Both Hillary and Richardson as Sec of St

Great Debates
1

Note, I’m not a Hillary supporter in any way.

It’s a big world and Secretary of State is a big job, so why not share the responsibilities?

Maybe like this:

The Middle East and Africa vs Asia and the Western Hemisphere.

Both Secretaries visit Europe as necessary for their mission.

Richardson has some meaningful experience in North Korea. He’s tough and smart enough to look Medvedev/Putin in the eyes without getting hypnotized. He speaks Spanish which would be helpful in South America.

Hillary is tricky enough to deal with the Gordian Knot of the Middle East, her husband has dealings in Africa already and this will give her a chance to actually get shot at in Bosnia.

The only problem I see is finding two banks of offices that are exactly the same size.

2

No, that’s what undersecretaries are for. You want one person to be in charge.

Now, if you absolutely must job share, you do not want someone like Hillary sharing. I don’t think she understands what that word means.

3

I agree. There are some jobs that can be split; Secretary of a Federal Department is not one of them. What happens when they disagree?

4

I think it’s great that Obama has so many good options for all of these posts.

5

If they disagree, Obama decides.

I assume that disagreements between the two would be on a matter strictly concerning Europe, as otherwise, each Secretary would rein in his or her bailiwick.

Wikipedia says there have been “twin towers” in the NBA five times, including two presently. Obviously basketball isn’t world affairs, but the principle is the same: two superstars working together in a world that has become pistol hot and deadly complex.

One person can’t be in two places at once, right? And there are plenty of hot spots worthy of highly concentrated—and immediate—effort to keep two Secretaries busy.

Keep the Assistant Secretaries for support, sure, just elevate the lead player’s effectiveness by dividing the court.

It was unconventional to play the Twin Tower strategy the first time, but it seems that the concept is still in use.

6

Hillary woudl be the next Ted Kennedy if she stayed in the Senate. If she goes into Obama’s Cabinet it’s only a matter of time before they butt heads and she has to go. Then she’s not Sec State or Senator.

People do not seem to realize that a cabinet position is not an upgrade from being extremely powerful Senator.

7

Hillary may stay in the Senate for the next fifty years, but no one will be the next Ted Kennedy. Strong personalities never replace each other. And I can’t imagine her being as endearing to as many people as Teddy has been. He’s the only one of the four Kennedy boys that we got to see grow old. Yes, I am totally biased.

Bit of trivia: Ted Kennedy was born 200 years to the day after George Washington.