More on Clinton for Secretary of State !

The Times: Article on why President - Elect Obama should make Hillary Clinton the next Secretary of State, simple its leaked so he has no choice. If Obama jumps every time a story leaks he will be seen as weak, if he now appoints Clinton it will be seen that he was pushed in to the appointment by the press and the Clintons. One has to ask does Hillary Clinton want the job and why, in this day and age Foreign Policy comes out of the White House, will Obama give her a free hand to do what she wants, from an Obama view point it would better if she was a backbencher in the Senate. One can see a different power base within the Administration if Obama gives State to Clinton. At State you would have Hillary and Bill Clinton running the show in many respects, Obama is POTUS but he is young and Foreign Policy, well most policy is new to him, he's been running for President since he was elected in 2004. In a pure LBJ power political view point this was would be bad move, who is going to control Bill Clinton. I don't see President Clinton allowing his wife to be the fall guy if Obama's policy with Iran does not work; the Western Powers have tried to talk to Iran, they just play games; for high level talks you would need the Secretary of State, does Clinton want the blame when it does not work, does she want to seem weak when faced by Iran or Pakistan, thus if this move by Obama is on the cards its a very bad move, he needs someone like former Secretary of State, General Colin Powell, he will be loyal but also knows Foreign and Defence Policy.

Model T and the Bailout

New York Times: Interesting article that argues against the bailout of the Car Industry, the article states the following, " because if these companies are not permitted to go bankrupt now, they never will be. " Lets hope President - Elect Obama reads this article by David Brooks, even better Obama could appoint Brooks to be his Treasury Secretary. The problem has started with the Bush Administration, now a Liberal Obama Administration under pressure from its supporters will bailout the Car Industry, the problem is that it does not end there, every company with a large work force will go cap in hand to the government for money. Lets be honest it will be hard to argue with them, the banking bailout, the car bailout, why not every other Industry. Its better in the long term that bad companies go under and then the system can recover, the Great Depression did not end because FDR put money in to the market, it came to and because of World War Two. Thus if an Obama Administration learns the wrong lessons the world economy could be in recession if not depression for a very long time, the good days have gone folks, save that money its going to be tough out there, its mean time on main street.

Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State ?

New York Post: Reports that Senator Hillary Clinton could get the nod to be the third female Secretary of State. I don't see why Senator Clinton would want the job, lets be honest, she would not be the first female she would be the third to hold the job. The Secretary of State is only as effective as his or her relationship with the President. Also we have the plus and negative aspects that with Hillary you get Bill, on the plus side he is a former POTUS, on the negative side its Bill Clinton. On the whole it could be argued that Hillary Clinton should run for Governor of New York, then after an Obama Administration she can run for the Presidency again in 2016. Lets recall in 2016 Mrs Clinton will be 69, the same age as Ronald Reagan in 1980.

Pardon All

The New York Times: Reports that Congressional Democrats are to go after the Bush Administration even after it leaves office. It time folks, and this is for Conservatives and Republicans to get on the phone, text, email, the White House. The President should consider a general pardon to those that have worked in his Administration between 20 January 2001 - 20 January 2009. Bush 41 gave out pardons and this closed down the Iran - Contra affair, it was a great service to the Party and Country. Bush has to face the fact that the Liberal Democrats with an Obama Administration will now feel free to go after all Bush has done to protect the USA. Liberals are more concerned about the rights of terrorists than law abiding folks. President Obama if he is wise will close the Democrats down, as either after four or eight years he will be going out of office, its matter of protecting himself, his predecessor and his successor. Thus if Obama is to weak to close down the Congressional Democrats, the Bush should grant a general pardon, then the files can be looked at considered; kept or destroyed if under a general pardon; and diaries considered free from the threat of charges, files can be assessed if they are worth keeping, memories can be considered and checked to counter views and factual views and actual views within the scope and spirit of the law. If no actual files to check and blanket pardon then the Democrats will be closed down, so get on that phone, text, email to the White House folks.

Threat from USSR sorry Russia !

Telegraph: Reports on the view as stated by Robert Gates; the American Defence Secretary, that the actions of Russia; placing missiles close to the border with Poland; over the placing of interceptor missiles in Poland belong to the Cold War period. This is in many respects the first test for Obama, if he is seen to have been bullied by Russia, then expect rogue nations and terrorists try it on, Iran in Iraq and its nuclear plans, the terrorists surge of violence in Iraq and around the world. The terrorists could even try something like 9/11. The Terrorists have a history of hitting when world leaders are new, lets recall the first bombing of the World Trade Tower in 1993, when Bill Clinton was in his first year, then in 2001 the world had 9/11. Then when Gordon Brown become PM, we had the failed attacks in the UK. Thus with a new Obama Administration expect something to happen, its just a matter of when, lets hope the Security Services are on the ball.

Obama and the Russian Bear

Time: Reports on Obama's attempt not to have a policy via Poland and Russia and the placing of interceptor missiles in Poland before he becomes the President in 2009. The Russian bear is on the move, the War between Georgia and Russia, the overt threats to NATO allies show the Russian bear has woken. The Russian bear has KGB on its paws, let see if the bear takes a walk to the Ukraine. A Russian invasion of the Ukraine could make the Cold War look like immature hour, it could be another Cuban Missile Crisis but much worse, the question the West has to ask is Obama a statesman in the mold of Jimmy Carter or Ronald Reagan.

Iran problem for Obama

New York Post: Reports on a major Foreign Policy problem that will faced by President Obama, that is Iran. In his election fight with Hillary Clinton, President - Elect Obama stated he would talk to Iran without conditions, now that he will be President from January 20th 2009, Obama is taking the more considered route, Obama could be Nixon going to China, Reagan to the USSR will it be Obama to Iran, for a deal over Iraq and the nuclear ambitions of Iran, talking does not cost in less its game by Iran, and Iran likes to play games with world leaders, just recall the problems Reagan had with Iran. A new Obama Administration should start low level international talks with Iran, even have a secret back channel talks with Iran, but this should at National Security Advisor or Secretary of State level. If these work, and that is a big IF, then a Presidential visit. If this does not work one can almost state that Israel will attack Iran, then Obama will have three wars to deal with in his first term.