Buck Naked Politics

The Daily Show: Bill Clinton Interview (3 Parts -- Extended Interview)

by Damozel | Made of win.   And just listen to the crowd cheer. Face it; the dude's a rock star.

Part 1:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Exclusive - Bill Clinton Extended Interview Pt. 1
www.thedailyshow.com
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The Daily Show: The Diplomacy of Hillary Clinton

She won't channel her husband, so don't even think of asking her his opinion of anything.  After all, who is Secretary of State, Hill or Bill?  Hmmm?  JS:  "Damn, random person in the Congo.  You just got served!"  You go, Ms. Crankypants! 

After the jump....

Hillary Smacks Down Cheney (& Dana Rohrbacher)

The combat of Mars & Minverva (detail) by Jacques-Louis David via Olga's Gallery

by Damozel |  Cheney's been shit-stirring right in the forefront lately, trying to whip up some partisan rage against Obama. I would like to say to Cheney, in the immortal words of Jon Stewart, "You don't know Dick."  But if I did, he wouldn't listen, understand, or care.

Huzzah for SoS Hillary Clinton.

Congressman Dana Rohrbacher, R-Calif., took up Dick Cheney's cause today and pressed Secretary of State Clinton to urge the Obama administration to declassify and release documents he believes demonstrate the success of the enhanced interrogation techniques employed during the Bush administration.....

"Well, it won't surprise you, I don't consider him a particularly reliable source of information," responded Secretary Clinton to a smattering of laughter in the hearing room.

Former SOS Madeleine Albright Discusses Pakistan & Why Its a Major International Headache; Why Women are Better Diplomats; & What She Really Thinks About Various World Leaders (3-20)

Love her. 

Maher discusses Albright's relationship with Hillary, conceding Hillary's done a very good job in a very difficult situation. Albright concedes that she flirted when and as necessary and also "danced and sang"; she wonders if a man can now ever be a SOS. 

Then they play a fun word association game!   (What do W, Ahmadinjad, bin Laden and Idi Amin have in common?)

Arms-Gate: The First Lady Exercises A Fundamental Right

by Damozel | Meanwhile, Michelle Obama continues to scandalize people who really don't get out enough with the sight of her bare arms.

The Washington Post reports that it has received hundreds of reader complaints on the subject. A Chicago Tribune reader wrote of her outfit during the president's congressional address: "Does the lady not understand that these Big Speech Events are serious and important? Not a cocktail party?"...

The first lady's view, according to social secretary Desiree Rogers, is simple: "If I want to wear no sleeves to hear my husband speak, that’s what I’m going to do." (Salon)

Profiles in American Courage: A Pragmatic Obama Says, "Hang on Tight"; Bill Clinton Says, "Put on a Happy Face!"; Meanwhile, NYT Columnist Maureen Dowd Says: "The Only Thing to Fear is...Everything"

by Damozel |   Can Obama fix the world to make it safe for Americans?  Not likely, though it's increasingly clear that people are expecting him to try.  And he did ask to be given the job, even though some of us wished he would save himself for a later time -- the unimaginable time following the current Death of Complacency -- when the worst would be over and he could help us get back on the road to the next big thing in our history as a people.  Instead, he opted to preside over what for some young people and people like Maureen Dowd who have short memories and a massive sense of entitlement appears to be, like, um, the Worst Times Ever.

The job really should have gone to a Republican, since they made the mess, but a Republican can't fix this or any mess, because the current crop don't know jack about reality.  Is the problem that we've become a nation of self-involved self-gratification seekers, who think that things will always go in our favor and never, ever change?  And this is because...why?  History certainly doesn't back up that view.

Hillary Confirmed and Sworn in as Secretary of State

by Deb Cupples |  Yesterday, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State with a vote of 94 to 2.  She was sworn in as Secretary at 5:29 pm on Wednesday, according to the New York Times.  

Republican Senators Jim DeMint (SC) and David Vitter (SC) were the only "no" votes.  Hillary did not vote for herself, and Sen. Ted Kennedy did not vote (presumably because he is ill).  You can see the roll call vote here.

The Washington Wire reported that Hillary got unexpected help:

Jon Swift Supports Kennedy for New York Senate; Plus Swift's Predictions for 2009

by Damozel | "The conservative former MTV VJ Kennedy," that is.  Though the Great Man has a few words to say about Caroline as well:

Those who are lobbying for Caroline Kennedy, such as New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, have their hearts in the right place. They want to find the candidate who will most annoy and embarrass Hillary to replace her. And appointing Caroline would certainly accomplish that. Although she hasn't voted much or been that involved in politics or even studied the issues, she did make Hillary angry when she and her uncle Sen. Ted Kennedy endorsed Obama over Hillary in the Democratic primary.As I explained at the time, "It is not just that Obama reminds them of Kennedy, it is also that the Clintons remind them of Lyndon Johnson. And if there is anything that the Kennedys don't like, it's a bunch of hillbillies in the White House, which is being kept in trust until a competent Kennedy can be groomed to take it back for its rightful owners. Until that time Obama will do." 

Gallup Poll Shows Obama Most Admired Man of 2008 and Hillary Most Admired Woman; Meanwhile RNC Chair Candidate Chip Saltsman Gives his Pals the Gift of "Light-hearted" "Satirical" Racism

by Damozel  |A USA Today/Gallup poll shows that Obama, TIME Magazine's Person of the Year,  is the man that most Americans (32%) admire most, while Hillary Clinton---in a more sharply divided poll---is, unsurprisingly--- the woman (20%), beating out Palin (11%), Oprah (8%), Condi (7%), and and Michelle Obama (3%).  Obama beat W (5%), the Pope (2%), Bill Graham (2%), and Bill Clinton (2%).  You can see longer lists of the contenders here. 

In the meantime, in the midst of all this Obama- and Hillary-love, Chip Saltsman distributed  a 41-track CD to committee members which contained Paul Shanklin's (written for Rush Limbaugh) song, "Barack the Magic Negro" (The Hill). Gosh, it's like a reflex with some Republicans, isn't it?   When they want to amuse their GOP friends with a really "funny" "joke," I mean.

I agree with Ta-Nehisi Coates:  Saltsman clearly is the right man for the RNC Chair and I hope they give it to him. 

Cybergate Part ####: Rove's IT Man (and a Key Witness in Ohio Voter Tampering Case) Killed Friday in a Solo Plane Crash

by Damozel | Cyber-expert and former Rove IT guru Mike Connell was killed Friday when his single-prop plane crashed into the garage of a vacant house. (Ohio.com)  Connell was a key player in many of the Bush administration tech controversies.  As Brad Friedman put it, he was on the scene for every such incident "from Florida 2000 to Ohio 2004 to the RNC email system to the installation of the currently-used Congressional computer network firewall".  He also set up the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth IT network.  As DWT says, Connell certainly "knew all of Karl Rove's electronic secrets."

Since he went from being a key player to a key witness in cases against the Bush administration, Connell had complained of intimidation attempts by none other than Karl Rove.  Perhaps it is not surprising that---to CBS (via After Downing Street.org)---his tragic death has sparked "conspiracy theories."

NY Governor Not too Keen on Kennedy's Taking Hillary's Seat?

 by Deb Cupples |   The New York Post  reports that state Governor David Paterson is less interested than the media is in replacing Sen. Hillary Clinton with Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg.  Apparently, Gov. Paterson doesn't think that Ms. Kennedy has an aggressive- enough personality to represent New York's constituents.  This is from un-named sources, so I don't know whether he thinks that or not.

It is becoming apparent, however, that not all progressives like the idea of Caroline Kennedy's taking Hillary's seat.  Jane Hamsher explained a day or two ago:

News Round Up: Hillary & Obama to Seal the Deal; Obama Announces National Security Team

by Damozel |  It is indeed official:  Obama selects Hillary for Secretary of State.   The Caucus reports:

The Obama and Clinton teams have been preparing the ground for this announcement for days. Mr. Clinton, who has extensive business and philanthropic interests around the world, agreed to a nine-point plan beyond existing law to avoid potential conflicts of interest, including for the first time the release of more than 200,000 donors to his foundation by the end of the year.

The Return of Samantha Power...

by Damozel | ...didn't exactly take this erstwhile Clinton supporter by surprise.  Yes, she was forced to resign for calling Hillary a "monster" in The Scotsman while visiting the UK.  Specifically she said, "Clinton "is a monster" and that "she is stooping to anything. . . . The amount of deceit she has put forward is really unattractive.""  (WaPo) Of course, she almost immediately retracted these ill-advised remarks, and issued a blubbering apology.  "In a statement at the time, she said she made "inexcusable remarks that are at marked variance from my oft-stated admiration for Senator Clinton and from the spirit, tenor, and purpose of the Obama campaign."" (WaPo; via memeorandum)

Media Again Misrepresenting Hillary's Record & Positions

by Damozel |  Sigh. Now that she's apparently going to be SoS, all the old discarded slurs are being dragged out and dusted off for recycling.  Thrifty!  Yes, she's baaaack:  eeevil, scheming Hillary Clinton!  Re this delightfully cryptic post from Mike Memoli at Ambinder's blog:

A delightfully cryptic comment issued earlier from Hillary Clinton's Senate office, following the simple headline, "STATEMENT" (On what? one might ask)...

New York Times, among others, says she'll resign her Senate seat to accept Pres-elect Obama's offer to be Secretary of State.

We'll deal with the gossipy bits first.  After that, we'll examine her voting record and the policies she has supported.

Tweety: Still Hates Hillary

by Damozel | As I kind of love Chris Matthews, it always pains me when he starts ripping on my beloved Hill, now a potential Secretary of State under Barack "Sun Tzu" Obama.  But it's a funny story.  First he fell asleep on a train.  Then he woke up.   Here's how the good part starts:

An avowed Clinton lover who was sitting next to Matthews reports: "He was in business class wearing a red baseball hat that said Penn on the back, and the fat [bleep] fell asleep on the train and snored with his mouth open." 

Heh.  Then he woke up, of course.  And started talking---also of course. 

Hillary Met with Obama: Did He Make Her an Offer?

by Damozel | I discussed this earlier, but the rumors seem to be gathering force.  Hillary as Secretary of State? As I said earlier, that would be such a good call.  Marc Ambinder and others say that the two met yesterday.

Three independent sources say that President-elect Barack Obama met yesterday with Sen. Hillary Clinton in Chicago.

The meeting took place at Obama's transition offices in the mid-afternoon...

One knowledgeable source said that the meeting was "not an interview."  The source would not elaborate.  (Marc Ambinder)

CNN says that the meeting's purpose was to discuss Clinton's future role in his administration. It also says that she was surprised by the rumors that she was under consideration for this particular role.  But Chris Cillizza says that "a source close to Hillary Clinton" says it's a good possibility. 

Is Hillary Under Consideration for Secretary of State?

by Damozel | Yay, I hope it's true!  Naturally, I think she would be an excellent choice.  The Obama campaign isn't saying yes but they also aren't saying no.  (WaPo)  Ben Smith says that one of his sources says that Obama himself has discussed the possibility with advisers. 

WaPo points out the up side. 

The pick of the former presidential contender and Senate Armed Services Committee member would go a long way toward healing any remaining divisions within the Democratic Party after the divisive primaries. Also, Clinton has long been known for her work on international women's issues and human rights. The former first lady could also enhance Obama's efforts to restore U.S. standing amongst allies worldwide. (WaPo)

Michelle Obama Turns to Hillary for Advice

by Damozel | Whatever these ladies' differences---and we all know Michelle Obama was never a Hillary fan---Michelle knows Hillary understands the problem of sheltering one's young from the "media maelstrom."  (Politico)

Glad to Have Lived to See This Day

by Damozel | I won't say that I always wanted him to be the candidate.  I love Hill, and I wanted a Clinton/Obama ticket.  But on this day of days---I am assuming he will win; I hope I hope I hope---I am so excited to think I have lived to see this.  And I admit it:  once I got over my initial disappointment, and Obama started talking policy instead of hope, I fell hard for him.

I was a small child in South Carolina in the Sixties.  I remember the school bus incident just across the border in North Carolina.  I remember other things that I am not going to think about on this historic day.   I hope there is a Heaven.  I want to believe that the African-Americans who worked for my various relatives and neighbors for a pittance, had to use the "Colored Waiting Room" at the doctor, and live in horrible little shacks on the edge of town because there was no way for them to get any money are looking down on us today.  They would never, never, never have believed it could happen.  They would never have had the audacity.   

And yet look at where we've come.  I'll be crushed if Obama loses, and yet:  Eugene Robinson is right; win or lose, this is a grand moment in American history.   

If Elected, Would Obama Appoint a Bipartisan Cabinet?

by Damozel | I can't imagine that progressives will jump for joy at some of the names being bruited about, but Obama's list of reported candidates seems consummately pragmatic, given the tension between Democrats and Republicans.  The pragmatism comes in when you consider McCain's---and the media's---attempts to stoke fears among their constituents and swing voters about the consequences of a Democratic landslide.

If the Democrats win sweeping majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate as well as the White House, conservative voters could feel alienated from every branch of government. The McCain campaign is already playing up fears of a Democratic landslide to persuade Republicans and independents to back their man.(Times of London)