"As an Obama supporter and contributor, I've been very gratified by his dignified deportment and steadiness at the helm to date. But I must admit to puzzled disappointment with his recycling of Clinton era veterans, who reek of déjà vu. Surely we might have expected a better mix of fresh faces and progressive voices? Obama's team may have underestimated the labyrinthine personal interconnections and habit-worn loyalties of that cliquish crew."As for Obama's appointment of Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, what sense does that make except within parochial Democratic politics? Awarding such a prize plum to Hillary may be a sop to her aggrieved fan base, but what exactly are her credentials for that position? Aside from being a mediocre senator (who, contrary to press reports, did very little for upstate New York), Hillary has a poor track record as both a negotiator and a manager. And of course both Clintons constantly view the world through the milky lens of their own self-interest. Well, it's time for Hillary to put up or shut up. If she gets as little traction in world affairs as Condoleezza Rice has, Hillary will be flushed down the rabbit hole with her feckless husband and effectively neutralized as a future presidential contender. If that's Obama's clever plan, is it worth the gamble? The secretary of state should be a more reserved, unflappable character -- not a drama queen who, even in her acceptance speech, morphed into three different personalities in the space of five minutes.
"Given Obama's elaborate deference to the Clintons, beginning with his over-accommodation of them at the Democratic convention in August, a nagging question has floated around the Web: What do the Clintons have on him? No one doubts that the Clinton opposition research team was turning over every rock in its mission to propel Hillary into the White House. There's an information vacuum here that conspiracy theorists have been rushing to fill."
That was Camille Paglia. She's even harder on the Clintons than I have been lately. But speaking of the Clintons. Here are some updates on the Clintonesque mess in Chicago. Just when President-elect Obama was hoping to leave the nagging questions of his Windy City connections behind, along comes another Chicago scandal to scrape from his shoe. So far, he's managed to distanced himself from this Crook County operator, the governor himself who was arrested for trying to sell Obama's senate seat to the highest bidder. This is truly unbelievable! And what a foul-mouth as he cusses out those who won't pay to play. Speaking of swearing, here's a sidenote as inauguration day approaches: Obama has to decide how to be sworn in. Should he use his middle name in his oath or to do what Ronald Reagan did and leave out "Wilson"? Apparently he has chosen to use his middle name when he takes the oath: Barack Hussein Obama. It was a no-win choice either way, but personally I wish he had followed Reagan's lead.
Chicago Update. Friday, December 12: This is going to get ugly. It's becoming vast--it may include conspiriacy, but it can't be blamed on the "Right Wing." And Rahm Emmanuel is right in the middle of it. Why? (A) He is part of the Chicago machine, and currently holds the same 5th District congressional seat that Blagojevich vacated to become governor and (B) Contrary to Obama's first report, Emmanuel is the high-ranking transition team member who has indeed been in multiple conversations with "Blogo" about Obama's senate seat. True, he did not agree to "pay to play" to get their first choice appointed, but neither did he blow the whistle on what FBI tapes may reveal he knew was going on. Not a good start for the newly named Chief of White House staff (if he retains that appointment).Update: December 16 "Obama's lips are needlessly sealed," and my take on Emmanuel's silence is confirmed.
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3 comments:
I've been busy getting ready for Christmas, but I've read your post (more than once) and now the update. I agree. Why didn't the Obama team blow the whistle on Blogo? Surely they knew what he was up to. This whole thing eats away at Obama's credibility when it comes to transparency and ethics reform. I bet not much will come of this in Obama's regard though, because our nation has so many economic problems confronting it that take priority over this.
I posted something to my blog the early part of the month. I hope you have a chance to stop by and read it.
SQ,
This is pretty close to home for you, isn't it. SNL really lampooned him tonight. I think in today's culture, by Saturday at 11:35 a politician knows if he's toast or not. In this case Blogo is burnt toast. He'll resign soon, and then between him and Rezko talking behind closed doors, there's no telling what all Obama will need to scrape from his shoe before January 20th. I did not see this one comin'.
Glad to see you've posted. I'll be there soon.
I've been busy too...and haven't stopped by until today (12/21). I don't listen to the news alot, but doesn't it seem like not much is being said about the politics in IL. since the "scandle" first hit the airwaves?? People, as usual, seem complascent to what is happening. That is, until their own wallets (jobs etc.) are hit. If it's not up-close and personal, people just don't seem to care.
Integrity and character still matter to me!! Why is it though that it doesn't seem to matter to the masses????
WSL
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