This is what you would expect from Clinton -- she does her homework and has a clear command of the issues "not just at a superficial level but really getting into the details." This was what I found appealing in Clinton as a candidate. and why she won virtually every debate.
She certainly knows her stuff and is always prepared. Whether she has the political courage to act on what she knows is another matter.
Posted by kaleidescope at January 13, 2009 08:56 AMWe N Yorkers will loose a Fine Senator. US will gain a fine SoS. I would have liked her to continue as Senator and try again for presidency after 8 years.
Posted by BKK at January 13, 2009 09:47 AMI heard a bit of the first part of the hearing this morning as I was getting ready to leave the house. Two things struck me, and not in a good way:
1. John Kerry, in his introduction, described the so-called Iraq Status of Forces Agreement as a plan for "troop reduction". VERY bad sign. Very, very bad. The Iraqis refer to it as a withdrawal plan. I have seen it from the beginning as a plan to buy time for the U.S. to create conditions they can use to achieve a permanent occupation of Iraq. And now we see the drift of language that appears to signal the beginning of "perception management" in exactly that direction. "Troop reduction" indeed. That's not what it says in the agreement, but when did that ever matter when America wants something?
2. Hillary Clinton spoke of "Iran's nuclear weapons program" as if it were a confirmed fact, when the exact opposite is true. In fact, there is no evidence at all that they are pursuing nuclear weapons or plan to in the foreseeable future, and a deal of evidence that they are not. There is also every good and rational reason for them to develop nuclear power, including the fact that it reduces domestic use of oil, leaving more for export that produces income for the country. Obama and Clinton are both very, very smart, well-informed people, and I am sure they both know all this, and yet the message they want the American people to hear is quite different.
She also referred at least once or twice to the "threat posed by Iran". This is a terrible sign that the Obama administration are going to carry on with Iran as the bogey-man of choice, despite the fact that Iran in fact poses no threat to anyone's security, including Israel's, and has not done for centuries. Iran has not attacked or invaded another country for nearly 300 years, and there are absolutely no signs that this is going to change any time in the foreseeable future.
Not that it is any of the U.S.'s business how Iran runs its affairs, but there is serious change and movement going on among the Iranian population that, left alone, will bring about change in Iran's political system, and probably sooner than many people would expect. By treating Iran as the threat du jour, imposing sanctions, mucking about internally in Iran, and enabling Israel's aggressive inclinations toward Iran, the Obama administration cuts off at the knees any impetus toward positive change there.
It is looking more and more clear that with Obama we will have business as usual with important improvements over the Bush regime's methods, but still, business as usual.
Very sad for the world.
Posted by Shirin at January 13, 2009 11:16 AMJeebus.
Senator Vitter is an ass. Not only is he a confirmed philandering-prostitute-hiring-getting-away-with-criminal-acts-because-he-is-a-US-Senator hack, he is also a stupid asshole.
He hounded Senator Clinton in the MOU that they have offered, (as a consideration and going above and beyond the disclosure requirements) and he had absolutely no clue as to what he was talking about. He kept asking for assurances that are not needed and most are already agreed to or they already happen.
He is an ignorant hack.
Posted by Anjha at January 13, 2009 12:28 PMYeah, Anjha, what was up with that? I have the hearings on here at work, and cannot listen carefully, but heard enough to get the gist of what was going on. Seems like he was doing it just to harass her.
She handled it very well though.
Posted by Shirin at January 13, 2009 12:39 PMWhile listening to a brilliant woman getting grilled by ignorant obstructionists, for a moment I tried to picture Palin in that hot seat.
I'll have to get back to you on that one.
Posted by TIKI AL at January 13, 2009 01:09 PMWhile listening to a brilliant woman getting grilled by ignorant obstructionists, for a moment I tried to picture Palin in that hot seat.
Palin would never be grilled in a hot seat unless the the Moose take over and turn carnivorous.
Posted by idiosynchronic at January 13, 2009 01:28 PM"Moose take over and turn carnivorous."
...children are still frightened around campfires with tales of the bloodthirsty bull moose, Dahmerwinkle.
Here is a splendid British website some of you may know. There is at least one excellent essay about Kashmir, and how we Brits layed the foundations for trouble in the region. Also lots about Israel, which, come to think of it, is also our doing to a considerable degree. Ah, those were the days, when we stood tall and screwed up the world!
http://www.democratsdiary.co.uk/
Of course, the word "democrat" has a small "D"!
Posted by Colin at January 13, 2009 04:10 PMYou pictured Palin? I pictured Obama. He could not have come close to the job that she did.
And let's hope he doesn't make her say "I serve at the pleasure of the President".
Posted by jmac at January 13, 2009 04:22 PMTiki - this is hilarious:
"Moose take over and turn carnivorous."
...children are still frightened around campfires with tales of the bloodthirsty bull moose, Dahmerwinkle.
Posted by TIKI AL at January 13, 2009 02:28 PM
Yeah, Anjha, what was up with that?
It was totally bizarre - for a couple of reasons. First, he has absolutely NO credibility. He should NOT be a US Senator. He committed crimes and was allowed to stay in the Senate, by his Republican collegues, with not one single reprimand from the ethics committee...nothing. Secondly, he is stupid. He has not one ounce of brain power and no common sense.
He went in with is assigned gripe. Kept repeating the gripe. Never once listened to Senator Clinton's responses nor could he get it through his idiot head that he was incorrect.
Let me be clear, for the wingnuts concerned, the CGI is a "pass through." The funds that come through it are pooled monies so that Clinton can negotiate the best possible prices for medications, etc for the impoverished countries/areas. The money comes in - they pool it together - it buys medicines and other goods - the goods and meds go to the impoverished Nations. They do not keep any of the monies. Secondly, all of these funds are already disclosed. There was no need for the Clintons, the Foundation, CGI and the Transition Team to include this in the Memorandum of Understanding because it is all already disclosed.
Vitter did not get this and just continued to hound her about disclosing this money?! What an ignorant hack.
I pictured Obama. He could not have come close to the job that she did.
Jmac, did you enter a time warp? Just emerge from your Delorean?
Dumb ass, it is 2009. New DEMOCRATIC Prez sworn in next week.
Get over it.
Posted by Anjha at January 14, 2009 12:46 PM