All This Is That National Affairs Correspondent
Painting by Jack Brummet
Click the BFFs to enlarge
Global warming definitely exists, at least in the relationship between the two former arch-rivals Ex-Senator Obama and Senator Clinton. They are now unquestionably the most powerful man and woman in the Democratic Party (and soon, arguably, the world).
After all the bitterness on the campaign trail, Hillary's masterful speech at the Dem's convention this summer sealed it. In fact, Obama's top aides jumped out of their seats backstage and gave her a standing ovation as she walked by.
Obama soon called to thank her. Fast forward to when--->>
Late last week future President Obama reassured Clinton she would have direct access to him and that she could select her own staff as secretary of state. And the deal was done.
Some people even think ('though most people doubt) that Obama and Clinton could become close friends. There is a lot of mutual respect and they are both extremely intelligent. As it turns out, Obama is much more a centrist that the rabid Obamanistas could have ever believed, which seems to be a page from the Bill Clinton playbook. Dean Acheson was no friend of President Harry Truman and Henry Kissinger, while in agreement with Dick Nixon intellectually, clearly was no personal friend. Rusk, McNamara, et al. were not JFK pals, and were, in fact, more conservative. It will be fascinating to watch the relationship unfold between Clinton and Obama. . .whether it becomes a train wreck, or whether they become close, or even BFFs, as they work the world.
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I may be a rabid obamanista cause I believe BHO is going to be far more progressive than these early picks might indicate. I think he is making sure not to pull any alarms during his "prez elect" phase. What do you want to bet we see Samantha Power in an important role in his administration? For now, he is in soothing mode, from Lieberman to his early cabinet selections. If he ultimately selects Napolitano for DHS we will have to wonder what kind of assurances he got from McGump in return for clearing his path to reelection in 2010.
ReplyDeleteI too believe BHO will be more progressive than it might look at the moment...
ReplyDeleteHe will come up with a very progressive stimulus plan...and straight from FDR's playbook...ones the GOP has no choice but to swallow.
He's doing everything right so far.
Politically, he's like cuomo, FDR, JFK,LBJ and WJC all rolled up into one.
And politically, I think you know I am a pragmatist. But then, once he has his foot in the door, I really have no problem if he starts quoting from Das Kapital and runs the hammer and sickle up the flagpole.
If he wants to raise my taxes--and he's said he does--well, then, fine.
I like that he's getting down to business.
Samantha Power in an important role? Maybe. But he already gave away the job I wish she had.
How easy will it be for him to bring her into the tent, considering his SoS????
- GAWP
ReplyDelete- What was that?
- The GOP swallowing
That's some scary DEM DNA you've cooked up.
It is some scary DNA for the G.O.P., and I think apt. I think we're going to see a very meek and factionalized and marginalized group of Repubs this next term. We;ll let them get their noses in the tent. And that's about it.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading Team of Rivals about Abraham Lincoln who brought in many of the people he ran against. Maybe Obama is trying to do the same thing. Given how well he ran his campaign I think he might have the management chops to pull it off.
ReplyDelete