Embracing Enemies

“Hold your enemies closer” has become a cliche for pro-Obama media analysts since the election as they watch a third Clinton administration rise from the coffin like a resurgent Dracula. Many core Democrat Party operatives must be thinking “didn’t we drive a stake through the heart of these people?” Apparently not.

Just when was the deal cut to turn the “transform Washington” campaign into a “night of the living Clinton dead”? I’m guessing late in the primary campaign – prior to the Democratic Convention – when Hillary was on a roll, collecting several major state primary wins and sitting on the rising threat of a floor fight that would mobilize her “18 million voters” and the excluded primaries of Florida and Michigan.

The quid: we’ll back off quietly and endorse your candidacy in exchange for the quo: you give us a voice in the new administration if you win, including key staffers and a major cabinet position for HRC.

Facing the threat of an unsavory and potentially destructive fight on the convention floor, BHO caved. Old-line Democrats are reeling in shock at the prospect of a resurgent Clinton machine while Republicans are distracted and licking their wounds.

Dick Morris, undoubtedly the most astute political observer of the Clintons, sees nothing but trouble ahead for BHO with these appointments, particularly that of HRC to SecState. In his article “Hillary for Secretary of State: Is He Kidding?” Morris outlines the contentious issues certain to emerge with a political force like Hillary Clinton at State running an independent foreign policy agenda. Morris uses the historical example of Senator Jimmy Brynes who was a loose cannon in Truman’s administration as a precursor of how bad things might get.

The big loser in this, of course, is the VP-elect Joe Biden who envisioned himself globe-trotting as a special emissary and key player in the BHO foreign policy team. Given the vicious, grasping nature of Hillary combined with the natural turf fighting associated with Washington politics, Biden will be fortunate if he ever gets to fly Air Force 2 outside of the continental US. With her appointment to Foggy Bottom Biden will be forced into the pre-Nixonian vice presidential role of one who stands on the sidelines waiting for the “unthinkable” to happen.

Obama’s transition team and early appointments make him look so much like Clinton 3 that Michele will be well advised to start screening White House interns. While it is unlikely that as shrewd a pol as Obama will allow his “transformative” administration to be transformed into a Clinton sock puppet, he has already severely weakened his vaunted Messianic status.