Thursday, October 29, 2009

HILLARY CLINTON

The Campaign Never Ends: Hillary Bashes Bush in Pakistan

What do you do when you're secretary of state and you start taking heat at an event with Pakistanis?

Bash the previous administration, of course.

Fending off a question about perceived US bias towards Pakistan's arch rival India, Clinton told the hand-picked audience that peace was the way forward.

"If there were peace between Pakistan and India, and the outstanding issues were resolved, Pakistan would take off like a rocket in terms of economic development . . .

Answering questions from students on US intentions and perceived failings, Clinton acknowledged past mistakes but called for a new era and was treated to applause when she voiced opposition to US president George W. Bush.

Periodically you'll hear some some old Washington veteran or others lament, "When is the Obama administration going to realize that the campaign is over and it's time to start governing? When are they going to realize that the big pep rallies and media blitzes and fundraisers and attacking the opposition are supposed to be put aside, and it's time to start reaching deals on legislation and making hard choices?"

Let me help them with that question: Never. It's never going to happen, or at least not until a severe crisis forces them to put all the usual campaign stuff aside. This crew isn't that interested in governing. To govern is to choose, and this group doesn't like making hard choices. They don't want to tell a Pakistani crowd to stop whining and stop using America and India as scapegoats for their government's bad choices. They don't want to tell their anti-war base that they have to accept more troops in Afghanistan. They don't want to admit that their stimulus hasn't created jobs the way they hoped.

Well into 2012, we will still be hearing about the terrible mess they inherited, and our diplomatic representatives will go around the world, telling foreign audiences that their problems are the fault of the Bush administration.

10/29 09:24 AMShare