Modeling Journey

Cannon meets Hillary Clinton

More evidence of the growing relationship between Stephen Harper's Conservatives and the Barack Obama administration. The November election will mean good things for Canada-US relations. Help is on the way in Afghanistan. Omar Khadr was discussed.
-Darryl

Update: Some video of Hillary and Cannon from today. Hillary is coming to Canada and is looking forward to skating on the Ottawa canal. Cannon briefs reporters on his meeting.

"In the light of Canada's experience in Kandahar, I also offered to share the lessons Canada has learned in Kandahar in the areas of training the Afghan National Police, border management and overall reconstruction and development work," Cannon said

Breaking News: Hillary Clinton Secretary of State

Hillary Clinton has accepted the role of Secretary of State in Barack Obama's administration. Congratulations Mr. Canon.

Details to come...

Update: Full Story from New York Times

Hillary Clinton would be a great choice for Secretary of State

I hope the reports here, here, here, here, here and here are correct. Hillary Clinton would be an excellent choice given her experience and relationships she and Bill have with world leaders. I hope she is in fact the Secretary of State. A meeting between her and Lawrence Canon would be great to see. It was also great to see Obama have a face to face meeting with John McCain today. I am also excited about rumours that California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger may also get a position in cabinet.
-Darryl

Secretary of state job Clinton's, if she wants it, reports say

SIRI AGRELL

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

November 14, 2008 at 10:46 PM EST

Almost a year ago, Barack Obama was asked in a debate how he could rely on so many Bill Clinton-era advisers while still providing a break from the past, prompting his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton to burst out laughing.

Turning to face her, Mr. Obama deadpanned: “I'm looking forward to you advising me too, Hillary.”

Now president-elect, Mr. Obama it seems was not joking.

The pair took a secret meeting in Chicago this week, and Washington is abuzz with rumours that the New York senator will be tapped as his secretary of state.

CNN quoted Democratic sources as saying Mr. Obama and Ms. Clinton had a serious discussion about the secretary of state job and that she left the meeting with the impression that it was hers if she wanted it. The Huffington Post blog went further, saying Ms. Clinton was offered the job and requested time to consider it.

But Mr. Obama also interviewed New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson for the position yesterday, media reports said.

Mr. Obama has also begun staffing his White House, transition team and economic panel with former Clinton administration insiders.

After a two-year battle in which each politician was accused of disrespecting the other, it appears that the Obama-Clinton rift is being repaired, one job opening at a time.

His transition chief, John Podesta, was Bill Clinton's chief of staff during the last two years of his administration. Mr. Obama's own newly hired White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, was a senior Clinton adviser before winning a seat in the House of Representatives.

In fact, 31 of the 47 people named to Mr. Obama's transition team or staff have ties to the Clinton administration.

“He's definitely playing on good advice and past expertise and the most recent Democratic administration,” said Melissa Haussman, an associate professor of political science at Carleton University who worked on Ms. Clinton's presidential campaign. “The fact that Obama is inheriting problems that are the worst facing any president in the 20th century, he knows he's got to be prepared.”

Ironically, Dr. Haussman believes the new president learned that lesson from Mr. Clinton, whose own early White House staff was composed of some loyalists unprepared for the task at hand.

“They've got people with a whole lot of experience dealing with Congress, and that's something the Clinton White House was a little short on,” she said of the emerging Obama team.

While Mr. Obama's staff is drawing so heavily on administration insiders of the 1990s that Politico.com joked he is putting “the Clinton band back together,” the most symbolic gesture would be a high-profile position for Ms. Clinton.

Passed over for the vice-presidential slot, the primary runner-up campaigned for Mr. Obama during the general election and is regarded as a natural source of advice, expertise and political capital for Mr. Obama.

Already, she has been approached by Mr. Obama's wife, Michelle, for advice about raising kids in the White House. And now it seems Mr. Obama might be hoping she will help him contend with foreign policy as secretary of state.

But she is already being touted as a smart choice for the position, with an established international reputation that would help heal the country's damaged relationships abroad.

But what's in it for her?

Taking a position in cabinet means Ms. Clinton would lose her Senate seat and influence in domestic policy.

The past two secretaries of state, Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell, have been lightning rods for criticism, a situation Ms. Clinton may not be willing to endure again.

“Let's face it, as first lady and presidential candidate she was open to a lot of barbs and spears,” Dr. Haussman said. “It's a multiplicity of considerations, thinking about where her talents lie and how much does she want to put herself in a high-profile position again.”

Hillary needs you to volunteer for Obama

Senator Hillary Clinton spoke on October 21, 2008 in Hibbing Minnesota.

Today Delegates to the Democratic National Convention officially selected Barack Obama as the Party's presidential nominee.

McCain going after Hillary supporters with new ads

From the John McCain 08 Campaign...

New McCain Ad: Why not Hillary?

Obama needs Clinton or Gore as VP

Update: Obama has confirmed that his decision has been made in terms of who he will ask to be VP. He did not reveal his choice however. Prior to Saturday (most likely tomorrow) we should know exactly who that choice is. Obama met with Kaine earlier today and the leading three candidates still seem to be possible. As for Hillary, it is looking less likely, but who knows...maybe this is all a smokescreen for a blockbuster surprise where the "dream" ticket would become a reality.
-Darryl


The more I think about it, the more I cannot understand why Obama would name anyone besides Hillary as VP. Think of the situation right now:

-Polls are declining for Obama in key swing states, among blue collar voters, among older voters, among female voters and among Latino voters. His campaign has lost momentum and excitement. McCain has been effective in bringing Obama down to earth and portraying him as a celebrity without substance. He needs something to get off the defense and place a shot of excitement into his campaign.

-At the upcoming Democratic convention almost half of the delegates were initially supporters of Hillary Clinton.

-Obama is polling poorly on the economy and many Democrats and Americans associate the good economic times with Bill Clinton.

-The situation in Russia, Pakistan and Iran is quickly showing that national security experience is going to be crucial going forward in this campaign. No matter who Obama selects on his ticket, it will be obvious that national security and foreign policy will be major requirements to shore up Obama's lack of foreign credentials. The Clintons have a huge network of foreign contacts.

-Someone like Kaine is being considered because he might carry a swing state like Virginia. Would it not go with Hillary Clinton who has a 50 state organization from her primary campaign as well as her husband's presidency.

-Who can raise more money than the Clintons among the front runners currently being considered?

-Polls show that barley a majority of Clinton supporters will vote for Obama. Over 20% will vote for McCain. If uniting the Democratic movement is part of Obama's goal, how would selecting Biden address this situation? Clinton as VP could quickly unite the party and bring a much higher percentage of her voters into the Obama camp. No choice would unite the party more than Hillary who could instantly turn the Democratic convention into a unity love fest.

-If Hillary is snubbed, will her 2012 campaign kick off early?

-Is Obama prepared to spend weeks dealing with the controversy of selecting someone other than Clinton, become forced to explain why to the media and Hillary supporters and than attempt to unite a party full of disenfranchised democrats? Does he want to get so drastically off message with only 10 weeks to go with poor poll numbers despite the unpopularity of Bush?

-Who is a stronger campaigner on the VP short list than Bill and Hillary Clinton?

-Who has been more tested in the media and against Republican attacks than the Clintons?

-After the longest primary in history, almost a billion raised and spent, an organization in every state, similar views on the main issues and 18 million votes case; has Hillary not earned the number two spot? JFK selected his rival. Others have selected his rival. If Obama can work across the isle, show there is no such thing as a blue or red state, unite the country and bring out new voters; would it not be a appropriate to back that message up by showing he can work with Clinton despite a competitive nomination race?

-As potentially the first female president, does Hillary not help Obama's message of change despite her time in Washington as a Senator and First Lady? Initially Hillary was largely seen as Bill's husband. After her campaign, I think she has earned a legacy of her own and has proven to be her own person. Her time in the senate is far less than Obama's rival. I do not think Hillary represents status quo in Washington.

-Is Bill Clinton a liability? Hard to argue that when he obviously has ability to breakthrough in areas where Obama is trailing McCain. He will be hated by the far right, but how many of those voters does Obama expect to realistically get?

-Hillary and Bill are fighters. Who better to go negative on McCain than Hillary who proved to be a huge attack dog towards the end of her campaign. Her arguments were picked up and expanded by McCain. By joining the ticket, Hillary would reduce the damage of those previous attacks.

-Why would Hillary do it? She has already said she wants the job. She needs to pay off her debts. She is clearly the number two in the Democratic Party right now. The VP role would allow her to focus on health care or other issues she cares about from the executive branch.

-What would be a better way to overshadow the Republican convention than to name Hillary VP and steal the headlines for the next couple of weeks. Poll after poll shows that far and away Democrats prefer Obama to select Hillary. I think a major opportunity would be lost going with a lesser known candidate. With the exception of Al Gore, I cannot think of any name in the top tier that would be anything more than a total letdown if selected.

-If Obama really doesn't want Hillary (and many in his campaign do not), than at the very least he needs someone with the profile, organization, fundraising ability and experience. Al Gore could deliver that profile. Having said that, I think Obama should name Hillary as VP and then also his cabinet in advance. Can you imagine if he named Clinton is VP and then defined roles for Biden, Richardson, Gore, Powell, and others in a potential cabinet. The team around Obama would shore up his inexperience and minimize the risk that is holding many back from voting for an unknown quantity in the face of McCain's experience and track record.

-Conventional wisdom says that Biden is going to be the VP. The more I think about it, the more I am going to throw my money on a surprise with Hillary Clinton. Selecting someone else really doesn't make much sense and quite possibly could cost him the White House in 10 weeks.

I will be waiting for that text...

Darryl

Conventions could be a disaster for both Obama and McCain

Obama should pick Hillary...will likely pick Biden as VP