Hillary Clinton Says She Won't Serve Eight Years

[tekisui]

Source: The Raw Story

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said she would not serve a full eight years if President Barack Obama wins another term, hoping eventually to retire to writing and teaching.

Clinton, who has spent two decades in the national spotlight and narrowly lost her own bid to be president in 2008, said she enjoyed her job as the top US diplomat but found it physically grueling.

Asked by talk-show host Tavis Smiley if she would serve eight years, she replied: "No, I really can't."

"The whole eight -- that would be very challenging," she said in the interview broadcast Wednesday on public television.

"It's a 24-7 job and I think at some point, I will be very happy to pass it on to someone else," Clinton said.

Clinton repeated that she would not run again for president, saying she wanted a private life after a career in which she has served as first lady and a US senator.


more: http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Hillary_Clinton_says_she_won_t_serv_01282010.html

[dem629]

1. She's probably still hoping to someday be the first Mrs. President Woman President.

[a kennedy]

3. that or the first grandma....

isn't Chelsea getting married??? or is being a grandma to boring after being S of S ??

[karynnj]

12. that is a bit sexist - in that you would not say that of a man

Try it - My favorite leader is John Kerry, and from many campaign pictures and stories, he is every bit as close to his recently married daughter as HRC is to Chelsea, and he clearly loves children. Yet, I doubt anyone would post that he would not run again in 2004 because he wants to be a grandfather.

Also, how would it be "first grandma".

[dem629]

14. Give it a rest.

Or just throw in a charge of (hey, why not?) racism?!

:eyes:

[karynnj]

18. No - you give it a rest - as a woman, I find it insulting

Now, If it was Hillary Clinton's desire to retire and spend time with her family, that would be fantastic as would a decision for her to join the Clinton Foundation, teach, write etc. However, I stand by saying that no one would post the parallel thing about a man.

As to the racism snark - you are out of bounds. Grow up.

[liberal N proud]

11. From that message, it sounds like she is ready to retire

The 24/7 comment sounds like she is getting wore out, imagine that might put slow her ambitions to be President. It would be great if Hillary was the first woman following the first black man. I just don't think she will.

[Jennicut]

2. She is traveling all over the place and you really don't have a life

when you do this type of job. Hope she does a full term though.

[KharmaTrain]

4. Imagine The Jet Lag...

I get worn out on a 3-day business trip, one can imagine how taxing all the flying and moving around is for her, or anyone who tackles this job. I'm very happy with the job she's doing...a very difficult one in repairing a lot of damage of the boooosh regime and the totally corrupt and inept Condi Rice.

In two years, she's closing in on 65 and this taxing job has to be difficult. I see her one day returning to the Senate or even as a possible SCOTUS nominee...

[Jennicut]

9. Scotus, I like that.

You know, I voted for Obama in the primaries but have been impressed and happy with Hillary's performance.

[karynnj]

13. I would think her a very long shot for SCOTUS

She has no real judicial career - she was mostly a corporate lawyer to make money for the family when her husband was Governor. I know there are no requirements, but I seriously doubt Obama would appoint her to that.

[KharmaTrain]

16. True...But This Is Political

I'm very concerned about the health of Justice Ginsburg...and I suspect that she may retire in the near future. The game, as we have seen with past nominations, is to find someone with the ideology over the jurisprudence and experience. It's getting the 67 votes for confirmation and finding a candidate that can be vetted and endure the process. Having been a Senator, this would give SOS Clinton a leg up...especially in a Senate that is so polarized. Other than that, and being President, I don't see what other goal she would have.

[karynnj]

19. You don't need 67 votes for confirmation

The most is 60 if there is a filibuster. A mainstream candidate with impeccable judicial writings will be far easier to confirm than Hillary Clinton. I suspect that there might even be Democrats who would vote against her. (Before you think this is anti-Clinton, I would say the same of John Kerry, Russ Feingold or Pat Leahy - all of whom have more years in the Senate and at least as good legal experience.)

[KharmaTrain]

31. Points Taken...

And I would prefer someone from a lower court...just like another Sotomayor who has an outstanding record and lots of experience. I agree that a lack of experience would work against her but the discussion was about her options if and when she decides she no longer wants to be Secretary of State. There is precedence for someone outside the judiciary...the most notable was Earl Warren, but again, just looking at the what her options could be...not that I think she should be nominated.

[harkadog]

27. She might have the votes in the Senate

but I doubt she would be nominated. She failed the DC bar exam and I don't think Obama would want to take the heat of nominating to the SC someone who couldn't pass the bar exam.

[Beacool]

38. She was named one of the best 100 lawyers in the country twice.

I doubt that anyone would doubt her legal abilities. Passing the DC bar doesn't mean squat. Some of the best attorneys I know had to take the bar exam more than once. She only took it that one time just to see how it went. Bill was already trying to convince her to move to Arkansas.

;-)

[harkadog]

43. Since passing the DC bar "doesn't mean squat"

to you anyway, could you tell me a SC Justice that has failed the bar exam?

[Beacool]

44. You didn't get what I meant.

Many people who have turned out to be great attorneys have failed to pass the bar exam their first time out. Hillary took it only once. At the time she was deciding whether to stay in DC or move to Arkansas with Bill. If she had decided to dump Bill and stay in DC, then she obviously would have taken the bar exam again.

:shrug:

[blue_onyx]

25. A judicial career isn't a requiremnet

Obama interviewed Jennifer Granholm, Governor of Michigan, for the last vacancy. She had no judicial experience either.

I don't see Hillary being nominated for the Supreme Court either.

[Jakes Progress]

58. No man. Nominate Bill.

Just think of the republican heads exploding. Cerebral viscera all over the right wing of the capitol.

[Yupster]

20. I hate travelling by plane

Even if I had a nice jet, I'd hate it.

I can't imagine it's a lot of fun for anyone, especially as you get older.

I don't blame her a bit.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

5. I'd personally like to see her on the Supreme Court. nt

[Myrina]

8. Agreed!

:patriot:

[spin]

40. I think that's a good possiblity...

but beware of getting what you wish for.

She might turn out to be more conservative than we think.

[napi21]

6. I believe her. It IS a very grueling life, and she will be 64 at the end of Obama"s

first term. I can't remember what show I wastched, but it was behind the scenes at the Obama WH, and showed a lot of what it's lioke to be COS, Close Sdvisor, and many of the other key positions there. Your job IS your life, and in the show they said that's one reason you usually have so many retirements at the end of a Pres. first term. HRC's life is almost harder than theirs because of all the travel.

[bigtree]

7. She has a tough job

. . . and she's very active at it.

I still think her visibility lends a helpful hand to the president's foreign policy. She's organized the agency as a diplomatic one again, but there are valid criticisms that her decision to mesh her department's goals with the president's military policy against 'al-Qaeda' is proving unpopular among those tasked with implementing the aid and development. To her credit, though, she has emphasized that the diplomatic efforts are the ultimate solutions to meeting those 'security' goals that she recognizes as important.

[Jamastiene]

10. I will miss her, but she has to do what is best for her.

:patriot:

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

15. Maybe she's running in the 2012 primary.

[SoxFan]

24. Maybe she's going to play QB for the Rams

About as likely.

[Bucky]

55. Ha! Good one.

No, seriously, what do you think?

[Toasterlad]

17. And the Rats Commence Their Swim Away From the Ship....

[FLPanhandle]

21. SOS has to be more physically taxing than being President

The constant travel alone would wear most people out.

I don't suspect anything ulterior in her decision.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

22. There hasn't been an 8-year SOS for 40 years.

In the past 100 years, only five people have served as SOS for more than four years and a few days:

Cordell Hull: 11 years (33-44),
Dean Rusk: 8 years (61-69)
George Shultz: 6 1/2 years (82-89),
John Dulles: 6 years (53-59)
Robert Lancing: almost 5 years (15-20)

My bet would be on Hillary to step down as SOS some time in early 2012, after the next election.

[Uzybone]

41. Most insightful and useful post in this thread

With that record I guess its no surprise if she doesn't serve a full 8 years.

[mikelgb]

23. If SoS is too grueling how would she have handled the Presidency?

pooped after a year?

[Forkboy]

26. My exact first thought as well.

Would she have bailed on that after 4 years as well?

[harkadog]

28. Far more travel than the President does

and she doesn't have the perks while traveling that the President has.

[Toasterlad]

30. "and she doesn't have the perks while traveling that the President has."

Exactly what perks would those be?

While she doesn't get to use Air Force One, I seriously doubt Hillary Clinton is flying coach on Delta Flight 348 from NYC to Paris, with a lay-over in Atlanta.

[harkadog]

33. Air Force One is a big perk

which you seem to dismiss. Also the President has a far bigger traveling and scheduling staff to make swure everything is perfect. But of course you know that.

[Toasterlad]

56. I Wouldn't Know, As I've Never Flown It

However, I'm quite sure that the Secretary of State's staff is more than adequate enough to make sure that "everything is perfect". I have no doubt that she is able to eat, sleep and work comfortably whatever mode of transportation she takes, and that she stays in five star accomodations with people to wait on her hand and foot wherever she goes.

Why would she be entitled to more than that?

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

37. Silly

SoS is more of a relentless grind. There have been very few 8 yr SoS and lots of 8yr Presidents.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

54. 6 in total, none in the last 40 years. N.T.

[Jakes Progress]

59. Read post 22 and stop seeming so dense. nt

[Orsino]

29. This thread is a rehash of the primaries.

It shouldn't be, but it's hard to see it any other way.

[leftstreet]

32. If the GOP runs Palin, Hillary will have no choice but to run

There is no other woman in politics who could beat her for First Female Prez

[Cali_Democrat]

34. You've gotta be shitting me

You don't think any other woman could beat Failin?

Overestimate Failin much? :rofl:

[leftstreet]

35. A female Democrat with Hillary's name recognition and branding?

I don't know of one

:shrug:

[varelse]

36. Good for her

She's sure to excel at whatever she takes on after her public career is over, and she's earned the right to enjoy a private life :)

[Beacool]

39. I'm glad that Hillary accepted the job, but she should have been president.

:shrug:

[Lord Helmet]

42. it's that sense of entitlement that puts people off

both hers and yours

[Beacool]

45. Sense of entitlement? Nope, recognizing who was more capable to handle the job.

You don't like the Clintons, that's your prerogative. There are some Democrats who I can't abide either. It's a big party, plenty of choices.

:shrug:

[Lord Helmet]

46. His victory is proof the majority believes he is the most capable.

You can parse the results of the election until you're blue in the face, but it doesn't change the facts.

[Beacool]

47. The fact is that style won over substance.

As my doctor said today, this is not the time to have someone still using training wheels.

[Lord Helmet]

49. lol

Tuzla!

[Beacool]

50. Mistake, no doubt.

But that doesn't make Obama anymore qualified or experienced.

;)

[Lord Helmet]

52. but it does make him president

;)

[Beacool]

53. That doesn't say much considering who was his immediate predecessor.

He too was president.......

:7

[ecstatic]

60. Prior to her meltdown in 08, I thought so too BUT

I've seen some examples of her not having the right temperament for the job. Like the way she snapped on that student for asking how her husband felt about a certain issue... Totally rude and uncalled for.

[Libby2]

48. She looks exhausted to me.

I know I would be exhausted trying to keep up with her.

[Bonobo]

51. The question is: Why did she feel the need to announce it?

What was her motivation. For me, that is the only question. What does it signify?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

57. Asked by talk-show host Tavis Smiley .....

i think it signifies that someone asked her

[hamsterjill]

61. Disappointed, perhaps?

I think it could very well be that she's disappointed in Obama and doesn't want to stay at the party too long.