Hillary Clinton's First Day on the Job

50-50

Hillary has no great track record managing a diverse group of people; her efforts as First Lady with the WH staff had some mixed results (anyone remember the WH travel office??). She seems to do well when she surrounds herself with rabidly loyal lieutenants who can be dispatched to do the dirty work.

I don't know if this approach will work at State. This seems to be an agency, among all of them, with rather exalted opinions of themselves and their precious "diplomacy." At least for me, "diplomacy" is not something I immediately think of when Hillary's name pops up. My usual association is "iron maiden," or "my way or the highway."

State has been somewhat of a backwater these last few years, so for a local Washington hand like myself, its going to be fun and interesting theater for a while to watch the Hillary vs. State Department career/entrenched bureaucracy. ALSO, she has given early signals she feels she should be part (what part?) of Obama's economic recovery plan, and my guess is she thinks she can roll Gates.

It all adds up to great political theater!! Does anyone think she will still be at State in two years?

curmudgeon10 of VA @ Jan 23, 2009 07:20:10 AM