I want to use one of my last reflections to write about Barack Obama’s possible choice for Secretary of State candidate. Right now, according to news reports, the people on the short list are Hillary Clinton and Bill Richardson. Obama had a discussion with Clinton on Thursday and Richardson on Friday, both in Chicago. While it’s not known what Clinton’s official reaction was, Clinton aides think that if she wants the post it’s basically a done deal for her. Richardson aides said that it’s certainly “not a done deal” for Clinton to get the post. (http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/14/transition.wrap/index.html) Both Clinton and Richardson are well respected around the world and both know a lot about foreign policy. Richardson is so will respected because he’s been on many diplomatic missions, most of which were successful in accomplishing their respective goals. Hillary is well respected because of her active role as a first lady during the presidency of her husband, Bill. Also, while in the senate, she’s been on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Between watching first hand foreign policy during Bill’s presidency and serving on the Armed Service Committee she has good experience in the field. That being said, I would be happier with the pick of Bill Richardson, because he, in the end, has more foreign policy experience than Clinton.
The second thing I’d like to comment on is the group that presented in class on Friday. I thought that it was a very informative and interactive class. During the game there were a list of priorities put on the board including sanitation, communicable disease, malnutrition, corruption, and it was each group’s job to figure out how our countries’ priorities changed during different disasters based on a short list of statistics given about the specific country. The game was good at teaching the group that a country must prioritize its resources when presented with problems.
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3 comments:
Both are excellent choices, while this might not contribute a ton to the conversation, theoretically, how would you feel about Bill Clinton as Secretary of State?
First, Seamus, I think I would die and go to heaven if Bill was Secretary of State.
Second, Rob: I strongly agree with you when you state that "(Richardson), in the end, has more foreign policy experience than Clinton." Then again, that's not saying much -- I'd say that several people in our UC have more foreign policy experience than Clinton, as evidenced by her reliance on lying (see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKe2rBbGGEA ) to even have a foreign policy record.
Seamus- to answer your question. I'd be quite interested if Bill got the secretary of state position. I think that he would have a lot of experience because he's been through the foreign policy game during his presidency. My one worry with Bill would be if you think he'd try to influence foreign policy decisions in what the end is Obamas decision? In other words would we, the American people, be getting two presidents? Thoughts?
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