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The City of Chicago glowing
Do you see him?!?!?!?!
I've been thinking about the President-elect- Obama's thoughts on placing Senator Hillary Clinton in his cabinet. It's not that I don't think it is a good idea; having the Senator as part of the cabinet and especially as Secretary of State is a very good choice. But for once I am thinking strategy for Senator Clinton.
If just IF Obama is a 2 term president (I know I am getting ahead of myself), I don't see Senator Biden running for president in 8 years, he will be 74 years old. Which leads to another election where there won't be an incumbent from either party. If Senator Clinton's "dream" is to be the President of the United States someday, taking a job in Obama's cabinet probably won't get her a step closer to being president, but rather father away. Yes, she still will be in the public eye and if selected as Secretary of State will continue to strengthen her foreign policy experience, but history is not on her side. The last Secretary of State to become president was Martin Van Buren in 1837. 1837! That was a long, long, long time ago when cabinet positions, and the office of the Vice President and President basically rotated around the good old boys of New York, Massachusetts and Virgina.
While there is news whirling around that there might be some issues if she does become Secretary of State; but I think what might be best for her and her ambition to become President of the United States . If she just stays in the Senate until her term is up, and then runs for her Senate seat again in 2012. She will be in a prime spot to have more foreign and domestic policy experience under her belt which would put her in a prime slot to win the Democratic nomination and go on to be President. Realistically, this seems like a much better plan of attack. Doesn't that seem like a better idea? Strategy, it's all strategy.
Yesterday was historic in many ways and thanks to a very good friend I was able to be a part of the celebration by attending the rally at Grant Park or Obamapalooza. What a night! While I stood in Grant Park with over 70,000 of my bestest friends (and Oprah) I got to experience an election party for the 44th President of the United States. photos to be posted soon
Initially, I didn't know how I would react either good or bad, but when CNN announced Senator Obama as the projected winner, when everyone just let out a big cheer, I was astounded, excited and just happy it was all over. My thoughts first went to the daunting challenge ahead for him and the country as we begin to rebuild as well as heal the very distinct division in this country over ideology. There are so many things that need to be "fixed" right now that while I have some uneasiness, but things are bound to get better. This was before Obama actual speech. After Senator Obama came out and spoke to us and the world, my uneasiness faded. It is still there a bit, but my hope for a brighter future on both national and foreign policy issues is stronger than ever.
Now the work begins. In my eyes the right candidate won and will lead us all in the right direction, but I don't wear rose colored glasses. The 4 years and 76 days until the next inauguration day will be a tough and I hope that the issues raised in the campaigns will continue to be scrutinized to keep us challenged and on the path for a better tomorrow.
After 2 years and hours and hours of news coverage, today is the day! I'll keep it short, since I am on the way to the polls myself and then between playdates and ironing a pile of clothes will be glued to the TV. Please exercise your right as a U.S. citizen and go vote! Tomorrow is a new day and maybe even a play by play of the Obama rally in Grant park.
Realpolitik Mama had a few hours to herself yesterday morning. Not enough to finish all of my coffee or the Sunday paper but enough time to get through some of the paper as well as watch a few minutes of my favorite Sunday morning talk show. Now we've been listening to a lot or rhetoric from the McCain camp about shutting down the pork barrel spending that happens in the Congress and how dare Senator Obama look out for his own constituents and approve a bill that allowed the Adler Planetarium to purchase a new projector. Which by the way was incorrect, read the real story here.
The political talk circuit has been a buzz with Former Secretary of State/Joint Chiefs of Staff General Colin Powell's endorsement of Senator Obama. When I first heard about the announcement I don't think I was as surprised as many others are about the endorsement. What else would a man who was thrown under the bus by the Bush Administration and then hung out to dry do?!
Ok, so he isn't making it personal and I am glad that General Powell kept to the issues. I am happy he raised the same concern as many of us have about the Sarah Palin; she isn't ready or qualified to be Vice President or for that matter President. For a man who has been so well respected in the Republican Party to come out and say what he says is huge, don't get me wrong, and I am glad that someone from "the other side" has come out and said it.
The pundits are right, this is a big nail in the coffin for the McCain campaign. A well respected conservative veteran, and former Secretary of State comes out and endorses the guy that people criticize for not having any foreign policy experience and crazy ideas on diplomacy. The General got it right. Very right.
Oh yeah, one more thing. The McCain camp's reaction? Well, that is great but we are still endorsed by over 300 retired generals and admirals + many other former Secretary of States. Alexander Haig is on that list! A man who didn't know the order of secession when President Regan was shot!
I am a little confused. As a friend of mine said a while ago, I thought this election was going to be different and we are going to stick to the issues without getting personal. But yet again, it's gotten U.G.L.Y. Between the McCain - Palin campaign's desperate smears against Barack Obama, to the Elizabeth Hasselback taking up the McCain cause and pushing Obama's "radical connections"on of all places The View. This election has gotten U.G.L.Y. Ugly I say.
Just like when you were in school, to participate you have to register.
After watching the Sarah Palin be paraded in front of the media and the McCain campaign doing everything in their power to protect Mrs. Palin from any rogue questions, I am glad someone else has come out and say what I've been thinking!
After 7 weeks on vacation and then another 2 weeks getting myself and realpolitik baby back on our regular time schedule, it's time to begin blogging again.
After realpolitik baby went to bed, rather than clean up all the toys off my living room floor, I decided to do a little Google News browsing. What to my surprise do I see? "Clinton Invokes 2000 Recount". Did it really take this long for the Clinton campaign to decide this. For as much as the Clintons and the Gores didn't get a long, did Hillary really not pay attention to the debacle of 2000? The war of words and the clinging on till the bitter end just continues to give the Democrats a bad name. John McCain was spot on during the Weekend Update on SNL,
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let the Democrats continue to fight it out. As he just sits back works his campaign and watches the possible implosion of the Democratic party. We have another week, but I hope that after the May 31st Rules and By-Laws Committee, whatever the outcome is, doesn't continue to drag this out any further, otherwise I am going to have serious reservations, dare I say it, if the Dems can pull it off in November.
After Tuesday's primaries, there has been much talk about Hillary Clinton and if it is mathematically possible for her to become the nominee for the Democratic Party. Senator Clinton has been very adamant that "it ain't over until it's over" and she is going to see this through to the end. I admire Senator Clinton and her determination, but why don't we look past the primaries and general election into the future when Senator Clinton is President. I think we look at the Senator's performance and attitudes during the election to get a good portrait of how she will be as the Commander in Chief.
What makes me nervous about this portrait is what I've seen so far from Hillary. I don’t believe she has painted a very good picture of herself and how she, as President, would bring this country together after 8 years of division. A big criticism of the current administration is that they do what they want and then ask questions later. I don't see this being any different in Hillary. The attitude of what will happen with the delegates from Michigan and Florida and the Clinton campaign crying “foul” after an agreement had been settled that those delegates wouldn’t count, gives a good snapshot of what may happen. She is very strong minded, which is needed to be President, but is also not willing to budge on issues or arguments – prime example, not exiting the race. While Clinton One (that would be Bill) I thought was very good to broker agreements and work with many to accomplish legislation and policy, I don't see that same characteristic in Hillary. Of course the same charisma of Clinton One is not there, and maybe that is where it all starts for me.
eory came to my brain. I am not sure why it took me this long to realize, but there is some poor intern or very low level staffer on each campaign whose only job it is is to review the names of those associated with each candidate, particularly donors, and do a Google search to see what good, bad, and ugly comes up. How else would all this video of the Rev. Wright come to light, and only 24 hours later an photo of the same honorable Reverand photographed with President Clinton during a prayer breakfast. 
