Open thread: Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State?
Hillary Clinton
Sources say President-elect Barack Obama asked Sen. Hillary Clinton to be his secretary of state. The job offer probably has her calculating the benefits to her of accepting such a position. Among those benefits probably is an offer from Obama to help her fundraising efforts to retire her campaign debt.
The the real benefits seem greater: Clinton is well liked internationally, in large part because of her many trips abroad as First Lady when Bill Clinton was president. She is a known policy wonk and well-versed in international issues. She also is friendly with Vice President-elect Joe Biden, a foreign policy expert.
But she would be giving up major status as an influential U.S. senator, a position through which she could both influence the Obama administration while maintaining independence from it should she seek another shot at the presidency.
Neither Clinton’s staff nor Obama’s transition team would comment on the speculation.
Would Clinton make a good secretary of state? Does Obama owe it to her supporters to bring her into his administration? Would it be worth it to Clinton to take the job, if it indeed has been or will be offered? Is there anyone else who would make a better secretary of state under Obama?
Jamie Riley is the P-D letters editor and gatekeeper of the letters blog. Before joining the editorial page in May 2005, she was a reporter and page designer. Jamie lives in University City with her husband, Charles, daughter, Elise, and the world's best Jack Russell terrier, Logan, better known as Stinky. 
This is just too much fun!
Calling Joe Biden a foreign policy expert — it makes you seem foolish.
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You’ve got to be kidding. I’ve made a lot of trips overseas, been around the world six times. Does that make me qualified? Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, here comes this. It’s going to be a long, miserable four years.
Bill Richardson. Colin Powell. Winnie the Pooh. Just about anyone.
Why can’t that lady see we *don’t* like her, and she doesn’t represent America? If she has any sense, she will stay in the Senate, where she can do some good, but not be a big cheese.
I hope this is simply a trial balloon. Bill Richardson would be a better choice for Secretary of State.
I’m glad that you guys put Hillary’s name under that picture, because really, it is such a horrible picture that I don’t know if I would have recognized her.
Colin Powell would be a good SOS. That would also usher in the new phrase of “multi-patisan”, as opposed to Bi-partisan. Him, and Joe Lieberman, could start their own party. I would be okay with that, and would probably be allowed to join. As long as Koster didn’t join, I would.
Well why not Hillary, she has as much experience as Obama does being President. None! And they elected him.
I’m sure she will impress world leaders with all her pants suits. She’s so feminine and ladylike.
Hillary Clinton? What kind of change is that?
I heard Mort Kondrike say on Fox yesterday that this was a good move because it would ensure that Hillary would not challenge the One in 2012. Anybody who thinks this will buy her loyalty is smoking some of that stuff that Bill did not inhale. I still think she will become a Republican over the next few years. She could beat Palin, the party is in disarray, there are no stars in the GOP sky yet and after four years of the big O, she will seem like a conservative.
The SOS job used to be the recognized stepping stone to the presidency. Of course, that was because the VP was part of the opposition party. So Hillary in the SOS job? Hmmm… I would not vote for her as a Republican, so hopefully she stays all the way over there on the far left side, where she rightfully belongs…
I can see her pulling an Alexander Haig on us. “So who’s in charge here right now?” “As of right now, I AM.” Yeah, that went over REALLY well.