by: ed ||
11/23/2008 11:28 Comments ||
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#6
Gosh, ed, maybe that's why our health care is so much better. Rationing? That sounds awfully "big government" to me. I'll pass if you don't mind.
Now here's a blast from the past regarding former Senator Daschle which helps explain why he's the former senator.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
11/23/2008 14:50 Comments ||
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You won't have a choice. Baby boomers still begin reaching retirement age in 2011. The medical bill for them will exceed Social Security outlays or any other group of budget outlays. 16-17% of GDP today, 20% in 1016, 30% in 2040. Get the picture? If not, this may help: Population Pyramid Summary for United States
Posted by: ed ||
11/23/2008 14:59 Comments ||
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#8
will begin
Posted by: ed ||
11/23/2008 14:59 Comments ||
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#9
All these Clinton retreads are like a nightmare to a Bandag process worker.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
11/23/2008 15:44 Comments ||
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#10
Obamarx needs scapegoats after the whole system collapses. That is why he populated his staff with clintonistas. When this part of the play ends, heads will roll. Mayhaps even literally.
One of the things you are probably not taking into account is the number of boomers who will NOT be retiring early because of the market meltdown. Anyone who had a ten year or less timeframe for bailing has now seen that jump back up to 15 or more. If we inflate after this crash it will be even worse.
#14
That is exactly correct Jolutch, and recovery is nowhere in sight or "gov't guaranteed." Having to postpone one's retirement for 5-10-15 years is not a pleasant prospect for most people, democrat or republican. Even if the market recovers next Spring as some are saying, I'm not convinced people (boomers anyway) are going to remain in it for a possible repeat of what we are now experiencing. I just don't think they trust the system any longer. Investor strategy may have taken a significantly different course.
#15
The majority of a lifetime's medical expenses are in the last few years of life, esp last 6 months. Putting off retirement won't materially affect that. Even if it did, the graphs at the link show the population over 65 exploding and they will expect their Medicare.
Posted by: ed ||
11/23/2008 20:20 Comments ||
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#16
all we need to do is shift the minimum age fro medicare up to say 72 or 75 and enough will die before eligibility to make it work. especially with the overall downturn of quality and preventative treatments as rationing ala Canada and England kicks in.
Posted by: Abu do you love ||
11/23/2008 22:06 Comments ||
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#17
But someone still has to pay for services before Medicare. If a 70 year old is working, insurance will have to pay or out of pocket or Medicaid if too poor. No society can afford to spend 30-40% of GDP on health care. The only other alternative is a blanket denial of care (not likely) or rationing of health care, prioritize treatments and deny the low priority. That means dead people, esp the old as their treatment will buy little extra time and they have already had a chance at a full life.
Posted by: ed ||
11/23/2008 22:18 Comments ||
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#18
if patients had to pay market prices, self rationing and market forces would take care of it.
the main reason for most of this in US is that the end consumer does not pay the market price. costs are shielded form the user by hidden forces like lower wages from the employer etc. you copay never changes, so why shop around? no market forces at all and the perception of 'it doesn't cost me anything' means over use of a scarce resource that is overpriced beyond sensible market sustainability.
Posted by: Abu do you love ||
11/23/2008 23:24 Comments ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
