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Friday, December 5, 2008

Politics "President-elect Barack Obama has appointed an extraordinary team for national security policy."

Posted by on Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 10:00 AM

So says Henry Kissinger in an editorial for the Washington Post today. It includes advice for the incoming Secretary of State...

Those who take the phrase "team of rivals" literally do not understand the essence of the relationship between the president and the secretary of state. I know of no exception to the principle that secretaries of state are influential if and only if they are perceived as extensions of the president. Any other course weakens the president and marginalizes the secretary.

 

Comments (9) RSS

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1
does it make me naive to think that the SoS and other cabinet-level positions should operate on a consensus-based advisory level with respect to the President rather than as an extension?

Well, this Kissinger guy probably knows more about it than me anyways.
Posted by rococo on December 5, 2008 at 10:15 AM
2
Great. Like we need more "advice" from this guy -who prolonged wars and overthrew democracies for little more than his own pleasure.
Posted by Lose-Lose on December 5, 2008 at 10:23 AM
3
@2 - exactly. Let him join Nixon - figuratively at the very least.

And as to his point on the "Team of Rivals" - if he read the book (and dontcha think less than 2% of those who use the now-nausea-inducing term actually have?), he would know that Lincoln had no more effective or loyal cabinet member than SoS Seward.

They were rivals for the *presidency* when the New Yorker was the vast favorite for the first republican nomination for president on a sea tide of change, but the young orator from Illinois pulled the big upset. (Damn - it is an amazing parallel).

Anyway - the better phrase of the transition would be Team of Ambitious but Highly Competent Statespeople (TAHCS? Sure - why not?).

Point of the book is that by being big enough to bring in his 3 biggest *presidential* rivals to State, AG, and Treasury he brought in the best minds from all sides to guide the nation through a time of intense crisis.

Time to say my daily thanks for Obama. Amen
Posted by dawginExile on December 5, 2008 at 10:39 AM
4
Well.

If his national security team gets Kissinger's stamp of approval. it's good enough for me.

And here I thought we were in for 4 years of liberal policy...
Posted by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me on December 5, 2008 at 11:10 AM
5
Henry Kissinger is an evil man. An evil man who should have been tried in the Hague for crimes against humanity.
Posted by Vince on December 5, 2008 at 12:24 PM
6
I like Jon Stewart's description of a "Team of Nemesis."

But I think these have been wise moves. Look at Bush and his "Team of Yes Men" and how that worked out.

Obama still has to name his Domestic Cabinet. I hope liberals like me will be happy with those picks. I don't think far lefties will be ever be happy.
Posted by elswinger on December 5, 2008 at 12:44 PM
7
Kissinger is evil, but he also exercises good judgement from time to time. I wouldn't find his endorsement offensive at all.
Posted by JMS on December 5, 2008 at 1:30 PM
8
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
Posted by None Dare Call It Conspiracy on December 5, 2008 at 2:22 PM
9
#8 Oh noes.
Posted by JMS on December 5, 2008 at 2:57 PM

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