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Clinton, Geithner, Carney & possibly Holder; all leaving the administration in January
Topic Started: Nov 10 2012, 06:14 PM (129 Views)
Tybee
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New term, new people, new tactics. I hope Obama will develop a "take no prisoners" attitude with the republicans. I hope Clinton is quitting to begin work on a 2016 presidential run. I'm sure they'll all make tons of money and be in big demand after they leave.
Come January, the Obama administration will begin again, and a number of people whose names and faces have grown familiar the past four years will leave the public realm for other livelihoods.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and press secretary Jay Carney are preparing for departure. Many also expect Attorney General Eric Holder to be considering an exit.

Foreign Policy

Clinton's position is perhaps most visible. Her management of the department and leadership of America's global diplomacy have won praise from Republicans and Democrats, and the former New York senator and first lady is thought by many to be the most popular member of Obama's Cabinet.

Foreign policy experts see her departure as leaving a gap, because significant problems remain: Iran's suspected ambitions to develop nuclear weapons; violent civil war in Syria; continued fallout from the "Arab spring"; and continuing conflicts in Afghanistan and Pakistan among them. New challenges include China's slowing economy, coupled with its increasing aggressive response to territorial disputes.

So whose names are being talked about to take over State?

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., who leads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has emerged as a favorite. Kerry's major strength is deep and longstanding experience on most vital foreign policy issues; he would also likely win easy confirmation by colleagues. But unlike his predecessor, Kerry may struggle to be welcomed into Obama's inner circle.

Kerry's most-cited rival is Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice, who, unlike Kerry, already has "inner circle" credentials. She has worked daily for years alongside diplomats from America's allies and foes. However, her controversial role in explaining the Sept. 11 Benghazi attack to the public could prompt a difficult confirmation process. Some Republican aides are already saying privately she shouldn't get the job.

It's also possible a Republican might come forward. Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman worked for Obama as ambassador to China before returning to make a failed bid for the presidency. One senior Republican foreign-policy hand describes his work in Beijing as "superb, top-rate."

There's always a chance of promotion from within, such as Deputy Secretary of State William Burns. But what about an outsider? Brookings Institution President Strobe Talbott held Burns' job under President Bill Clinton.

Another possibility: Nick Burns, who managed policy on Iran's nuclear ambitions under President George W. Bush. Burns publicly praised Obama's handling of the issue.

It's not known yet whether Defense Secretary Leon Panetta plans to leave. But if he does, two front-runners are being mentioned for the job: His deputy, Ashton Carter, and Michele Flournoy, a former undersecretary at the Pentagon. Another possibility, though somewhat unlikely, might be retired independent Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut.

Speculation in Washington also suggested Director of National Intelligence James Clapper might be seeking an exit. He hasn't said he will leave, but if he does, Flournoy is a possible replacement. CIA Director David Petraeus was also mentioned, but news on Friday of his resignation of his position due to an extramarital affair will likely take him off the list. Petraeus, in turn, will be replaced by acting director Michael Morell.

Domestic Affairs

With the economy still lackadaisical, and in light of Obama's campaign promises to hasten a more tangible recovery, picking a replacement for outgoing Treasury Secretary Geithner will be crucial.

So far those mentioned as potential successors include two Clinton administration veterans: Clinton chief of staff Erskine Bowles and current White House chief of staff Jack Lew. In the coming weeks, Lew will face a big test in talks with Republicans centered on the "fiscal cliff." Bowles' credentials, though, would send a message that debt reduction is a priority.

What about a Republican? Robert Zoellick has served as World Bank president, U.S. trade representative and deputy secretary of state. When he was appointed adviser to GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, the amount of backlash from hard-line conservatives reminded everyone that he might have had a bit more luck joining the other team.

Undersecretary of the Treasury for International Affairs Lael Brainard isn't at the top of many lists, but some insiders say she would have a lot of heads nodding their approval on Capitol Hill and overseas.

Finally, a long-shot—but not out of the question: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

With so many large-scale compromises to be reached on both foreign and domestic fronts, it remains to be seen how many Cabinet appointments may serve as gestures from the Obama administration to Republican opposition that still holds power in the House.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-cabinet-look-195117634.html
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Erna
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Geithner is an obvious homosexual and Hillary is of course a diesel-truck.
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Tybee
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I don't know about Geithner, but I think you're probably right about Hillary. I've been hearing rumors about her since Bill's Arkansas governor days. The word even back then was that Bill & Hill both finagled (with women) with each other's full knowledge, and their marriage had become one of convenience.

I remember reading a couple years back that they rarely see each other and their relationship now is more like 2 business executives of competing companies who get together occasionally by appointment.

Personally, I think they're both great politicians. But, I also think they're both as personally & morally corrupt as any 2 people could be. It's just lucky for the public they hitched their wagons to the democratic party because I would hate to see 2 people as devious as they are as republicans. I've always thought they had the attitude that being in the republican party would present too much evil competition for them, and they both clearly enjoy being adored and looked up to by the masses, rather than competed against by the much smaller numbers of corrupt wealthy class.
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I've lost my enthusiasm for Hillary.

She quit her Senate position, she is quitting her Sec of State position, she was unable to properly run a shoe-in Presidential campaign against and unknown.

She should continue her fine work at State for 4 more years and then graciously retire as an international spokesperson. I want new blood, a fresh approach to 2016. Hillary is old school despite her experience.
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If she runs, she'll be the Bob Dole candidate for the Dems. Not a good idea.
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Tybee
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I think you're probably right. If she quits as SOS she's going to have to do anything possible to keep her name in the news constantly if she wants to wage a successful run for the presidency in 2016. If she doesn't and just shows up in 2014 to start campaigning, I think most people will have simply lost interest and moved on.
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Nov 11 2012, 07:18 PM
Hillary is old school despite her experience.
What, exactly, is "new school," and what makes it better?

TIA.
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Nov 11 2012, 09:04 PM
Guest
Nov 11 2012, 07:18 PM
Hillary is old school despite her experience.
What, exactly, is "new school," and what makes it better?

TIA.
I agree. That was stupid and not well thought out. Sticking the other foot in my mouth.... Maybe her world view is framed from 30 years ago and while her husbear was President and maybe it needs to evolve to a post 9-11 arena. Personally, I view her as soft on world affairs and mis-guided about all nations needing to experience democracy. Not all countries are ready quite yet for that which she is pushing.

And she doesn't seem to grasp the reality of a nuclear North Korea. But then, the media feeds us so much garbage, sometimes it is hard to really know the true picture. Maybe she's more Akamai than I think.
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Erna
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He is an evil mass-murderer who will one day burn in hell.
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She and hubby have received too much money from Saudi Arabia to be taken seriously.

Good riddance to Geithner, but it seems unlikely Krugman will be chosen.
Rice has been a disappointment, let's be frank.
Kerry and Huntsman would be poor choices.

Now James Hormel, that would be a good choice, but he's probably too old.
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