BBC/NYT: Hillary Clinton to accept SecState post

[The Minx]

Link.

Clinton 'will accept State post'

Hillary Clinton will agree to serve as secretary of state in US President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet, the New York Times has reported.

The paper quotes two "confidants" as saying Mrs Clinton has decided to quit her Senate position for the job.

Mrs Clinton's office says discussions are "very much on track" but says further reports are premature.

But correspondents say some kind of deal between the two former political rivals seems far advanced.

The latest report comes after days of speculation on Mrs Clinton's prospects.

The BBC's Kim Ghattas, in Washington, says if Mr Obama did not want those stories out there - because he was not thinking of Mrs Clinton for the job - someone from his team would have already been scotching the reports.

Reports also suggest Mr Obama is likely to pick former presidential candidate and New Mexico Gov Bill Richardson as commerce secretary.

And Timothy Geithner, president of the New York Federal Reserve Bank, is expected to be nominated to the post of US Treasury secretary.

American stock markets reacted positively to the reports about Mr Geithner, with the Dow Jones index rising by more than 6%.

Reports 'premature'

Philippe Reines, a senior advisor to Mrs Clinton, told the BBC it would be premature to say Mrs Clinton had accepted the position.

"We're still in discussions, which are very much on track. Any reports beyond that are premature."

But unnamed officials in the Obama and Clinton camps said they had every reason to believe Mr Obama would announce her as his choice, the Associated Press reports.

Mrs Clinton, who was First Lady when her husband Bill served as president from 1993 to 2001, lost a close race against Mr Obama for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.

If she is appointed secretary of state (foreign minister), she will have to step down as a senator for New York.

She would succeed Condoleezza Rice, who has had the job for the past four years under President Bush.

To date, the most senior appointment made by Mr Obama, who succeeds President Bush in January, is Rahm Emanuel as his chief of staff.

He is expected to announce a round of appointments after the Thanksgiving holiday next Thursday.

KEY APPOINTMENTS

• Chief of staff: Rahm Emanuel, a deputy chief of staff to Bill Clinton
• Senior advisers: David Axelrod, Valerie Jarrett, Peter Rouse and John Podesta (formerly chief of staff to Bill Clinton)
• Press secretary: Robert Gibbs
• White House counsel: Greg Craig, formerly special counsel to Bill Clinton
• Vice-president's chief of staff: Ron Klain, formerly chief of staff to Al Gore
• Staff secretary: Lisa Brown, formerly counsel to Al Gore

[The Minx]

In related news, Timothy Geithner may be heading for the Treasury:

Link.

(CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama's potential Cabinet is beginning to take shape, as transition team aides say he is closing in on nominations for some of the posts.

New York Federal Reserve President Timothy Geithner is "on track" to be offered the treasury secretary post, two sources close to the transition team said Friday.

Two sources also said Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico is a serious contender for commerce secretary, but that he could be tapped for another senior post.

Geithner has played a large role in the government's efforts to wrangle the credit crisis, which has damaged markets and economies worldwide. While a number of those efforts have been controversial, Geithner remains a well-regarded figure from Wall Street to Washington.

Geithner began working with the Treasury Department in 1988 in the International Affairs division.

In 1999 he became under secretary of the treasury for international affairs.

Geithner would be charged with restoring stability to the financial markets, the banking system and the housing sector through oversight of the controversial $700 billion financial rescue package, of which about half is still available for use at the discretion of the treasury secretary.

The Dow Jones industrial index staged a late rally after traders heard news of Geithner's possible appointment, rising by almost 500 points shortly before the market's closing time. Read more about Geithner and expectations for the Cabinet position

The two sources close to the transition team said they do not consider Richardson's appointment to the Commerce Department to be a done deal.

Richardson, 61, was a candidate for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.

Currently in his second term as New Mexico's governor, he previously served as ambassador to the United Nations and energy secretary in the Clinton administration.

Richardson is also considered to be a possibility for the secretary of state post.

Friday, Sen. Hillary Clinton's camp shot down media reports saying that she had already agreed to accept the secretary of state position.

"We're still in discussions, which are very much on track," said Philippe Reines, Clinton's senior adviser. "Any reports beyond that are premature."

The New York Times reported Friday that Clinton would give up her Senate seat and accept the Cabinet post, citing two confidants, who said the decision was made after further consultation with Obama about the nature of her role and his foreign policy plans.

A senior Obama aide told CNN there has been no development on a possible Clinton appointment since they informed CNN Thursday she is "on track" to be nominated for secretary of state. Video Watch how Bill Clinton factors in »

Obama's transition team also appears close to choosing a national security adviser to the White House.

Retired Marine Gen. Jim Jones has emerged as the president-elect's leading choice for the position, two sources close to the Obama transition team say.
advertisement

The sources said Jones has been given the impression by Obama that the job is his if he wants it. But the officials said there are still private discussions under way and that no final decision has been made.

The discussions are focused on precisely how much power Jones will have in the staff job since he is used to being in a command role. Among his many posts, Jones served for several years as the operational commander for NATO.

So, things are indeed beginning to take shape.

[SirNitram]

Well, so formally begins the 4 year scream about how 'No Drama Obama' is nothing like what he said, why is he dirtying OUR TOWN, that horrible liberal!

The political media has been given their thing to do, at least. Throw hysterics about Clinton. Weekly.

[Mayabird]

Damnit, I wanted Richardson!
[line 2]

[frigidmagi]

I wanted Bill Richardson for Sec of State to.

So, questions. Is this a sign that Obama will be doing most of his foreign policy himself or does he honestly intent to give it over to the Clintons? I ask because frankly I don't see the Clintons has meekly carrying out his policy without modifications. Especially since both of them feel that they have greater experience and judgment.

On the flip side this is a hell of a smoke screen. I mean the media will be so busy following around the Clintons they might end up ignoring him putting a battleship in the Rose Garden.

Or is it to keep her from running loose in the Senate?

[rhoenix]

On the flip side this is a hell of a smoke screen. I mean the media will be so busy following around the Clintons they might end up ignoring him putting a battleship in the Rose Garden.

Possibly - it could certainly be "watch this and be amused while I get shit done," but I'm honestly not sure.

Or is it to keep her from running loose in the Senate?

I think this is at least half the reason. As good as she would be in the Senate, she would be setting herself up as a potential rival to him in order to legitimize her run for the presidency.

[SirNitram]

The simplest and therefore most logical answer is that Obama picked a Democrat with strong international ties, first name basis with multiple heads of state, and experience in the State Dep's primary mission. Her strong personal opinions might weigh in, but I expect the choice actually included that as a strength: Obama can trust her to get shit done with minimal micromanagement. He'll need that domestically.

I do not expect huge clashes. I do expect every hint of a rumor of a possibility of an argument to become the dominant news story whenever they occour. The words 'Constitutional Crisis' will be thrown around because newspeople think it sounds neat.

[frigidmagi]

I do expect every hint of a rumor of a possibility of an argument to become the dominant news story whenever they occour.

I seriously wondering if that was part of the idea. Seriously when you wave a Clinton at the media they could miss an alien invasion of Ottawa.

[SirNitram]

I do expect every hint of a rumor of a possibility of an argument to become the dominant news story whenever they occour.

I seriously wondering if that was part of the idea. Seriously when you wave a Clinton at the media they could miss an alien invasion of Ottawa.

We'll see. They'll heap on Obama as they are now('No Drama Obama?! Look at the drama he's made! Ignore that it's manufactured by us!!!') for a while yet. But even that grants cover when you consider no one's having on-air conniptions about the details of his stimulus he's spoken of, and his HHS chair's plan(Benefits for poor and out of work, infrastructure investment, etc), already published.

The Cato institute, on the other hand, is now hyperventilating, because Obama's health plan would create a seismic shift. The average voter, being average, will side with the party who created his reliable, if sometimes annoying, healthcare over those who sought to block it.

[General Havoc]

I think this is partly him deciding that Clinton can be better controlled in the state department, where she reports to him, rather than in the senate, where she is beholden to nobody except the people of New York. And I really don't expect a shitfit over this, even from the media. After all, he promised outright that Clinton would have a major role to play in his administration.

And the rumors are now circulating that Richardson is being tapped for Secretary of Commerce.

[Charon]

I think this is partly him deciding that Clinton can be better controlled in the state department, where she reports to him, rather than in the senate, where she is beholden to nobody except the people of New York City.

Edited for accuracy.

I do kind of agree with Nitram's previous assessment though. Obama picked her because she's got strong international ties and for as much as anyone may dislike her, you have to agree that she can get shit done.

[Cpl Kendall]

Personally I was hoping for Colin Powell. Despite the UN BS from his previous term, I was hoping to see a bit of bi-partianship and he's about the only Republican that I can respect.

[SirNitram]

Personally I was hoping for Colin Powell. Despite the UN BS from his previous term, I was hoping to see a bit of bi-partianship and he's about the only Republican that I can respect.

Education Advisor is the position Powell will assume, it's said.

[Rogue 9]

Personally I was hoping for Colin Powell. Despite the UN BS from his previous term, I was hoping to see a bit of bi-partianship and he's about the only Republican that I can respect.

Rumor is he's keeping Gates at Defense.

[frigidmagi]

Powell would never be Sec of Defense, the unwritten rule is you cannot have an ex-general in the spot. I disagree with the rule but there it is.

[Cpl Kendall]

Powell would never be Sec of Defense, the unwritten rule is you cannot have an ex-general in the spot. I disagree with the rule but there it is.

I was taking about Sec of State. I think Rogue brought up Gates as an example of bi-partianship. I happen to think that the unwritten rule is a good idea, or latest attempt to have a former general as MoD was a farce but he was also a defense company lobbyist...

[frigidmagi]

I was taking about Sec of State.

Ah my mistake sorry about that. It wouldn't happen either due to unpleasent echoes of Jr kinda of effect.

I happen to think that the unwritten rule is a good idea,

McNarma, Rumsfield... I can go on? Having civilian SoD (hehehe) has led to the ridiculousness that is the current US Military procurement program and over politicized environment in the Pentagon. I would have favored the problems of having a string of ex-generals in the post honestly. These days a general might be a bad idea as well (to likely to be a Pentagon insider), it might be best to find some Colonel with a good record of recent actual combat tours, but even that carries a heavy risk you know?

or latest attempt to have a former general as MoD was a farce but he was also a defense company lobbyist...

Considering that those defense companies are a direct result of the environment created by civilian SoDs... And yes I know Canadian not American, but let's not pretend that the business/political environment in the States doesn't have an effect up there where you are.

[Cpl Kendall]

Ah my mistake sorry about that. It wouldn't happen either due to unpleasent echoes of Jr kinda of effect.

NP. I figure it wouldn't but one could always hope. ;)

McNarma, Rumsfield... I can go on? Having civilian SoD (hehehe) has led to the ridiculousness that is the current US Military procurement program and over politicized environment in the Pentagon. I would have favored the problems of having a string of ex-generals in the post honestly. These days a general might be a bad idea as well (to likely to be a Pentagon insider), it might be best to find some Colonel with a good record of recent actual combat tours, but even that carries a heavy risk you know?

Good point, well made. It's not like we haven't had a bunch of boobs for MoD *cough*Tri-Service*cough.

Considering that those defense companies are a direct result of the environment created by civilian SoDs... And yes I know Canadian not American, but let's not pretend that the business/political environment in the States doesn't have an effect up there where you are.

Well whatever the US has, you can expect in Canada. Just on a smaller scale.