I seem to recall that Condi Rice occasionally used to slip and call George W. “my husband.” That’s one slip that Hillary will never make. Even though I supported Obama in the primaries and was furious at the Clintons for hinting that Hillary should stay in the race because who knew, Obama might get assassinated, I’ve never doubted her competence and I think she will make a terrific Secretary of State. Everyone keeps talking about whether Hillary will be able to suck up her pride and subordinate herself to her boss. But who wants a Secretary of State who’s so chummy with her president that she swoons in his presence and dreams about becoming his wife? Obama has repeatedly said that he doesn’t want to be surrounded by yes-men, so why should he surround himself by yes-women? Even if Hillary went rogue and ran around the world following her own agenda, how bad could that be? She knows the three members of the North America Trade Agreement, she doesn’t think that Africa is a country. What’s she going to do that her boss doesn’t approve of, make peace in the Middle East?
I also think that the only reason Hillary was so hawkish in the Senate, voting to invade Iraq, was that she assumed a woman could never get elected president unless she proved that she was tough enough to take this country to war, an assumption that probably is still correct. She exaggerated her heroism under fire at that airport in Bosnia because she needed to appear brave enough to be commander in chief. My friend Marian complains that she’s an awful manager, which she probably is (witness the campaign she ran). But I know people who have worked on her staff who love her. And running an office in the cabinet has to be easier than running a fifty-state campaign. She’s vibrant, tireless, brilliant, well versed in foreign policy … what more could we want in a Secretary of State?
And for once, I don’t mind that Bill comes as part of her baggage. He knows a thing or two about foreign policy. He has political connections with every head of state in the universe. The man has been raising money not only for himself but to combat AIDS. What’s the worst that could happen? Would we really complain if Bill were to use his influence to help Hillary gain access to some prime minister, king, or ruthless dictator and promise to screw him (or her) over if he doesn’t do what Hillary wants him (or her) to do?
And I love the idea of Larry Summers heading up the White House team of economic advisors for the next year or two, giving everyone the benefit of his brilliance behind the scenes without risking the possibility that he’ll say something Larryesque (by which I mean trying to see all sides in a debate without considering the moral or political implications of even mentioning certain sides of the debate out loud). Then, two years from now, he can take over the Fed and use that same brilliance
(again, behind the scenes) to run the nation’s economy … if all goes well, forever.
Over the weekend, my nephew forwarded me an email that listed several lesser-known facts about Obama, one of which is that his favorite TV show is The Wire. I couldn’t have been happier, because any president whose favorite show is The Wire has to be planning to do something drastic to improve the lives of young people in cities such as Baltimore and Detroit. My bet is that Obama chooses Colin Powell to head the Department of Education, and that Powell will love the job and advocate approaches that no one has tried before. Wire fans, doesn’t Colin Powell remind you of Bunny? Can you imagine how much better the schools in Baltimore and Detroit–and everywhere else–would be if Bunny were in charge?
Finally, I suggest that Obama continue his attempts at reconciliation with his former enemies by appointing Sarah Palin as his administration’s Bounty Hunter in Chief. After providing her with the weapons of her choice and a full wardrobe of the most up-to-date, James Bondish camouflage outfits and gear on the market, President Obama should send her on a mission to seek out and destroy a real terrorist … Osama bin Laden. Just think of Osama as a moose, Sarah. Or a wolf. Or a turkey. And do whatever it takes to bag your game. A grateful nation will await your return. But here’s the part we’re not quite sure you can handle. First, you will need to be able to find Afghanistan on a map.
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