# So, will Hillary really resign as Secretary of State? If so, who should fill the vacancy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 7, 2012, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182 "2012-11-07T06:14:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182/21 "2012-11-10T00:36:22Z")
> [@theR](#): > > Not as of today. > > [David Petraeus resigns as CIA director](http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/david-petraeus-resigns-as-cia-director/2012/11/09/636d204e-2aa8-11e2-bab2-eda299503684_print.html) I’ve already heard it suggested that this is a cover story to get him away from any uncomfortable “Bengazigate” questions. I don’t agree, but the theory is out there. Next Hillary gets the axe for the same reason. Some people see a conspiracy everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182/22 "2012-11-10T00:47:58Z")
> [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > Yea, I thought she already said that she would resign after the first term but I think she has also said that she will stay on until a new appointment is approved. That’s usually how that works. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182/23 "2012-11-10T01:07:27Z")
If she is found in a dark alley somewhere with a couple slugs in her head, I’d suspect Bill before Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182/24 "2012-11-10T01:31:30Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The problem with Kerry is he’d be a lightning rod for opposition in confirmation hearings. They’d drag out for weeks and the Obama administration would have to fight for his appointment. And I don’t think they’re looking for a fight on this issue. I don’t think he’s that controversial. 2004 was a long time ago, and I suspect he has a few friends on the other side of the aisle, and he only needs to get five GOP votes to defeat a filibuster\* He wasn’t the greatest Presidential candidate, but not for any reason that would make him a bad SoS. \*(does he get to vote on his own confirmation?) Dick Lugar would actually be a great choice if it weren’t for the fact that he’s eighty. That’s pretty far up there to be starting a new job. People suggesting it’d be Powell or Rice are nuts. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182/25 "2012-11-10T01:46:50Z")
Would’ve agreed with **prr** until **Simplicio** pointed out Lugar’s age. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182/26 "2012-11-10T02:15:02Z")
I predicted Kerry at least a month ago or more. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182/27 "2012-11-10T02:15:50Z")
He was willing to run for a six-year term as Indiana’s Senator. He could probably do a few years at least as SoS. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182/28 "2012-11-10T02:16:50Z")
If you run Kerry, Scott Brown will run for his seat and possibly win it. Lugar first, then Kerry in a few years when Scott Brown is forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182/29 "2012-11-10T02:29:45Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Would’ve agreed with **prr** until **Simplicio** pointed out Lugar’s age. Yea, Lugar 10-15 years ago might have been a good choice. The SOS job has to one of the demanding jobs in the world, particularly these days with everything that is going on. Look how it’s aged Hillary. She’s traveled over 1 million miles and traveling isn’t easy. I’m a good traveler but I can appreciate how difficult and demanding travel like that can be. Pro athletes, especially NBA players, get fatigued from the travel as the season wears on. For the SOS it never lets up. The job would kill Lugar. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182/30 "2012-11-10T03:10:00Z")
If he didn’t have some dirty laundry, I’d have suggested Bill Richardson. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182/31 "2012-11-10T03:10:27Z")
I thought he would’ve been great if Dole had beat Clinton. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182/32 "2012-11-10T03:14:53Z")
John Huntsman. Yeah that’s what I said. JOHN HUNTSMAN. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182/33 "2012-11-10T03:18:13Z")
Wait, what did you say? John Huntsman? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182/34 "2012-11-10T03:19:18Z")
Hey it turns out I’m not the [only one to suggest it](https://www.google.com/search?q=john+huntsman&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&ie=&oe=#hl=en&sugexp=les%3B&gs_nf=3&tok=Io4XHicMVI-YQkKPoyc_hQ&pq=john%20huntsman&cp=17&gs_id=g&xhr=t&q=jon+huntsman+secretary+of+state&pf=p&safe=off&tbo=d&rls=com.microsoft:en-us%3AIE-Address&sclient=psy-ab&oq=john+huntsman+sec&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&fp=9fe80559194dc542&bpcl=38093640&biw=1680&bih=905)… Still clearly a very long longshot though. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182/35 "2012-11-10T03:20:36Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > wait, what did you say? John huntsman? joooohn. Huuntssmaaan. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182/36 "2012-11-10T03:21:26Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > John Huntsman. Yeah that’s what I said. JOHN HUNTSMAN. Wow. Not a bad thought. But it will be Kerry. Rice, now she’d be a fight. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182/37 "2012-11-10T03:22:18Z")
Sorry, young fellow, a bit hard of reading. For a second there, I thought you said John Huntsman. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182/38 "2012-11-10T03:37:43Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Rice, now she’d be a fight. I’m not sure this is so. One silver lining to the GOP trying to make “Benghazigate” a “thing” during the election is that, now that they’ve lost, the case can be made that “the American people don’t agree that this incident is what the GOP insists it is.” Also, I agree with [this analysis](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15677343&postcount=69) as to why it will NEVER be John Kerry. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182/39 "2012-11-10T03:49:35Z")
I think we need somebody smarter than John Kerry in the role. He has never struck me as being very bright. Above average of course, but we need better than that in this role. [This column](http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/buzz_over_bubba_as_andy_sec_of_state_DMkBdjQcDbQjLjIccyXHaP) says Bill Clinton would like to have the job (though the column is speculating about a theoretical Cuomo administration): > [@](#): > > “It looks like Bill may be hedging his bets by getting ready to go with Andrew if Hillary is, indeed, serious about not running herself,’’ said a Democratic insider, referring to speculation that current Secretary of State Clinton will run for president in 2016. > > “ **I think everyone who knows Bill Clinton knows he’d love to be secretary of state** because he’s so smart and because he knows so much about the world,’’ the insider continued. Slate has posted a [discussion of Bill’s Constitutional eligibility](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2012/11/obama_cabinet_rumors_is_bill_clinton_eligible_to_serve_as_secretary_of_state.html). I am also not averse to the Huntsman idea. He strikes me as a smart guy, and a team player. But if you give him the job, is he just going to resign a couple of years later to make another run for the top job? ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182/40 "2012-11-10T04:16:41Z")
I would absolutely love to see Bill Clinton as secretary of state, but I disagree that Kerry is a bad choice. I think he’s a rather good one. Huntsman is another great choice, honestly, but Bill is slightly better. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-will-hillary-really-resign-as-secretary-of-state-if-so-who-should-fill-the-vacancy/640182.md?page=3)