Monday, July 20, 2009

Clinton: Exit Stage Right


My apologies for the Barack-Hillary one-two punch with these recent posts, but I found this story from the Telegraph, commenting on the remarkable fall of Hillary Clinton in the age of Obama, right on the money. It's hard to believe that someone as cunning and narcissistic as Clinton is reported to be would take on a side-show role like this one, playing second, even fourth or fifth fiddle to the man who beat her in the primaries. What was she thinking? And Bill Clinton as Special Envoy to, ah, Haiti? How the mighty have fallen.
If President Obama’s goal in appointing Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State was to neutralize his biggest rival, he has certainly succeeded. Clinton looks a shadow of her former self, and has been the most low-key Secretary of State in recent times. Her immediate predecessors Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell were far more prominent figures on the world stage during their first six months in office. Clinton, in contrast, looks tired, disinterested, and largely going through the motions.

There is little doubt that Hillary Clinton’s star has significantly waned since January. Hugely overshadowed by a White House that dominates US foreign policy, the former first lady rarely makes headlines on policy questions. She has gone from fiery senator and presidential contender to increasingly marginalized run of the mill bureaucrat.

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