January 13, 2009
Hardball
They're commentating along with Sen Clinton's testifying.
MARK WHITAKER: She is putting not only Congress but the rest of Washington on notice that she's going fight for the State Department turf, and also that she is-when you listen to these questions-that she's going to do more homework and know more about all these issues than anybody else. This is really an very impressive performance in terms of showing that she is really going to be strong in reasserting the prerogatives of the State Department.
MICHELLE BERNARD: Prior to recent history we didn't make women's rights a part of our foreign policy. It will be very interesting to see what she will do with her new power and her managerial skills in Islamic countries where women's rights are a major issue. And she's going to make it a part of our national security efforts at the State Department.
barama talks about how the Prime Minister of Israel made fun of Condolezza Rice by talking to Bush to make Rice abstain on the agreement she helped craft.
MATTHEWS: Don't you have a hunch Hillary is not going to allow that to happen?
WHITTAKER: Another source of power is the power of her personality. And in talking to people in the transition, close to obama about why he wanted Hillary--obviously there are political reasons--but there's also just her appeal around the world. And when -- he's not going to be able to travel that much in his first year. He's going to have to focus on the economy. But when Hillary Clinton arrives representing the United States, that is going to send a very powerful signal, because people around the world know who she is, knows she's powerful, and know that she will be able to pick up the phone and talk to obama whenever she wants.
BERNARD: She is a very commanding presence - very intelligent - and I think she gives off an aura that says 'I'm in charge - don't mess with me.'
They watch more live testimony by Sen Clinton.
MATTHEWS: Mark Whitaker, how's she doing?
WHITAKER: I think she is doing very well. She clearly knows her stuff. I mean, I keep thinking about how the job of Secretary of State is to sit there and go head to head with world leaders. And we're seeing a little preview of that today. Here she is with all these powerful senators, looking them in the eye, and you really can see that she is going to be very effective as our top diplomat.
BERNARD: When Madeline Albright became the Secretary of State, the big news was the nation's first woman as Secretary of State. We're not looking at Senator Clinton today as a woman. We're not talking about her jewelry or how she is dressed or anything like that. Where talking about the power that emanates with this woman.
I think she is doing an excellent job. I think she is going to make a very effective Secretary of State. I think we're going to see a very, very different Department of State - very strong, very powerful. I'm forward to seeing the tension between the department of State and the Department of Defense, if there is any, on how we're going to handle issues such as Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
MATTHEWS: Well, she walked in the door with 18 million votes.
...the same amount barry got. And it sounds like she's got a lot more going for her on the foreign front than having tea with Ambassadors.
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