And the Oscar for best original screenplay goes to...ta, taaa...

ALBERTO!!!!

And, Waxman just beat Dingell!!!!

YEAH!!!!!!!!

On a slightly serious note, I'm still  hoping for a rescue mutt. Would set a good example for the country, rather than leading to a flurry of overbreading for all the overindulged kids who have to have the same puppy as Malia and Sasha.

Not of simiar importance to Guantanimo or international human rights abuses, I grant you. But puppies are important too.

their camp is showing the same pshycodrama tendencies they always had.....and the state department is such an important job for these shenanigans to part of it....I now firmly believe, that these media fiascos will follow Hillary there......I don't want that, and it has nothing to do with her qualifications.

and be done away with all the drama.

P.S. - Before everyone starts flaming me, I do have five dogs.

amk

Send this everywhere Al...I'm going to!

This is a perfect satire of what is going on...

waterprise2 AKA Pam

Liberal with a Capital L!

I think it's good they're going with a young pup because the last thing the White House needs is the dog's mate to be constantly scratching and howling at the back door to be let in.

@Jason

fabulous!

http://digg.com/politics/BREAKING_Tensions_Erupt_Over_White_House_Puppy_...

Nice parody Al. I really enjoy this: "George Stephanopoulos' report" ... this: "two Democratic Party sources told Andrea Mitchell" ... and this: "The Huffington Post has cited three sources close to Rex..."

On a different note, try this thought experiment. Picture two universes and the SoS in each. In one a hawkish Senator who voted for AUMF, Kyl-Lieberman, Armed Services committe experience and very deep ties to money of defense industry. In the second a person known for diplomatic talent, commitment to human rights and experience living in other cultures.

How would the US's strongest allies react? How would the US's most active enemies react?

Part of the answer is that when we put forward diplomacy and commitment to human rights, our nation is no longer the recruiting poster for terrorism and repressive governments around the globe. Check out this interesting summary of quotes concerning Iran:

http://www.motleymoose.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=668

amk

passed over for this important appointment, that there will be a bone tossed his way to ease the disappointment.

Cutest puppy EVER. Is that a google find or does Al know this dog personally?

thoroughly to know if he has the tendency to bite the hand that feeds him, a la Barney.

amk

I think that "lol" is way over-used, but so very, very true in this instance!  Al, I've been meaning to mention just how GREAT I think all your recents posts have been.  You're always my fav, but you've been uber-spot-on lately, and this is just the Liver Snap on top of the bowl of Kibbles N Bits.  Thanks.

Boy was I surprised to see that sweet Golden face here, of all places. Running the largest website in the world on Goldens and a nonprofit providing money for cancer treatment and research in comparative oncology, I can tell you that I hope there is no Golden in that new little pup. It will just spur too many senseless purchases by folks of sweet Golden pups who very quickly show their sporting dog needs for serious obedience school learning, which many do not have the time for.

Of course, the real reason for dropping by was to get Al's opinion on the continuing Clinton circus. Even with the joy of Waxman's victory this morning, the nonstop "will she or won't she" nonsense is taking the glow off of the supposedly no drama Obama transition.

 Love the satire. Need to spend some time reading all the posts I missed. No HRC for SoS!

Thanks for the best parody of the Clinton machine and its spin since, since, since I don't know when!

Brilliant...simply brilliant.

but would it be so impossible to imagine Hillary Clinton being considered for Secretary of State in a McCain transition... going on in some (horrifying) alternate universe?  You know, his big "bi-partisan" choice in forming the new McCain administration.

You know Sen. Joe Lieberman (Ind. Republican - Connecticut) would be all for it.  But given the primary and general election rhetoric, couldn't Sen. Clinton just as easily carry out McCain's foreign policy?  Maybe easier??

If so, does this tell us anything about Sen. Clinton as Secretary of State for President-elect Obama?

Be bi-partisan and equal oppertunity.

Piss on them all!!!

One early favorite in the pack of contenders, Lobo Laboy-Brauer, was eliminated in part because of his Mexican heritage, even though he was able to produce papers, after this image was broadcast on Lou Dobbs:

IS LOBO A WETBACK?

"How do we beat the bitch?"

Silence from the sadly anti-canine GOP leadership.

What if this whole Hillary as SOS was a trial balloon or a test of sorts, but not in the way that has been suggested? What if this was Barack's test for Hillary? Would she be discreet? Would there be drama? Would she and her team be heavy-handed?  Would there be power plays? Would she show by her actions that she would be a team player in his administration?

If I'm right, and the conversation between Hillary and Barack about a possible position in the cabinet was the prelim, then Hillary and her team has failed the test.

I don't believe for a minute that our President-Elect will let himself be boxed in - no way.  Barack knows that our world is a total mess and he will not squander all the goodwill he has in the world by appointing Hillary to a position he does not want her in.  He may choose her for SOS (though I don't believe he will), but if he does, it will be because he sees a strong value to our country in doing so.

Loved the story, by the way!

Loved it.

===========

Jason: thumbs up.

While caretakers and aides to Rex now confirm that a formal adoption offer has not been made, two sources familiar with the situation say that top breeding officials in the Obama administration are currently examining Rex's ties to two-time kennel club champion Blue Bull, a prized bulldog whose pedigree papers are owned and sponsored by a variety of private subsidiaries and corporate interests.

Bull's future publicity appearances, food commercials and overseas competitions are now expected to be monitored closely by Obama transition advisors.

Developing....

Michelle Obama reminded everyone that the selection of the dog was on hold until late winter or early spring. She said "As responsible dog-owners-to-be, our first priority is to get settled in our new home and new school. Then, we will welcome the first pet into our lives."

The blogosphere errupted with multiple diaries wondering just what going on within the Obama camp.

Thanks Al for a great laugh!

I was JUST floating exactly the same theory to my family last night!  That Obama used an SoS float as a test...Could she be a team player and keep her minions under control?  Guess he received the results I'm sure he expected...that an old dog really can't learn new tricks.  

And please....no slamming me for equating HRC with a dog.  Just my lame attempt to make my comments fit in with the meme of this post.

... is Rex scheduled to give his first interview to Couric? And will she ask him about rumors that he once dogged sniper fire which, it is claimed, would uniquely qualify him for the job of White House dog?

I'm digging (no pun intended) some of the feigned liberal outrage over at Daily Kos.

“That's so not cute!!!!” “It was almost sexism!”

So feigned in fact, that the diary is now on the top recommended list. Some people just need to get a sense of humor.

I dunno, I suppose the notion that it was a test of HRC's discretion isn't entirely out of the realm of possibility, but if true, it does strikely as a distinctly non-Obaman form of manipulation.

Surprisingly, Blue Bull has turned over his pedigree papers to the transition advisors and has agreed to forego his publicity appearances, food commercials and overseas competitions. Is he doing this just to clear the way for Rex, or is he in the running for a puppy appointment, too?

I don't know what happened to my other post from earlier...I sent this post all over...loved it, loved it, loved it.

but lots of people here are happy about Waxman defeating Dingle...I guess I, a lonely Michigander, is not very happy about it. Living in Detroit is extremely stressful right now...if no one has a job, how will other small businesses (like mine) survive with no one to buy their products?

waterprise2 AKA Pam

Liberal with a Capital L!

You know, I had originally meant to type "Blue Bill." Freudian slip? I report, you decide!

To answer your question though, I wouldn't pretend to know what the Big Dog is really after. But he does appear to have been leashed temporarily.

In many ways the efforts of Dingle on behalf of the big 3 are what have led them to the point they are in.  If they hadn't been fighting against higher fuel standards for years they would be much better off right now.

I'm not trying to be unsympathetic I think we need to try and save our auto industry being from Ohio I understand how much our economy depends on it.  I just don't know that Dingle is the right man for the job.

http://www.azstarnet.com/viewphoto2.php?src=http%3A//www.azstarnet.com/s...

@Paul

I know that dingle and the Big 3 ignored a whole lot of things they should not have, but I also know that they started making changes awhile ago.

The O-man came to the Detroit Economic Club last year and said just that...he didn't win any popularity contests with the CEOs!

But I just want to know why we (meaning Detroit) are being pilloried like this (I know about the corporate jets)...and I also know way too many people who put in 30-40 years at the plant just building what they were told to build but who nobody else is thinking about now.

The AIGs, etc. didn't have to go through this public embarrassment; and because of the greater economic credit crisis, nobody can buy cars even if they have a job and want to buy what Detroit makes.  People forget about that, too.

People here in Detroit are almost afraid to leave their houses to buy anything...even gas @ $1.76/gallon!

I know what Dingle did and didn't do, but I guess I feel really piled upon as a Detroiter...because I'm one of the little guys.

waterprise2 AKA Pam

Liberal with a Capital L!

I think you're barking up the wrong tree re: Big Boy Blue Bill...errr Bull.  Just because he's looking up at you all innocent doesn't mean he wasn't the one who pulled everything out of the garbage [or that he's actually cooperating as he professes].  :-)

How about this one?  http://www.newsobserver.com/802/story/1302184.html

"I saw something big and blond and thought it was a person." It was a blond all right, but it had four legs instead of two. "It was unbelievable," Lamont said. "My whole life I've been on the water, and I've never seen a dog like that. I said 'Good grief.' "

"The moral of the story is don't leave your dog unattended in the marsh."

Some dogs just don't know when they're out of their depth, I guess.

@Pam

I fully repspect the work of the Big 3 worker.  I don't blame them for this, it's their management that I'm angry at.

If only the Big 3 management has put pressure on washington for universal health care 40 years ago perhaps we wouldn't be in this boat.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/20/waxman-beats-dingell-in-d_n_145178.html

What about giving those hefty bailout funds directly to employees who lose their jobs and let companies declare bankruptcy?  Offer generous (and I mean generous) packages to all employees below threshhold of sr. most mgmt (including extended severance packages, vocational training stipends or relocation funds, back-stop their pensions and offer mortgage relief if necessary...)  I know, I know... unlikely. 

That could put the money directly back into hands of individuals as well as local economy and force car company senior mgmt to take another look at their business model.

@Lisa

I don't know if bailing out the autoworkers would help much at least in Michigan.  Even with retraining there wouldn't be jobs for them to take once the car companies are gone.  Unless the plan created new jobs in the sames areas they are lost I don't think that sort of plan would work.

Have a look.

http://www.sonyclassics.com/whokilledtheelectriccar/

Al,

Your posts about the Hillary drama have been such a comfort to me.  Your analysis is always spot on and your writing is just terrific.  This post about the puppy had me screaming with laughter.

BTW, I saw an interesting post at Politico entitled "Senate Leadership Role for Hillary?"  More rumors.  A way out perhaps? I immediately thought of you when I saw that headline. I have whiplash from all of the back and forth. The Clinton drama is just exhausting.

Here's the link:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15841.html

Chris Matthews had a good discussion about Hillary tonight.  Basically, he said if we have this much drama now, just imagine the drama if she was SoS.   This just doesn't fit the Obama "No Drama" mantra.  Meanwhile, I haven't heard a peep out of Bill Richardson.

"NBC is now reporting Hillary Clinton will be named SOS after thanksgiving."  I read this at kos.  

that, and some "breaking" on CNN: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/13/hillary-clinton-secretary_n_143...

And on Politico: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15843.html

And this on TPM: http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/11/source_clinton_c...

If this isn't a done deal for real, the Clintons certainly are "all in."  Honestly, it's starting to wear even me down.  Put her in the frickin' cabinet already, let the Clintons be the Clintons & they'll provide an opportunity to cut them loose sooner rather than later... and I and my fellow NYers will be free of her, too.  Way to be a buzz-kill.  Oh, and have you seen the stuff on "The Crypt" about the Coumbian trade deal?  Scroll down to about 2pm.  http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/

Good night and good luck, indeed.

God help us all.

amk

no kidding.  

I love that we get to worry over things like this!!!

One of the most absurd paragraphs I have read in ages (in the NYT, of course) captures the Clinton drama with horrifying perfection: "One friend said Mrs. Clinton decided late Wednesday to say no, reasoning that she would have more freedom in the Senate. By midday Thursday, the friend said, she was 'back in the indecisive column again.' By the end of the day [today], another associate said she could accept by Friday."  Two unnamed "friends" or "associates" say that within 12 hours she has moved from rejecting, to pondering, to accepting an "offer" that may or may not exist. Of course, the article does not pose the the other possibilities--that no offer was given or that, despite vetting, no offer is forthcoming. But, honestly, if your "friends" and "associates" paint you as this indefinite--waffling every few hours between prospects that may be fantasies--what are we really seeing here other than the demise of American journalism? [Might we finally get some peep from Richardson or Susan Rice?] What is interesting in the article, is the stated intent by Reid to invent some other position of suitable stature for the Grand Dame should she deign to continue to grace the Senate with her shadow. Basta!

With the "two senior Obama aides." Dubious anonymous sourcing trifecta?

catch the CGI ad that ran on AC360, where this sos thingy was a "breaking" news ?  Clintons are being too clever by half ?

Gimme a break.

amk

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081120-eric-schmidts-shock-doctri...

Katie will ask, "before this media firestorm, what newspapers did you used to pee on, back at the shelter?".  In his first high profile gaffe, Rex will prove unable to name a single one.   Rex will swear off interviews with the "gotcha" media, only to reemerge afterwards in a one-on-one with Brit Hound, of FoxHound News. 

Si somos americanos, seremos buenos vecinos;
compartiremos el trigo,seremos buenos hermanos -- canción de Rolando Alarcón

President-elect Barack Obama will name Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) as his secretary of State shortly after Thanksgiving, two senior Obama aides told Politico's Mike Allen late Thursday. AP confirmed quickly thereafter.

A transition aide "told The Associated Press that the two camps have worked out financial disclosure issues involving Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, and the complicated international funding of his foundation that operates in 27 countries. The aide said Obama and Hillary Clinton have had substantive conversations about the secretary of state job."

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Its_official_Clinton_to_be_named_1120.html

Stop Hillary!

It is to repeal the law of physics so that the earth will stop rotating while "Hillary is making HER decision".

Brendan, thanks for that NYT link. I hope that it is complete fiction with regard to this:

"a transition official reached out to reporters Thursday night to say that the president-elect’s team believed things were on track with Mrs. Clinton and that her nomination could be announced after Thanksgiving."

Calling Samantha Power...allyee, allyee out are in free!!! Come home, we need you to TELL THE TRUTH again!

Brendan, thanks for the heads up - will be careful not to have breakfast b4 I read the Times. Really - it's getting to be barf time.

So, it's Samantha Power for SOS. That's the only way I can see any of this circus being beneficial.

offended if Obama ends up picking another woman ?

It's a slap on the face of women's movement, I tell'ya. Sheesh...

amk

Based on reports it seems Hillary will be SOS. I know some may be disappointed but it isn't the end of the world. We will not all agree with all of Obama's decisions but let us all give the man a chance to fully assemble his team and put his policies and vision for the country in place and then make judgements. Firstly I don't think Hillary will be doing anything out of line as the President is the one that sets the policies in place and runs the show. She now works for him not the other way around.If she went rogue(which she is too smart to do in my view) she would be out the door and her career over. The main focus of the next 4 years in my view is going to be the economy and digging ourselves out of this dreadful recession we have descended into thanks to Bush and his cronies. Everyone just take a deep breathe. The journey has just begun.

I have also heard reports James Jones might be installed as National Security adviser. If that turns out to be true, foreign policy decisions will definitely be made in the White House for sure and carried out by the State department. There will be no State department being autonomous and doing there own thing. Everything will be fine.

Nancy (20 Nov @ 1:53 pm) ---

My thoughts this week, precisely.

Also: All the drama around HRC creates an opportunity for Obama's transition team to vet other candidates, out of the spotlight --- where vetting should be conducted.

Has any reporter even bothered to ask what the transition's follow-up has been to Obama's meeting with Richardson last Friday? After all, the day-after reporting about that meeting was that State was the only issue on the table, whereas it reportedly was only one of a handful of options that Obama discussed with HRC last Thursday.   

Thank you. That is the stance I am taking. It's not the end of the world. Hillary is not stupid and she is not Bill. I'm waiting to see the rest of the team and learn what the policies will be. The policies set forth by the president and carried forth by his team will set our course. I'm excited and thankful we don't have McCain/Palin setting forth anything. Thank goodness!

Melissa, unfortunately, I'm not comforted.  I'm baffled.  Obama's whole mantra was "judgement" when it counted.  Judement, judgement, judgement.

Among other issues, Sen. Clinton lacked foresight about Iraq early on and she continued to support Bush and the Iraq war right up until she was on the campaign trail and realized her pro-Iraq war position might be hurting her campaign -- long after many others had seen the light.  She even talked about obliterating Iran. ETC....

I am struggling with your logic that Obama will ultimately be be running the show and can simply fire her if she doesn't stay in line.  Having been a manager all my life, I've learned that it's high risk to your own agenda if you play games.  If you have any doubts it is much, much easier not to hire someone and move on, than to fire someone later.  All kinds of problems with that scenario.

As others have said previously, if Sen Clinton is his choice, so be it.  But I still just don't get it.

Al, I have rarely needed an inoclulation since last February, but I feel symptoms coming on and could use a jolt from the doctor.  Alternatively, I think I am just going to tune out and stay away from main stream media again for a while.  That ought to help.

(John L. Thanks for your post above, my hunch has been Richardson all along.)

I just called the Obama-Biden Transition office at (202) 540-3000, and made my opposition to the potential HRC pick heard, loud and clear.  If you haven't called already, and you object as well, please call now. 

You will reach a real live person who will take down your viewpoint.  When I spoke with a team member just a few moments ago, he assured me that they have been charged with keeping a very accurate and complete count of the yea's and nay's on this topic.  He mentioned several times to me that the counts and reasons for opposition are absolutely being passed on to our President-Elect and his transition team, and encouraged me to let any other supporters of President-Elect Obama I know that they should call and be heard.  It was a very interesting exchange.

If you do NOT want the Clinton circus back in town, then please call now!  BE THE CHANGE.  Let's not give up this fight just yet!

The language of "inevitability" has certainly been picked up by almost every news outlet.  I am still struck (confused) by the silence of Richardson, Power, and Rice. And if anyone has evidence of new Obama pushbacks against the language of "inevitability," I'd appreciate it.  There is something odd about an announcement "after Thanksgiving." And the smugness of the reports about this is breathtaking: it's as if the writers are giving themselves high-fives for nailing this one--or turning THIS inevitability into... an inevitability.  (Something still isn't right.)

We have seen a pattern in all of Obama's announcements so far - Joe Biden, Rahm Emanuel, Eric Holder, Tom Daschle - Obama knows what he wants to do, he has a very firm grasp of his vision and goals, and he wants people in place who know the system and who can work the votes and the bureaucracy to get the legislation passed.  Foreign Policy of course is not legislation, but one possible reason I think that Obama may want Clinton in that position is that he wants to tap into Bill's experience when it comes to the Middle East peace.  This issue has been ignored for 8 years, but of all the foreign policy forays of the Clinton administration - some of which I did not agree with - in my opinion this was one area where Bill Clinton really worked very very hard on.  I wouldn't be surprised if he keeps Hillary on a short leash for about a year, and then if he has confidence in her, he may just say okay Middle East peace go for it.

There will be strong voices on foreign policy in the White House, including Obama himself, Biden, and whoever he names as National Security Adviser, and Hillary's will be one voice among many.

I've said it before, but I also think that Obama must have been personally impressed with Hillary and grew to like her post-primary.

Also, not that it excuses it, but I think Hillary was "acting" like a hawk during her Senate career for political reasons (and as a woman and a Democrat felt that she needed to appear right of center on these issues) - and I'm hoping that her own "true" beliefs are closer to Obama's and that she will feel stronger in owning them with a strong administration with her.

KD

Placed call to Obama-Biden transition team and politely weighed-in. 

I called the number above (202-540-3000) and shared my viewpoint.  I said I ultimately trust Barack, but that my take on Hilary as SOS is that it would be "bad, bad, bad".  The fellow who took the message was very pleasant and seemed very sincere about passing on the information.

You've done your job too well, Al. I can't even pretend to be riled up at this.

@ Lisa Ballard - All I can tell you is that Obama knows Hillary better than we do. He's had a chance to talk to her one on one. Its not the safe choice, I'll give him that. I'm guessing it will either turn out to be a brilliant decision or an epic disaster, but given his track record, I'd bet on option one.

Can someone please tell me what made Hillary Clinton the only woman on the entire planet worth talking about?

Josselyn, I was struggling for a term to describe how it feels to have half of Obama's post-victory period be about the Clinton's. You hit the nail on the head: "buzz-kill".

AMK, Clinton's entire campaign and the post-Obama election circus are a slap in the face to the women's movement. In the real world of actual feminists and women's rights activists (including young women) Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign and current behavior are an acute embarrassment. She has never been a feminist paragon and belongs to the generation of women like Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan who just never "got it" but got/get all the press because of their race, class, heterosexist, and first world privilege. We have actually organized against the damage Clinton and her perpetual "entourage" and Steinem have wreaked. (Tom W. cannot name even ONE accomplishment for international gender equality except a speech she gave in 1995!)

I feel like I'm in some 19th century Jane Austen novel and the story of this nation is Clinton's autobiography as an “exceptional” woman who by virtue of being “exceptional” somehow transcends the restrictions of her “womanhood" (unlike the rest of us mere women) while the rest of the world, including the person who actually made history and is the next president, are just props for "her" drama.

[ I am not willing, like some have here, to excuse her for her responsibility for this circus. That would mean lowering the standards for her (yet again) and is sexist. She is in charge.] 

Can someone please tell me concretely what Clinton's accomplishments actually are in terms of initiatives, intellectual thought, legislation, and diplomacy? What makes her so "exceptional"? What has she done on her own? I am genuinely asking.

And I actually like Jane Austen!

Here is a link (includes video) about what some of the poorest women in the world are doing for sustainable living and local empowerment. It's about a school called Barefoot College in India. I thought we could use some inspiration (hope this is not too off-topic, Al). 

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/asia/july-dec08/indiaschool_10-06.html

http://www.scribd.com/doc/191905/bill-richardson-2008-job-interview-background-documents

amk

Hey all- I called the number and left my message. I was directed to the change.gov form, though.

This enterprise strikes me as perhaps somewhat futile, as I think BO tends to research positions and then make decisions, rather than float trial balloons and see which way the wind blows. At least that's how he campaigned. I'm not sure any of this factors in.

At the same time, I also don't think he was dying for Hillary as SoS, and maybe we could at least provide him cover.

In other, perhaps more important news the foreclosure project is moving along at the WI Fieldhands. Look for some updates shortly.

Interesting post (and links to follow) at Talk Left re: how the press has a major case of Clinton Derangement Syndrome and that's another factor in all this noise. Or maybe it's another way to say the same thing that Al did in this BARKING NEWS: Tensions.... 

(seriously. I looked up at title bar to see what the title of this post was, and I misread "BREAKING" to "BARKING" ;) )

Also, re: leaks. Chuck Todd saysthat some of the leaking comes as result of the ratio of Too little news:too many potential outlets for leaks. Okay, he didn't say ratio, I did. But that's just my way of summing up his points. 

Good to see the phone number mentioned earlier, but I might be with the person who said, "I've been trained too well"... ;)

(After having my own end-of-primary conniptions back in May/June, I've been very impressed w/ how Hillary got out and campaigned for Barack Obama. Very impressed.)

I'll repeat it again.  I believe the only reason HRC did anything that benefited Obama was because of negotiations and promises made at that meeting at Diane Feinstein's the night before HRC finally conceded, the first week of June.  Do you remember how she and her camp were pushing the "I won the popular vote!" meme [Feinstein included, after initially criticizing how nuclear Hillary was getting until she had a private meeting with HRC, too]?  Do you remember how HRC sounded on the Tuesday of the last primary in that non-concession speech in "the bunker"?  Remember how caucuses are undemocratic?  How irrate Harold Ickes was after the DNC resolution of FL and MI?  I believed the Clintons were gearing up for a convention floor fight, felt they were entitled to destroy the Democratic party they believe they built if it destroyed Obama for the general, allowing her to run on [what I called at the time] the "I told you so!" platform in 2012.  Remember how some even speculated she would consider being McCain's vp?!?!  That she was ideologically no further away from McCain on one side than Obama on the other...and would not feel too guilty about helping him into the excutive office [whether on the ticket or off it] if it gave her that shot at 2012.  Then she & Obama talked for an hour, without a single witness in the room.  She conceded the next day, arriving, what?  An hour late?  Supposedly reviewing the text of her speech?  What if she showed up to that meeting with a speech text rallying her side to fight on?  What promises Obama made that night we can only guess at [maybe for SoS with provisos to be fulfilled, or for this current show to help re-burnish the Clinton brand and she gets to "turns it down" or whatever] , but it was big enough to get her and Bill to "stand down".  I'm starting to suspect Obama thought they'd never agree to his terms but they've called his bluff and now he's trying to figure a way out, or if it's worth the cost of getting out at this point.  Either way, I'm a firm believer that the Clintons never do anything "for the good of the party" or any such pap.  It's the only thing that makes sense of all this.  Why Obama "went there", etc.  The "Team of Rivals" crap is just cover.

I concur.  In all that I've come to learn about this man Obama, his world view, the vision he holds for the country, his belief in a return to a truly participatory democracy and the outcomes he envisions possible...no one will ever convince me that he sat back and said to himself, "yep...Hillary is the very best choice I can make for my SoS".  If it turns out he taps her for this position, he will have done so because he felt he had to make a "deal" at some point in the past which would ensure in his mind victory in November and the shot at realizing his vision.  It would sadden me that he fell victim to his own case of "chicken little", but I won't completely fault him for it.  The man is, after all, human.  Not the unerring savior some would make him out to be.

Should this come to pass, I will not allow it to dampen the activist spirit his campaign and movement have awakened in me.  I will continue to heed the call to help shape the future we wish for our country and generations to come.  I will maintain my enthusiasm and support for our new president, because I do believe he holds a true desire for a new direction and a better, more just world.  My support will not be blind or unconditional.  I will always push back on decisions or actions that I feel do not mesh with the vision, just as he has asked us to.  I will not turn away from the process.

But, no one will ever convince me HRC achieved the position (if she gets it) because Obama felt she was the best person for the job or that he felt he owed it to her for doing what she should have done without strings...support her party's nominee.

There...I'm stepping down from my soapbox now.  As you were.

It is helpful to recall those extremely tense times; barring direct evidence (being in that room), I also agree with many of your suppositions. However, if Obama wanted out of this, would there not be some semblance of an alternative storyline, with a different leading man or woman? That's why the Richardson silence is so odd to me.  He has never been this silent. 

I don't see how the Clintons had any choice but to do what they did, which means Obama wouldn't have been in a weak enough position where he'd need to promise anything.

If Hillary and Bill held back and then Obama lost, they'd be hit with some of the venom that's been going Lieberman's way. Obama's supporters would hold a grudge.  While it's easier to run for president at 65 than 69, it's also easier to do so without huge swaths of your own party resenting you, especially considering you already have galvanized Right Wing anger in the past.  With the Clintons effectively cornered, Obama didn't have to offer much.  The buzz is she wanted Obama to give his blessing to the black politicians like Charlie Rangel who had endorsed her and now feared backlash from their constituents.

I doubt Obama would ever offer Hillary State so early without being sure he'd be OK with it.  I also am skeptical that, after Sarah Palin jumped out of the gate to excitement that Hillary at State wouldn't have "leaked" as a defensive measure against the play for the women's vote.  Though I don't consider it impossible that Obama is thinking about Palin as the presidential nominee running against him in 2012 which would have even more allure for less liberal women voters, as absurd as that may sound to you.  Hillary at a high level in his cabinet is a useful defense.  I also imagine he's thinking of a united party in 2012 in case God forbid the economy is still struggling to get back on its feet.

Hillary seems genuinely surprised by the consideration for State and legitimately undecided.  I think she'll accept it and be invested in a foreign policy that enhances American national security interests.  Now, if and when an Obama policy slips up, I won't be stunned to see an anonymous source close to Hillary saying she wanted to go the other way.  However, unlike Bush who candidates needed to distance themselves from, I expect Obama's presidency to be a success and for Hillary to have a more vested interest in getting along and sharing in the credit. 

But I think despite what they'd tell you, Obama puts country first.  He has a vision for how Hillary at State can help the country.  Otherwise, he wouldn't do it.

And I agree with the idea that Obama will rely heavily on many advisers like Biden, James L Jones, Samantha Power, Susan Rice, John Kerry, Dick Lugar, Brent Scrowcroft, Sam Nunn and mostly his own wisdom.  The idea that Hillary would be trying to push a foreign policy independent of Obama's vision seems unlikely and the appearance of the disloyalty of it would carry the potential for huge political costs for her.

I'm afraid you're right.  My last hope is that this is all an agreed upon  dog & pony show that ends with her giving some soaring statement about why she'll choose to decline the honor, blah, blah, blah.  {oh, and that this was part of the agreement, that she would get this time alone in the spot light, and O told Richardson the whole deal when they met, hence the resounding silence.  Excuse me.  I have to go get fitted for my new foil hat now.  Hoping I'll get to see a unicorn on the way....}

Recollection is all good. I think about the Angler story about Cheney, how that he got his peeps appointed at slightly lower level positions all over the gov't, and then got them to do certain things at their level of policy-making.

How can Obama do the same?

So, here's the counter-move with all the other Obama State people... and esp Latin America. How is the State Dept structured immediately below Sec'y level? What are the other strategic appointments to be made?

I've been wondering the same thing, as has Al based on the line in this very piece about "a lack of clarity as to whether he [Rex = HRC] would be able to choose his own team of under-puppies and assistant puppies."

To the anonymous counter argument, I think the Clintons DID have a choice.  They were building their argument for a floor fight based on her "winning the popular vote," having votes "stolen from her" in Michigan, etc.  If nothing else, Obama having to fight it out with the Clintons through the summer & into the convention could very well have cost him the general election due to expediture of money, resources, goodwill, not to mention not enough time to pivot to the fight against McCain and paint him as unacceptable to those disillusioned HRC supporters, moderate Repubs, time to heal from that primary battle, etc.  I agree, however, with your sense of Obama's intent and many of your other assessments.

Co-sign Melissa, Karen, Fai, Josselyn, and others. I love Al's posts, but sometimes I really read The Field for the comments!

HuffPo: Of Hillary Clinton's likely appointment as Secretary of State, Axelrod said only that "she's obviously a talented public servant and someone who would enhance any team."

Not sure if you guys would check back on this thread but just had to say;

Laura, ditto!  :-)  The HEAPS of info you provided on under people on the next thread is awesome!

And, Brendan, I swear, Richardson heard you talking about him.  We hadn't finished typing about the silence from/about him and I turn on the tv to see his picture up, talk about Commerce, etc.  Richardson back in front of the public eye, anyway.  Maybe just to quiet those rumblings in the Hispanic community, but....