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Say It Ain’t So, Hillary, Say It Ain’t So!

(Bumped up from 10/15)

Okay, I admit it – I have tried to be in total denial about the following interview of Secretary of State Clinton and Ann Curry. My aunt sent me the pertinent quote earlier this week, and I just didn’t want to believe it. I still don’t want to believe it, to be honest. It makes me both sad and angry for reasons I am sure many of you share, too.

And now, to the interview:

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Sigh. So, yeah, Secretary Clinton says she won’t run for President again. Sure, there was this (funny to me) quote in there:

“Maybe there is some misunderstanding which needs to be clarified,” she said. “I believe in delegating power … I am not one of those people who feel I have to have my face in front of the newspaper and TV every day … It’s just the way I am.”

Clearly a little dig at He Who Must Be On TV Every Day, which was enjoyable, I must confess. Okay, it was downright funny.

And then there was the part where even Andrea Mitchell, of all people, is commenting on how surprising it is hat President CLINTON has not received the Nobel Peace Prize despite raising BILLIONS of dollars for the Clinton Initiative which does great work all over the world. Never mind all of the work President Clinton did with President Bush (I) in terms of the Indian Ocean Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. So, yeah, sure, it makes perfect sense that Mr. Talker No Walker Man would be the one who gets it. Pathetic.

Back to Hillary Clinton. I was hoping that maybe, just maybe she was trying to shift the focus off of her, and was trying not to steal the limelight from her boss (and her water carrying for him is a bitter pill to swallow). But, no, she has repeated that claim again in this article, the title of which is also bitter, Clinton: I’d Have Hired Obama. Yeah, she said it after the claim indicated in the title. I’ll let the article set the stage:

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday that if she had won presidential election, Barack Obama would “absolutely” have served in her Cabinet.

Recalling the conversation she had with then-president-elect Obama about her joining the administration during an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Clinton said that she was at first surprised when the president offered her the secretary of state post.

“It was, you know, about … five, six days after the election. And my husband and I were out for a walk, actually, in a, sort of, preserve near where we live in New York. And he had his cell phone in his pocket. It started ringing in the middle of this, you know, big nature preserve,” Clinton said. “Instead of turning it off, he answered it. And it was President-elect Obama wanting to talk to him about some people he was considering for positions.”

Clinton said she then picked up the phone thinking Obama wanted to talk generally about Cabinet picks when he surprised her by asking the former New York senator and Democratic rival to become his chief diplomat.

“He said I want you to be my secretary of state. And I said, ‘Oh, no, you don’t,’” Clinton recalled. “I said, ‘Oh, please, there’s so many other people who could do this.’

“But, you know, we kept talking. I finally began thinking, look, if I had won and I had called him, I would have wanted him to say yes,” Clinton continued. “And, you know, I’m pretty old-fashioned, and it’s just who I am. So at the end of the day, when your president asks you to serve, you say yes, if you can.”

Asked if she would have made the same call to Obama if she had been elected president, Clinton responded: “Absolutely. Absolutely. Oh, of course.”

Well, I can see that she would have to do so, but SHE would have been the boss, and SHOULD have been, as many of us think given te votes she received in the Primary.

And that brings me to this:

Additionally, Clinton backed up her statement from earlier in the week that she will not run for president a second time.

“I have absolutely no interest in running for president again. None. None,” she said. “I mean, I know that’s hard for some people to believe, but, you know, I just don’t.”

“I feel like I have had the most amazing life in my public service,” the secretary of state continued. “And for the last 17 years, ever since my husband started running for president, I have been, you know, in the spotlight, working hard. And this job is incredibly all-encompassing. So I think I’m looking forward to maybe taking some time off.”

She HAS had an amazing life, no doubt about it. She is an amazing woman – no one would expect anything less from someone of her stature. But I have to say, the thought of NEVER having a President Hillary Clinton is demoralizing. I feel like the DNC Elite have won (again), getting the Clintons out once and for all, despite the tremendous successes they have had independent of each other, and for the good of the country. It just burns me up that they might actually succeed. Dammit it to hell.

That despite the fact that k, Secretary Clinton has higher approval ratings than President Obama does now. I’m not kidding – hot off the Gullup wires, her ratings are 62%, and Obama’s are 56%. Maybe it’s because people are seeing that SHE is out there working her ass off on our behalf, on behalf of the country, and for the greater good of the world. They see Obama hemming and hawing, incapable of making hard decisions, or fulfilling campaign promises, yet showing up on YouTube doing the salsa (more or less) the other night while Clinton has been to the following countries between 10/9 – 15: Zurich, London, Dublin, Belfast, Moscow and Kazan. Holy smokes – makes me tired just reading the list.

She is just a remarkable woman, isn’t she?? Incredible energy, devotion, good humor, intelligence, and compassion, all in one person who SHOULD be the boss.

So I have been in denial, not wanting to believe my ears and eyes when she says she won’t be running again. Someone wake me when she changes her mind. Or Obama’s out of office. Whichever comes first…

(And a grudging thanks to Bronwyn’s Harbor for sending me the video. Thanks, BH – kinda!)

  • http://noquarter foxyladi14

    well she couldn’t very well say,heck yes and i.m gonna beat the toad this time lol

  • http://noquarter foxyladi14

    course we all know she beat him the last time.

    • http://rabblerouserruminations.blogspot.com Rabble Rouser Revrend Amy

      True that, foxy lady – she sure did. And no, you’re right that she can’t flat out say she’s going to run. It’s just the retirement thing that concerns me…

      • Jen the Michigander

        My 70-year-old uncle is a successful businessman with a high energy type A personality. He has been talking about retiring for at least ten years now, but he’s still working. He wouldn’t know what to do with himself if he retired. I can’t imagine Hillary knowing what to do with herself if she retired, either. Especially if she was only in her 60s-70s at the time and remained in good health. I mean, really, can you see Hillary sitting in a rocking chair, knitting a scarf for Bill while watching reruns of The Golden Girls? Nah, me neither.

        As for the “I won’t run again” talk, you never know. Take a look at this transcript of an interview Hillary did on Nightline earlier this week:
        http://still4hill.wordpress.com/2009/10/16/secretary-clintons-interview-with-cynthia-mcfadden-of-abcs-nightline/
        Again, Hillary says she won’t run for POTUS. But later on, she talks about how she initially said no when Obama asked her to be Secretary Of State. So what this tells me is that Hillary is a woman who can and does change her mind.

  • Ferd Berfle

    So I have been in denial, not wanting to believe my ears and eyes when she says she won’t be running again. Someone wake me when she changes her mind. Or Obama’s out of office. Whichever comes first…

    She’s done enough and has put up with enough from both the right-wing and left-wing kooks in our midst to last a lifetime. It would be enough to try the patience of Job.

    Whether she runs again or not is up to her and not us. My only hope for her is that she does what makes her happy.

    • FranSC

      I agree, Ferd Berfle, especially that Hillary has put up with so much now from both the left and the right. But, we all know that the right is strangely realizing the Clintons were deserving of a lot more than they have gotten – Dick Armey for one. Many of the left and right have said Bill Clinton was much more deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize than this done-nothing-yet excuse for a winner. When these former foes compare the Clintons to the catastrophe that is 0bama, it’s no wonder they are coming around. So perhaps it would not be as bad if HRC decided to brave it again.

      Ani, it’s way too soon to count Hillary out. Don’t you remember how many times she denied she would run for POTUS the first time? The Clintons are the consumate politicians – in the best sense of the word! Look how much good will they have garnered by being as kind about 0bama as they have been – as bad as that is for us. Frankly, I’ve learned a lot from them on that this past year. I’m not suggesting that we should act that way toward 0bama – I could never be kind about 0bama no matter what he does from here on. The Clintons, tho, are in an entirely different place from the rest of us.

      I have to say, they have taught me a great deal about the sincere public face you must wear if you are to stay involved and show people that you are what you said you were during the campaign in her case. I really have never been able to do that. For most of us, when someone has treated us badly, our retaliation is worse on us than the guilty party even if it is simply ignoring them.

      Either the Clintons or someone close to them will eventually write about all the horrors of 2008 and we will feel vindicated on standing our ground for democracy and what has to be done to preserve our fundamental right of one person, one vote.

      • Ferd Berfle

        Even though many of the right may have come around, there are still the extremist fringes on both sides who hate the ground she walks on. That will never change. It then becomes an issue of whether she wants her character to be assassinated yet again. If she runs, they’ll call her ambitious; if she doesn’t run, they’ll call her a quitter; if she runs for Governor of New York, they’ll say she can’t take the heat in DC. If she ran for Governor and lost, they say she should have stayed in this abominable Administration and on and on.

        I have always been a staunch supporter of hers, through the sham investigations and the Bimbo eruptions during Bill’s presidency. I thought she was a great Senator and her fellow New Yorkers apparently thought so, too. I supported her in the primaries and also supported her decision to serve our country by serving the squatter in the WH. I will support her decision to not run again and I wish her well.

        • FranSC

          I know, Ferd, there are still many who seem to get agitated the minute Hillary’s name comes up, aka, today on “State of the Union” – but I was not surprised when the panel was Donna Brazile, Bill Bennett, Gloria Borger and Jessica Yelling. In the eyes of that group and other like-minded people, Hillary could burn herself at the stake, and it wouldn’t be enough.

          I just wish somebody could explain that to me.

          • Ferd Berfle

            I just wish somebody could explain that to me.

            Extremists do not like competence in any way or form as it puts a decided crimp in their ability to brainwash the electorate.

  • SJ

    After aligning herself with that idiot and standing up for him at every turn, Hillary knows people are not stupid you cant defend all that Obama is doing daily and then want to get their votes to move him out of office.

    Hillary should of stood her ground, her credibility would of been a lot more appreciated than it is now, sorry but she will never get my vote again, no matter what.

  • felizarte

    I have faith that this country, founded on faith in the God-given rights of liberty, justice and equality of human beings, will ever be denied Divine Providence. That our destinies–the country’s and the individuals with the same faith, are ultimately, in the hands of the Almighty. As individual human beings, we can only hope and pray that we are acting in accordance with that higher calling.

    Hillary, in her actions until now, demonstrates such a faith. And whatever time it may be, her course of action in the service of her people and her faith will be made obvious. That is my faith and what keeps me going, despite all the grievous things happening.

    • http://rabblerouserruminations.blogspot.com Rabble Rouser Revrend Amy

      Good point, y’all…And yes – she certainly has the right to do whatever she wants, and I do want her to be happy, of course. She deserves that.

  • http://www.missmalevolent.com Miss Malevolent

    I knew as did everyone else that this was a one shot deal for her. No way it was feasible for her to run again not for President anyway.

    • felizarte

      Who can possibly know what happens tomorrow? Nixon comes to mind when he lost to Pat Brown and he said: “You won’t have Nixon to kick around anymore.” Who could have predicted what happened to Kennedy? Then who would have thought that Johnson would be driven from office because of Vietnam? That Nixon would be hounded out by Watergate? That Carter would fall with the fall of the Shah of Iran and then the hostages? That Reagan (at his age) would run again after being defeated by Ford for the nomination?

      In short, WE DON’T KNOW.

      • Ferd Berfle

        In short, WE DON’T KNOW.

        While I agree that it is our loss if she doesn’t change her mind, I take her at her word. Moreover, she’s no Nixon, who was paranoid. She really has no need to prove anything to anyone any more as she’s done her bit for the country, one which, by the way, selected a real dimwit know-nothing over someone with a mastery of every subject about which she speaks. I wouldn’t blame her if she did he service and went quietly into private life.

        • Ferd Berfle

          That should read, “I wouldn’t blame her if she did her service….”

  • Scranton4Hillary

    How else could she answer that question? Jeesh….

  • Mia
    • Mia

      This is from 2004!

      • Ferd Berfle

        Kenyan born. Yep.

        Funny how the Wayback machine maintains most of the web for posterity, even the stuff the miscreants thought they had scrubbed.

  • MG

    KARMA!!!!!!! Nothing stays in the Dark for ever!

  • AnneinPA

    Hillary will rise again in 2012.

    Gov. of NY or POTUS or both.

    I feel it coming.

    Why did she keep running until May 2008 when we all
    knew it was a lost cause? She just never says “die”.

    Retire, I don’t believe it.

    • Johnnyshine

      Both? How’s she gonna manage to be Governor and President at the same time?

  • Jon S

    Obama=Hillary=Pelosi…. Enough said. No chance.

    • Ferd Berfle

      Obama=Hillary=Pelosi…. Enough said. No chance.

      Black and white reasoning is your forte, I presume. That is akin to saying Bush=Powell=Hastert. It simply isn’t true and if you don’t know that, then you need to find another blog in which to comment.

  • Sassy

    Hillary has an aging mother, and a daughter. I’m sure they have reliable employees, but everyone can reach the point in their lives when they want to enjoy moments that will never come again.
    She has given her all to the country, and she now owes herself some rest and happiness!

  • jangles

    Hill’s choice is not a choice between running for prez or sitting in the rocking chair. If the Hillster leaves the SOS position, she will have a multitude of options in front of her—not the least of which would be to become an active partner in the Clinton Global Initiative. I think she can see the joy Bill gets in the work he is doing and the freedom from political constraints to do it. After all the political yuck she has dealt with, I would think that would be a great attraction. I also think that the Hillster loves the work she is doing now. I always thought that she was not a person who naturally enjoyed the crowds and the press of public exposure. I think HRC thrives on the discourse of policy development; the exchange of ideas with truly knowledgeable, talented and keen minds. I suspect that the opportunity to work at state has actually opened Hill’s eyes to the joy of being out of the limelight and able to focus on substantive issues unburdened by the ignorant commentary of the msm and the punditry class.

  • http://www.homestudioessentials.com/ A-Nony-Mouse

    Say what isn’t so? Hillary Clinton is a professional. I don’t think she has any personal animosity with President Obama. They are on the same team working for the same goals.

    As far as Clinton’s approval ratings being higher now, that’s because she’s not getting mud slung at her 24/7 like Obama is. If she were President, it would be her who would be getting all of the right wing attacks on Fox News and the other right wing propaganda “news” outlets.

    • Donna Brazile “Nut”

      Oh good grief wittle mousey:

      Mud slung at him 24/7! You’re joking right!

      Let’s see:

      CNN slinging mud– No!

      MSNBC slinging mud– No we LOVE him, he can do no wrong!

      CBS- NO!

      ABC- NO!

      NBC- No our boss would kill us if we slung mud at BO!

      Fox- 12/7 maybe!

      New York Times: No, Mo Dawd wants to Kiss him!

      6 out of 7 media outlets LOVE him!

      Wake the hell up.

      Stop the he’s so picked on fest!

      • Ferd Berfle

        Stop the he’s so picked on fest!

        LMAO, Donna

        That flea-bitten varmint, Mousie, of course tries to make a mountain out of a molehill of criticism. Hell, That One would have gone into fetal position if he had to endure what HRC has had to over the years. But like all good obmabots, Mousie has to make the subject of his adoration the bestest at everything–no one has ever done so much for this country as That One; no one has ever had to suffer so much as That One; no President has ever been as smart as That One, ad nauseam. He’s one sick little troll.

        • Donna Brazile “Nut”

          Ferd:

          The Bots are just like their leader, thin skinned!

          If That One were actually vetted, I’d think the Bots would need serious medication! That, of course, is medication over and above what they are taking now.

          Keep up That Ones a Pretender fest!

          • Ferd Berfle

            Keep up That Ones a Pretender fest!

            LMAO.
            Here’s to That-One-is-a-Pretender-Fest!