Obama fans have had their adrenaline rush, now it's my turn to have mine

QF009 · #1 (**permalink**) 18th November 2008, 04:28 PM

Hillary Clinton to accept secretary of state: Report > World > LIVENEWS.com.au

Yay to Hillary as Secretary of State!!

As much as I supported a Democratic White House and hence the Democratic candidate's victory as the Democrats are the most analogous US political party ideologically to the ALP, I am not one of those who've seen the man walk on water. I have always supported Senator Clinton from the start. A large part of that was due to concern about the President-elect's foreign policy positions (no doubt he'd make an excellent President otherwise). However, his choice of Senator Clinton as Secretary of State even though they disagree fundamentally on various issues, eg she once effectively called him a softie over his various foreign policy positions to do with Iran and Syria (too right), shows that he's a pragmatic leader who recognises talent and the right person for the job.

Senator Clinton is a fine choice for managing the War on Terror, containing socialists in China, evil dictatorships in the Middle East and North Korea, as well as other illiberal regimes elsewhere. ^

Robert Barlow · #2 (**permalink**) 18th November 2008, 04:45 PM

It was a great election victory. I was in the US from Sept. 13th until Oct 10th and followed the campaign and debates on CNN. I was in NYC the day Lehmann Brothers failed and many US friends now have to work past retirement to be able to afford to live after they give up work. Obama's choice of Hilary Clinton is a good choice. She knows where all the skeletons are buried at 1600 Pennsylvania, too!

stuartfaz · #3 (**permalink**) 18th November 2008, 04:57 PM

I think I showed more interest in this election than any previously, including our own.

I had been following Senator Obama's campaign since the primaries and hoped he'd get over the line, and as soon as the Palin effect wore off, it was game over.

Senator Clinton was always going to be offered a cabinet role. I thought she'd be more likely to go to Health and Human Services given the prominence she gave healthcare in her campaign, but I think she'll make a terrific Secretary of State, and I look forward to her presidential run in 2016.

drron · #4 (**permalink**) 18th November 2008, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Barlow

It was a great election victory. I was in the US from Sept. 13th until Oct 10th and followed the campaign and debates on CNN. I was in NYC the day Lehmann Brothers failed and many US friends now have to work past retirement to be able to afford to live after they give up work. Obama's choice of Hilary Clinton is a good choice. She knows where all the skeletons are buried at 1600 Pennsylvania, too!

Hey how come i didnt see you in NYC-I was outside Lehmans then too.
I agree the choice of Hilary is good but does it make up for the scary VP-should have seen the bloopers he made during the campaign-and he promises to be a hands on VP.

stuartfaz · #5 (**permalink**) 18th November 2008, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drron

I agree the choice of Hilary is good but does it make up for the scary VP-should have seen the bloopers he made during the campaign-and he promises to be a hands on VP.

Agreed, Biden is the gaffe-master, but look at it in perspective. It was him or Palin.

And Palin scared me. The Republicans tried putting a dim-witted yet strangely popular first-term governor from an oil-rich state on the ticket before, and that's how we got W. She had no place that close to the Oval Office.

She's a looker though. Just thought that warranted comment.

QF009 · #6 (**permalink**) 18th November 2008, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drron

Hey how come i didnt see you in NYC-I was outside Lehmans then too.
I agree the choice of Hilary is good but does it make up for the scary VP-should have seen the bloopers he made during the campaign-and he promises to be a hands on VP.

Surely the Biden gaffes aren't to the extent of Palin's disastrous interview with Katie Couric? So much so that her own campaign banned her from unscripted media appearances. I mean, it's more than just gaffes with Palin - the woman clearly has no clue! Not to mention her extreme right wing views. She makes Tony Abbott and David Clarke look like trendily PC latte sipping, marijuana smoking, dreadlock wearing Fitzroy glitteratis in comparison.

Senator Sarah Palin is a real possibility atm btw...

drron · #7 (**permalink**) 18th November 2008, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QF009

Surely the Biden gaffes aren't to the extent of Palin's disastrous interview with Katie Couric? So much so that her own campaign banned her from unscripted media appearances. I mean, it's more than just gaffes with Palin - the woman clearly has no clue! Not to mention her extreme right wing views. She makes Tony Abbott and David Clarke look like trendily PC latte sipping, marijuana smoking, dreadlock wearing Fitzroy glitteratis in comparison.

Senator Sarah Palin is a real possibility atm btw...

Did you watch Katie Couric's interview with Joe Biden-when asked what should be done about the financial crisis his reply was"well in 1929 FDR went on television and calmed the nation"
Well FDR was not president in 1929 and that comes from a fellow who has been in the US Senate for over 30 years-he surely aint as smart as a 5th grader.
Second TV was not available for the masses.And finally even if he were right things just happened to get a lot worse after 1929.
Then on foreign affairs when asked about the Middle East he confidently said the US and France had combined to kick Hezbollah out of Lebanon-again coming from a fellow who has been in the US senate for over 30 years-he certainly cant use the inexperienced tag now can he.The really scary thing to me is that now he is just a heart beat away from being president.

opusman · #8 (**permalink**) 18th November 2008, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drron

he certainly cant use the inexperienced tag now can he.The really scary thing to me is that now he is just a heart beat away from being president.

Luckily Obama's heart is (presumably) in much better shape than McCain's

Besides, Cheney has been a heart beat away from being president for the past 8 years, if that didn't scare you I don't know why Biden should.

QF009 · #9 (**permalink**) 18th November 2008, 10:09 PM

Ya know... tbh I was always hoping for a Obama/Clinton ticket and was disappointed when she'd lost the primaries, and further when she didn't get included on the ticket. But I guess such a ticket would've led to lots of internal s*itfights. What surprises me is the extent to which US politics is tied to personalities over ideology or policy, so much so that lots of jilted Clintonites were openly declaring their support for McCain. As far as I'm concerned the worst Democrat would make a better Prez than the best Republican. Partisan? Moi? Surely not?

I s'pose Senator Clinton as Secretary of State is still a pretty good outcome. Great day for freedom.

drron · #10 (**permalink**) 18th November 2008, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opusman

Luckily Obama's heart is (presumably) in much better shape than McCain's

Besides, Cheney has been a heart beat away from being president for the past 8 years, if that didn't scare you I don't know why Biden should.

Tsk tsk-a hint of ageism there.
An african american male in his late 40s who smokes is not necessarily at lower risk of heart disease than a 70 year old who has a family history of longevity.
Besides Cheney was almost certainly at higher risk of heart disease than Bush wasnt he.