Hillary for State?

NBC reported tonight that Barack Obama will resign his Senate seat on Sunday, a lot earlier than expected, paving the way for a by-election in Illinois sometime mid-winter. (Theoretically he could stick it out right to January 20th but I guess he's too busy with the transition and security briefings.)

The network's Andrea Mitchell reported as well that Obama is seriously considering putting his main Democratic rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton, in his Cabinet. No surprise there. What is a surprise is the post for which she is being considered: State.

Clinton has never been as media saavy as Obama. (Remember how the "vast right wing conspiracy" talk wound up blowing up in her face, when Bill admitted the real blow up -- pardon the expression?) The extent of her foreign affairs experience is some time at the airport in Tuzla and Track II chats with women's groups in Northern Ireland, as well as the junkets she went on with Slick Willy while she was First Lady. No doubt a chance to gladhand with executive and legislative officials from other countries, but that does make her qualified to be America's top diplomat?

She's no Madeleine Albright. Her tough as nails approach would be much better served as Attorney General. After all, you need to keep the press that covers the diplomatic beat happy. You don't have to care about the Fourth Estate if you're the top law enforcement officer. Just ask John Ashcroft.

For State, I'd pick someone with more foreign policy experience. It should be a career diplomat, or perhaps an ex-spy. Nothing would be sweeter justice than to see Valerie Plame or her husband, Joe Wilson, get the job -- after the way they were both ratfucked by the Bush White House. Given political realities right now, the likely candidates are John Kerry, Bill Richardson

On a totally unrelated subject: A Catholic priest today in Greenville SC said no communion for Obama voters. I thought it was a secret ballot ...

It's also patently silly. It's one thing to challenge Obama on his pro-choice position, as America's Catholic bishops have vowed. To take it out on their parishoners risks internal strife and schism, and given the American Church is still ripped apart over the sex abuse scandals, alienating the laity even more is the last thing that is needed right now. As usual, Roman Catholics in America went with the winner (54%, just slightly above the national overall) and "seemless web" issues weren't the only thing on their minds last week.

Vote for this post at Progressive Bloggers.