Join the Human Rights Campaign in Thanking Hillary Clinton

For her marriage equality video,  the Human Rights Campaign has posted a thank you note to Hillary.  Click here to sign.

Hillary Clinton in Support of Gay Marriage

The Human Rights Campaign has released a video by Hillary Clinton in support of marriage equality. In part, the HRC states:

We are honored to have Secretary Clinton’s moving statement as part of our Americans for Marriage Equality series.  Now that she has left office and can speak publicly about the issue that is so important to all of us, Hillary shares her experience as Secretary and what she learned while representing our country around the world, and what she has come to believe.

A little over a year ago in Geneva. I told the nations of the world that gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights. And that the United States would be a leader in defending those rights.
Now there were some countries that did not want to hear that. But I believe America is at its best when -- -- the freedom and dignity of every human being. That's who we are it's in our DNA.
And as secretary of state. I had the privilege to represent. That America.
I will never forget the young Tunisian who asked me after the revolution in his country. How America could teach his new democracy. To protect the rights of its LG BT citizens.
He saw America. As an example for the world and as a beacon of hope. That's what was in my mind as I engaged in some pretty tough conversations with foreign leaders.
Who did not accept that human rights apply to everyone. Gay and straight. When I directed our diplomats around the world.
To combat -- -- -- laws and reach out to the brave activists fighting on the front lines. And when I changed State Department policy to ensure that our LG BT families are treated more fairly. Traveling the world these past four years reaffirmed and -- my pride in our country in the ideals we stand for.
It also inspired and challenged to me. To -- -- -- about who we are in the values we represented the world. Now having left public office I want to share some of what I've learned.
And what I've come to believe. For America to continue leading in the world there is work we must do here at home. That means investing in our people our economy our national security.
It also means working every day as citizens. As communities as -- country. To live up to our highest ideals and continue.
Our long march to a more perfect union. LG BT Americans. Our our colleagues.
Our teachers our soldiers our friends. Our -- ones. And they are full and equal citizens and deserve the rights of citizenship.
That includes marriage. That's why I support marriage for lesbian and gay couples. I supported personally and as a matter of policy and law.
Imbedded in a broader effort to advance equality and opportunity for LG BT Americans and all Americans. Like so many others my personal views have been shaped over time by people I have known and loved. By my experience representing our nation on the world stage.
My devotion to law and human rights and the guiding principles of my faith. Marriage after all is a fundamental. Building block of our society.
A great joy and yes a great responsibility. A few years ago bill and I celebrated as our own daughter married the love of her life and I wish every parent that same joy. To deny the opportunity to any of our daughters and sons solely on the basis of who they are and who they love.
Is to deny them the chance. To live up to their own god given potential. Throughout our history as our nation has become even more dedicated.
To the protection of liberty and justice for all. More open to the contributions of all our citizens. It has also become stronger.
More competitive. More ready for the future. It benefits every American.
When we continue on that path. I know that many in our country still struggle to reconcile. The teachings of their religion the poll of their conscience.
The personal experiences they have in their families and communities. And people of goodwill and good faith will continue to view this issue differently. So I hope that as we discuss and debate whether it's around -- kitchen table or in the public square.
We do so in a spirit respect. And understanding. Conversations with our friends our families our congregations.
Our coworkers. Are opportunities to share our own reflections. And to invite others to share there's.
They give us a chance to find that common ground. And a path forward. For those of us who lived through the long years of the civil rights and women's rights movements.
The speed with which more and more people have come to embrace the dignity and equality. -- LG BT Americans has banned breath taking. And inspiring.
We see -- all around us every day in major cultural statements. And in quiet family moments. But the journey is far from over and therefore we must keep working to make our country freer and -- And to continue to inspire the -- the world puts in -- leadership. In doing so we will keep moving closer and closer to that more perfect union promised to us all. Thank you.

The transcript comes compliments of ABC News to which the web administration at HRC kindly pointed us

The Human Rights Day speech of December 6, 2011 to which she refers can be viewed and read here:   Video: Secretary Clinton’s Human Rights Day Speech, December 6, 2011

Down Memory Lane with Hillary Clinton: Happy St. Patrick's Day!

In June 2009, Hillary Clinton, rushing to a meeting at the White House with Richard Holbrooke, slipped on the wet, oily floor of the State Department garage and fractured her elbow.  Concerned, Holbrooke wanted to stay with her, but she told him to proceed to the White House meeting without her.  "That's an order,"  she said. 

She was brought to the hospital where surgery was performed.  Pins and a rod were inserted,  and she worked from home for a few days.  When she returned to the office we saw glimpses of her wearing what we called the "Sling of State."  On June 29 she returned to the press room for the first time since the accident. 

Her first official appearance and first official act upon her return was, on July 1, 2009, the swearing in of Daniel Rooney as Ambassador to Ireland.

Three-and-a-half years down the road, at the conclusion of her final trip as Secretary of State,  Hillary fell ill  - her last stops were Ireland and Northern Ireland.  Here she is with Taoiseach Enda Kenny who was in New York for the parade today.

Here she is with First Minister of Northern Ireland, Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness.

Following  this trip, she was scheduled to visit Morocco and the Middle East, but her illness and resultant fall and concussion cancelled those plans.  She spent the rest of December 2012 recovering.   She returned to D.C. on January 7, 2013 to a huge welcome and was presented with the "Helment of State" to protect her delicate head.

Her first official public event upon her return this time was to thank retiring Ambassador ro Ireland, Dan Rooney and his wife Patricia for their service.  She awarded them the flag that had flown over Embassy Dublin during his tenure and the Chief of Mission flag.  Here is  an excerpt of what she said.

So you and Patricia have done a fabulous job and I am so pleased to have this chance formally to present you two flags – the Chief of Mission flag, and the flag of the United States, as a small token of your very successful tenure in Ireland.
There you go. (Applause.) And Patricia, this one’s for you. You also served.

The love affair between Bill and Hillary Clinton and Ireland did not begin with her service at the State Department and is certain not to end there.  They are both loved on the Emerald Isle.  Both of them are sure to return many times over.

We wish them and all of our readers a Happy and Blessed St. Patrick's Day.  Our Irish eyes are smiling for all the good they have done.  We wish Ambassador and Mrs. Rooney and their considerable family the same. 

News Flash: Just Sayin'

This tweet just came through.

UN Women
#UNSG praises "visionary" leadership of Michelle #Bachelet, following her announcement of departure from UN_Women http://owl.li/j1wlQ

Full statement.

Secretary-General Praises ‘Visionary’ Leadership of Michelle Bachelet,

Following Announcement by UN-Women Chief of Departure

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon’s statement on the announcement by Michelle Bachelet of her departure as Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women):
Ms. Michelle Bachelet has informed me of her intention to step down as Executive Director of UN-Women.  I would like to express my tremendous gratitude for her outstanding service.
Michelle Bachelet was the right person in the right job at the right time.  Her visionary leadership gave UN-Women the dynamic start it needed.  Her fearlessness in advocating for women’s rights raised the global profile of this key issue.  Her drive and compassion enabled her to mobilize and make a difference for millions of people across the world.
Her record of achievement includes new steps to protect women and girls from violence, new advances on health, and a new understanding that women's empowerment must be at the core of all we do at the United Nations.  This is a stellar legacy, and I am determined to build on it.
I thank Ms. Bachelet for her contributions and wish her every success as she embarks on the next chapter in her extraordinary life.  She will always have a home at the United Nations, and I am confident that she will continue to advance our shared goals for a better future.

Just wondering who out there might be qualified to replace her.  Someone who right now has no official position to prevent her from accepting.  Many saw a certain person we know pretty well taking a position like this at some point.  Someone Michelle knows and respects.  Someone who lives in NY and for whom Michelle might have been willing to place-hold for awhile  ...  until she was available.  Someone married to another UN employee.  I don't know!  Can you think of anyone?  Anyone?  Anyone?

Hillary Clinton in Hiding: Still the Golden Girl

Yesterday, Paul Begala stepped into the lion cage at the circus called CPAC facing off with ring-leader and noted Hillary-hater Tucker Carlson.  Responding to a question just about everyone who has ever met Hillary is asked lately (you know the question) Begala was speculating as to some activities she might be enjoying at the moment when an audience member offered that she might be getting a facelift.  Begala had a quick response.

"No, not get a facelift.  She's not a Republican society lady, she's a real woman."

His reply ruffled a few sisterly feathers, but I am willing to cut him some slack. She is real, and beautiful, and no surgical tools need be anywhere near that face.  Paul, after all, was in the lion cage.  Of course he brought his pistol with him.  The retort was reflexive and effective.   It was a product of  physical context.  Better  that he responded quickly and nipped it in the bud than had he sat there contemplating an answer that would have pleased everybody.  You can never please everyone. 

Today it was Mitch McConnell's turn at the CPAC mike.  Here was his witty contribution to the kill Hill sarcasm sweepstakes.

"Don't tell me Democrats are the party of the future when their presidential ticket looks like a rerun of the Golden Girls....  They got Hillary and Joe Biden."

Just wondering - is Joe Dorothy? Is Hillary Blanche?  Not to belabor a point,  Mitch, but she has not said she is on any ticket.  One thing we do know is that she is golden, and their smart-mouth attempts at comedy, rather than tarnishing her image, keep her in the headers even while she hides out behind her keyboard turning out her next book. 

Happy "Inside Chappaqua Day!" Grace Bennett's Magazine Fêted for 10 Successful Years and Hillary Clinton Chimes In

Ten years ago, a brilliant and savvy young woman began a local magazine to cover events and promote businesses in the New Castle, NY area.  Grace Bennett's Inside Chappaqua Magazine gained a following, succeeded immensely, and last night Grace celebrated that success with a grand soiree shared by family, friends, and business associates.

In the course of the evening, County Legislator Mike Kaplowitz presented Grace with a proclamation that today, March 15, is "Inside Chappaqua Day" in Westchester County.   She looked like a movie star receiving the document!

Of course readers here know that Chappaqua is where Bill and Hillary Clinton live.  Grace was able to accompany Hillary on her final official trip to Africa as Secretary of State last summer, and Hillary acknowledged Grace's accomplishment.




So we congratulate Grace on the 10th anniversary of Inside Chappaqua Magazine and on the special day of county-wide celebration.

Bill and Hillary Clinton Out on the Town to See "Ann"

Holland Taylor opened her new Broadway production "Ann," based on the late Governor Ann Richards of Texas, on March 7 at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre.  

Taylor authored the show herself, and on March 12 a host of political and entertainment power players showed up including President Clinton and Secretary Clinton, seen here with other folks you will recognize immediately, including, in addition to Taylor herself,  Meryl Streep, Gabby Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly.  The tall fellow to Kelly's right, is Meryl's husband, Don Gummer.

Ann Hathaway showed up to cheer on her mom, Kate, who produced the show. 

Ann producer Kate McCauley Hathaway and her Oscar-winning daughter Anne Hathaway flash winning smiles.

Why Bindi Irwin Did Not Go Wild For Hillary Clinton

When you read this story that popped up today, Bindi Irwin, Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin’s Daughter, Takes On Hillary Clinton Over Controversial Essay By iScienceTimes Staff | March 12, 2013 3:12 PM EDT,  you get the impression that early in her retirement Hillary Clinton has decided to launch an eJournal based on an initiative begun at the State Department.  The faulty passage is here.

Bindi was asked by the U.S. State Department to contribute a short essay on conservation for Hillary Clinton's upcoming e-journal titled "Go Wild Coming Together for Conservation" as part of the former Secretary of State's endangered species initiative.

The concept of Go Wild as a private initiative on Hillary's part is reinforced here.

Bindi wrote to Hillary Clinton's organization and said 'what happened to freedom of speech?'

Hillary watchers can be forgiven for shaking their heads and asking,  "Organization?  She has an organization?  It has a wildlife eJournal?"

Well, she does have that virtual office we all know about, but this whole Bindi story sits firmly rooted in the past when Hillary was Secretary of State, and Go Wild is now under the auspices of the Kerry State Department,  the misleading lexical selections by the iScience writers being the culprit behind misinterpretations.  So no, she does not have an organization or an eJournal, and you missed nothing, but Bindi Irwin did.

We do not know whether this particular child celebrity attends a regular school, is home-schooled,  or has tutors.  Fourteen-year-olds changing topics on school assignments are nothing new and usually have little to do with freedom of speech and more to do with preference or adolescent rebellion.   Teachers are accustomed to it and grade accordingly or return the opus requesting a rewrite on the topic assigned.  Terri Irwin's position in favor of her daughter's decision to change the subject can be seen as parental defensiveness, but the fact remains that Bindi did go off-topic.

The State Department runs essay, Twitter, and video contests often and assigns topics.  Those who remain on-topic have a better chance of winning than those who do not.  It should not come as a surprise that the department edited the essay to reflect the assigned topic.

As far as we know, Bindi is an ordinary eighth-grader in an extraordinary situation because of her father's exploits including this one involving her younger brother  (one way to curtail excess population growth - yes, my tongue is in my cheek).

So the teacher returned the essay with red penciled excisions all over it?  Join the crowd, Bindi.  It has happened to the best of writers as well as the worst.  It has even happened to people in graduate school and those with advanced degrees.  It has nothing to do with freedom of speech and everything to do with discipline and respect for the assignment  - one you could easily have rejected with your busy celebrity schedule.  Long story short, it is all part of growing up for normal kids who do not have a movie coming out and are not seeking publicity.  They usually sit down and do the rewrite or accept the C.

Of course it was not Hillary Clinton herself who read and edited the essay, and she might well agree with your stand on burgeoning population growth, but that remains a different essay,  not the one requested.  Although this statement was made in an entirely different context (in the wake of a North Korean nuclear test in 2009) it is a fitting one to recall here.

"And maybe it's the mother in me or the experience that I've had with small children and unruly teenagers and people who are demanding attention -- don't give it to them, they don't deserve it, they are acting out."

Key word here: “unruly.”

Bill and Hillary Clinton Dined With Obama

After a cursory trek through the White House website I could not find where anyone official had stated any of this.  It is a story is making its way across the webs nonetheless.  When this dinner occurred is not specified and neither is the venue, although it seems impossible that these particular figures could have gone anywhere public without being noticed, so it was probably in the White House.  No specific topics are mentioned, yet Chris Matthews, who thinks he knows everything, spewed a litany of topics a little while ago as if he had been a fly on the wall. 

Obama Has Dinner With Bill, Hillary Clinton

03/08/13 04:26 PM ET EST

(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

 

WASHINGTON — The White House says President Barack Obama held a private dinner recently with former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest says the trio enjoyed the conversation but isn't releasing details.

Read more >>>>

Another Super PAC for Hillary Clinton

I really feel ridiculous putting her last name on all these posts - as if there were any other Hillary this could possibly refer to,  but if I don't, this will not come up on search engines and Twitter.  H/t to Mom4Hill for finding this one!

Capital Eye Opener, March 7: Hillary's Third Super PAC

By Janie Boschma on March 7, 2013 8:00 AM

REALLY READY FOR HILLARY: A third super PAC has registered with the Federal Election Commission, supposedly on behalf of Hillary Clinton's anticipated 2016 presidential campaign. The latest is HillaryFTW (an Internet abbreviation for "For The Win"), which lists Hector Pacheco of Los Angeles as its treasurer, according to its FEC report.

As we have previously reported, the other two super PACs, Ready for Hillary PAC and HillaryClintonSuperPAC, registered with the FEC in January. Since then, Ready for Hillary has been busy hiring up Clinton's former staffers to prepare for a potential 2016 run, The Hill reports -- and to convince Hillary to go all in.

Read more >>>>

There is also this - just to keep things in perspective.

2016 Democratic Field May Not Wait for Clinton

By Scott Conroy - March 7, 2013
She is not an incumbent president -- or even currently employed -- but the deference fellow Democrats have afforded Hillary Clinton regarding a potential 2016 White House run has been something to behold.

With the official start of the next presidential campaign still three years away, friends and potential Democratic foes alike have bent over backwards to praise Clinton and talk up her chances of finishing what she started in her 2008 campaign -- and for good reason.
After all, Clinton’s resume arguably is as diverse and extensive as that of any White House hopeful in the history of American politics. No introductions would be necessary for the former first lady, U.S. senator, secretary of state and almost president, as everyone well knows her name and her story.

In an interview with Don Imus in December, longtime Clinton family confidant and adviser James Carville suggested that the campaign for the Democratic nomination would be little more than a formality en route to Clinton’s coronation.

SNIP 

The word “inevitable” likely will come up even more than it did during the early stages of her 2008 run, when it appeared to most observers that the Democratic nomination was all but assured her.

But as was the case then, there will almost certainly be a contested Democratic primary in 2016, despite the assumption of Carville and others.

And though she will have a major say as to when that contest begins in earnest, Clinton is not necessarily in a position to wave the checkered flag.

Read more >>>>

Quinnipiac Poll Keeps Hillary Clinton Strong Against GOP Hopefuls

A new Quinnipiac poll out today pits our girl against Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, and Paul Ryan. She takes all three handily. The poll pre-dates Jeb Bush recently testing the waters, and  we can anticipate his name coming up in a future poll. It is doubtful that his numbers would be better than Christie's who, so far, is her strongest opponent, but not quite strong enough.

Just a gentle reminder though that we need to keep ourselves tethered in the present rather than floating blissfully into the future. These numbers are based on supposition not fact. The facts are that Hillary has not said she will run, neither have any of the others, and it is only 2013.

The numbers are also based on current ages and that will change, as certainly as the sun rises.  There is that odd dip in the 35-54 age group.   Members of that group will age into 55+ over the next three years.  Hillary's strength, apparently is with the youth vote, and that is without her having lifted her pretty pinky to get their attention.   Whether she takes a loss in the 55+ group as that middle group ages remains to be seen.  I do not mean to imply that she is doing badly with 35-54, she simply is consistently a little weaker there. 

Here are the stats of interest from Quinnipiac.

March 7, 2013 - Clinton, Christie Lead The Pack In Early Look At 2016, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds

Hillary Clinton would defeat three potential Republican presidential candidates if the 2016 presidential election were held today, with New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie second in a field of three Democrats and three Republicans selected by Quinnipiac University for a national poll released today.

Vice President Joseph Biden and New York's Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo would not fare nearly as well, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.

The Republicans tested also include Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.

Former First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State Clinton wins easily against any of the Republicans, topping Christie 45 - 37 percent; leading Rubio 50 - 34 percent and besting Ryan 50 - 38 percent.

"Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would start a 2016 presidential campaign with enormous advantages," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "She obviously is by far the best known and her more than 20 years in the public spotlight allows her to create a very favorable impression on the American people. But it is worth noting that she had very good poll numbers in 2006 looking toward the 2008 election, before she faced a relative unknown in Barack Obama."

Christie gets 43 percent to Vice President Biden's 40 percent and tops Cuomo 45 - 28 percent.

Biden tops Rubio 45 - 38 percent and gets 45 percent to Ryan's 42 percent.

Ryan tops Cuomo 42 - 37 percent while Cuomo and Rubio are tied 37 - 37 percent.

"Although some Republicans don't think New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie is conservative enough for their taste, he runs best of the three Republicans tested and would defeat two of the top Democrats," Brown said. "He obviously is doing better than the Democrats' rising star, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, despite other indications of anti-Republican sentiment."

The Democratic edge is seen in the poll finding that voters disapprove of the job Democrats in Congress are doing 60 - 32 percent, compared to an overwhelming 71 - 20 percent disapproval for Republicans in Congress.

"The Republican brand is not doing very well these days," said Brown.

The difference between the showing by Mrs. Clinton, Biden and Cuomo shows in her ability and their inability to attract independent voters. For instance, Mrs. Clinton ties Christie 36 - 36 percent among independents while Biden trails Christie 44 - 32 percent among those voters. Cuomo trails Christie 47 - 20 percent among independent voters.

If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Hillary Clinton the Democrat and Christopher Christie the Republican, for whom would you vote?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Clinton 45% 12% 83% 36% 38% 51% 38% 79% 62% Christie 37 74 9 36 41 32 44 9 23 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 3 - 5 5 1 4 - - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 4 3 1 5 5 2 3 1 5 DK/NA 12 8 7 18 10 14 11 11 10 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Mltry Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No HsHld Clinton 42% 36% 33% 33% 33% 44% 25% 40% 41% Christie 46 43 49 49 48 40 56 44 36 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 4 3 1 6 2 3 3 5 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 4 3 4 5 2 5 3 6 DK/NA 8 12 12 13 9 13 12 10 12 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Clinton 46% 44% 53% 42% 40% 47% 41% 48% Christie 40 35 30 40 46 29 44 36 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 3 3 2 1 5 2 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 4 3 6 4 5 4 3 DK/NA 9 13 11 9 9 13 9 12

If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Hillary Clinton the Democrat and Marco Rubio the Republican, for whom would you vote?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Clinton 50% 11% 87% 44% 43% 56% 44% 85% 60% Rubio 34 76 6 32 41 28 41 5 24 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 - 4 4 1 2 - - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 2 1 5 4 2 3 - 3 DK/NA 11 10 6 14 8 13 10 10 13 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Mltry Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No HsHld Clinton 48% 42% 37% 41% 37% 50% 28% 46% 46% Rubio 40 41 48 44 47 35 59 39 36 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 3 1 1 4 1 2 2 3 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 3 2 2 4 1 3 2 4 DK/NA 8 11 11 12 8 13 9 11 10 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Clinton 53% 49% 53% 47% 51% 52% 49% 51% Rubio 36 34 29 38 40 26 38 36 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 3 2 3 1 3 2 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 4 3 3 2 5 2 2 DK/NA 8 12 12 9 6 13 9 10

If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Hillary Clinton the Democrat and Paul Ryan the Republican, for whom would you vote?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Clinton 50% 10% 89% 44% 43% 56% 43% 89% 69% Ryan 38 81 5 38 44 32 46 4 21 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 2 1 4 4 1 3 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 1 4 3 2 2 1 1 DK/NA 7 6 4 11 6 9 7 6 9 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Mltry Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No HsHld Clinton 49% 40% 35% 41% 36% 49% 26% 46% 45% Ryan 42 47 55 47 52 40 65 42 42 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 3 2 1 4 2 3 2 4 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 2 1 2 2 1 1 2 3 DK/NA 4 8 7 10 5 8 6 8 6 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Clinton 53% 49% 54% 49% 50% 51% 48% 53% Ryan 37 38 33 41 41 37 42 35 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 3 3 2 1 3 3 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 DK/NA 5 8 8 6 6 7 6 8

Bill and Hillary Clinton: The Date

The story about Bill and Hillary dining out and attending Chelsea's 80s-themed birthday party on Sunday was all over the webs yesterday via the New York Post.

Clintons share romantic NYC date

• Last Updated: 10:45 AM, March 5, 2013
• Posted: 12:06 AM, March 5, 2013

Hillary Clinton is enjoying her downtime after leaving her role as secretary of state. Hillary and husband Bill were spotted enjoying a meal Sunday at the NoMad restaurant in the Flatiron District. The couple were also spotted later in the day “looking sweet and holding hands while walking through Union Square,” a spy told Page Six, adding, “Other people barely noticed them. They just looked like a regular couple, enjoying a relaxing stroll and taking things in.”
Read more >>>>

But it was not until today that the picture turned up.  Thanks to Emily Smith of the Post, here is the picture she tweeted.  Whatever outfit she wore, we see that Hillary did not wear 80s hair.

Hugo Chavez: In Memoriam

Whatever you thought of him, and there is a lot of thinking about him going on just about now,  he was a democratically elected president for three terms.  Our Hillary respected that fact and knew how to relate to him.  So, President Chavez, you have met your maker (as we all will sooner or later), and we hope you have made your peace. 

We hope Joe Kennedy’s wonderful heating initiative survives despite the loss of this leader.

Here are some pictures of Hillary with the deceased.  This one is from OAS in 2009.

These are from the inauguration of Dilma Rouseff, President of Brazil, January 1, 2011.

Hillary Clinton's Book: What Story Will She Tell?

With Hillary Clinton out of public office a mere month,  her absence has not silenced media voices hungry for Hillary news.  As reported here recently,  and no news to anybody  - probably including inhabitants of the space station -  2016 fever hit early and has remained a news item.

Earlier this month, the news broke that Hillary had signed on as a speaker with the Harry Walker Agency,  where she appears in all her glory beside her handsome spouse.   Reactions to her $200,000 per appearance fee fueled internet headers galore.

We knew early on,  from the time Hillary made it clear that one four-year term as SOS would be her limit, that writing was in her future, and as her term drew to a close a book was clearly in the offing.  Lightheartedly,   Washington Post held a contest inviting readers to provide Hillary with appropriate titles.   More serious speculation surrounded the amount she would be offered as an advance.

Hillary Clinton Book Deal Speculation: How Much Will the Advance Be?

Thursday, 28 Feb 2013 01:51 PM
By Dale Eisinger

When Hillary Clinton signed her second book deal in 2000 for "Living History," she got an $8 million advance from Simon & Schuster. When she recently announced she would be writing a third memoir, speculation began flying about how large that advance will be.

At the time of "Living History," the New York Times speculated it was the second-largest advance in history, edged out by $8.5 million to Pope John Paul II in 1994 for his memoir.

"Yes, I will write a memoir," Clinton told her audience in an online town hall interview. "I don't know what I'll say in it yet."

Read more >>>>

While her loyalists and fans hope she will top the advance offered Lena Dunham - a cool $3.5 million (despite the many times she counted to eight and multiples of eight last night, even as Judy Collins crooned "Someday Soon'), the money is not the issue.

Hillary has worked long and hard,  and if organizations want to pay her more for one speech than she was paid per year as SOS, fine!  For as hard as she worked, she deserves it.  If a publisher wants to give her a big advance, great.  Any book by her will pull in far more.   The real question is what she will say in it, and that may well depend on a date of release.

If two articles from today are any indication, her book could be a bombshell exposing insular and naïve foreign policy processes with a decidedly political agenda stunning no one who has followed Ulsterman's  journals.  At Foreign Policy today, Vali Nasr,  handpicked by Richard Holbrooke as an advisor to Holbrooke's office of Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan (SRAP) and plucked from a tenured position at Tufts to occupy the first floor domain Holbrooke carved out for himself at Foggy Bottom,  portrays a White House with access to the best of expertise, specialists, and resources, stubbornly resistant to policy wisdom while habitually turning to political cronies installed in the White House who consistently worried about how actions would play out in the polls and on the evening news.  It is a good read, and in fact, worth bookmarking for future reference. Here is a snip.

The Inside Story of How the White House Let Diplomacy Fail in Afghanistan

"My time in the Obama administration turned out to be a deeply disillusioning experience."

BY VALI NASR | MARCH/APRIL 2013

... Holbrooke knew that Afghanistan was not going to be easy. There were too many players and too many unknowns, and Obama had not given him enough authority (and would give him almost no support) to get the job done. After he took office, the president never met with Holbrooke outside large meetings and never gave him time and heard him out. The president's White House advisors were dead set against Holbrooke. Some, like Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, were holdovers from George W. Bush's administration and thought they knew Afghanistan better and did not want to relinquish control to Holbrooke. Others (those closest to the president) wanted to settle scores for Holbrooke's tenacious campaign support of Clinton (who was herself eyed with suspicion by the Obama insiders); still others begrudged Holbrooke's storied past and wanted to end his run of success then and there. At times it appeared the White House was more interested in bringing Holbrooke down than getting the policy right.

We can speculate that this piece is part of a larger opus that might emerge later.  Certainly a nod to a large opus foreshadowed by this in-depth interview,  is this article from a different point of view but alluding to similar White House practices in forming foreign policy.

Hillary Clinton Book Reveals The Inside Story Of How Administration Mangled Mideast Peace Initiative

By Marcus Baram | March 04 2013 2:14 PM
Like so many of his predecessors, the new American president made a key mistake in his bid to achieve Mideast peace.
Flush with confidence from his historic election victory and eager to capitalize on his mandate, Barack Obama sought to bring Israeli and Palestinian leaders to the negotiating table as one of his first steps soon after taking office in 2009. But the new president was frustrated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hardline attitude -- so his top aides advised him to take a tough approach, and pressure “Bibi” to freeze settlements in the West Bank in order to encourage Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to agree to negotiate directly with the Israelis.

Then-White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who had served in Israel’s armed forces, “advised Obama to be tough on Netanyahu and show him, immediately, who the superpower was …  and he actively pushed for the freeze to top the agenda,” writes BBC correspondent Kim Ghattas in her new book, “The Secretary: A Journey With Hillary Clinton From Beirut to the Heart of American Power.”

Read more  >>>>

The Ghattas book comes from the perspective of a seasoned journalist specializing in foreign policy.  Kim Ghattas was on Hillary Clinton's Big Blue Plane from her earliest through her final stops as Secretary of State, and her story, if this short insight from Baram is an indication,  appears to parallel what Nasr relates. 

Is this the story Hillary Clinton will tell?  Will she, having stepped back from the administration's shadow tell the story of the battles within the Sit Room?  Or will she relate background to her many on-the-ground encounters with officials, civil leaders, women's groups, students, and marketplace entrepreneurs?   Some of that depends on the release date.  If  it arrives close to or after 2016, it can tell the inside story.  If it comes earlier, it is likelier to focus on her own agendas with folks she encountered and why those agendas are important.

It is hard to imagine Hillary Clinton writing a tell-all.  It can be perceived as treacherous, and Hillary is loyal to a fault.  It is unlikely, then that we will hear from her of the struggles between her experts at DOS and the political wall at the White House, but no matter.  Apparently there are witnesses out there more than capable of writing that book. 

Initiating Women's History Month 2013: A Classic Hillary Clinton Speech

As she embarked on her last six months as Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, mindful of the limited time remaining,  in every major speech whether at home or abroad, highlighted her signature issue and explained how gender equity has an impact on national economies.   Education for women and girls, fair pay, access to bank accounts and credit, protection from abuse and forced labor were among topics that consistently figured in as platforms for raising economic profiles in a 21st century world where national strength is based on more than military might alone.

When she traveled through Asia last July, it was very clear that she was on a farewell tour.   It was a bittersweet valedictory.  Everyone in every audience knew that they would not be seeing her as America's top diplomat again, and she knew that her words would resonate perhaps as never before.

This speech in Cambodia last July resounded with its significance to her State Department legacy.  It is classic HRC with many quotable quotes.  These are not "soft" issues, and this speech clarifies the reasons.  Revisiting it seems a fitting way to begin Women's History Month.

Remarks to the Lower Mekong Initiative Womens' Gender Equality and Empowerment Dialogue

Remarks

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Sofitel Hotel

Siem Reap, Cambodia

July 13, 2012

---

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much, Minister Phavi, for that introduction and also for describing the results of what has been, by all reports, an excellent meeting. And I thank all the heads of delegations who are here and all of the attendees. I want to welcome all our partners from the Lower Mekong nation and from the Friends of the Lower Mekong. And I want to commend the Government of Cambodia for its leadership in the Lower Mekong Initiative and for co-hosting this conference.
We launched this organization three years ago to expand cooperation on issues that affect the daily lives of people across the region. And I’m getting some feedback. I’m hearing the Cambodian translation at the same time. (Laughter.) I wish I spoke Cambodian, but I don’t. So I was having a little trouble, but thank you for that.
We launched this organization three years ago to expand cooperation on issues that affect the daily lives of the people across the region, from protecting the environment to managing water resources to improving infrastructure, education, and public health. And now with the inclusion of the government in Nay Pyi Taw we are poised to make even greater progress together.
Yesterday in Phnom Penh, I announced that the United States is easing sanctions to allow American businesses to invest there. And today I am pleased to add that we are also launching a new partnership with the nonprofit Abbott Fund to invest one million dollars in the health and education for women and girls.
I am delighted that the Lower Mekong Initiative is now also focusing on the rights and opportunities of women. At the ministerial meeting in Phnom Penh this morning, we adopted a joint statement by all of the countries represented that will integrate gender equality and women’s empowerment through the LMI agenda. I like what the Minister said about how we came together to care to share and dare to dream, and I think that’s a very good description of what you have been doing here.
As Secretary of State, I make these issues about women and girls a priority everywhere I go. Because when women have the chance to participate in the economic and political lives of their communities, not only do their lives improve, but the lives of their families do as well. Commerce flourishes, instability declines, and you see a general uplifting of societies and nations. And I have met women all over this region who are living this truth every day – educators in Hanoi, entrepreneurs in Bangkok, democracy activists in Yangon, garment workers here in Siem Reap, women like all of you who are working hard for progress throughout the Mekong region.
Unfortunately, as you know so well, outdated legal and social barriers continue to limit women’s participation in business and politics. According to the World Bank, more than 100 countries have laws that restrict women’s economic activity, whether it is opening a bank account on their own, signing a contract, owning land, or pursuing the profession of their choice. And millions of women here in Southeast Asia are trapped in the informal economy, laboring in fields and factories for very low wages with very few protections. And of course, some have it even worse – victims of forced labor, forced prostitution, or other forms of modern day slavery.
Now, too often, discussions of these issues are on the margins of international debate. We have separate parallel conversations about women’s rights, about alleviating poverty, and then we have another conversation about international economics. But I once asked an economist in Africa, after spending the day traveling through an African country seeing women working in the fields, women working in the markets, women fetching fuel, women carrying water, women tending children – I asked, “Don’t you think it’s time we count women contributions to the economy in some way.” And he responded, “No, what they do is not part of the economy.” And I said, “Well, if every woman working in the field, in the markets, in the homes were to stop working for a week, I think every economist would learn they are definitely part of the economy.” (Applause.)
All these issues are related, and we need to start thinking about them in an integrated way, because in the end, what is an economy for? An economy is a means to an end. It is not an end in itself. An economy is to enable people to make more out of their own lives as well as to make a living. And therefore, the best economic systems are ones which give the most opportunity to the greatest number of people. And what we have to do in the 21^st century is to take a hard look about what we can do, not just in Southeast Asia but around the world, to make sure that economies are working for people and not just people at the top, but people throughout society. Because, after all, most people don’t live at the highest, elite level of any society. That’s a very small group. And if the results of people’s hard work in any society is not spread across all the people but instead goes up to the top, you will not see the kind of progress that is possible.
So as I traveled across Asia this week – from Japan to Mongolia, to Vietnam, to Laos, and now Cambodia – I’ve been talking about the mutually reinforcing role that economics and human rights play in not only your lives, but in America’s engagement in the region – what is sometimes called our pivot to Asia. Labor issues promoting workers rights, improving labor conditions, supporting women’s economic participation, protecting people from modern day slavery is all part about how you build prosperous, peaceful societies.
And so today, I want to focus on the rights of workers here in Southeast Asia and in our modern global economy. It’s important that we understand fair labor standards for men and women can spur economic growth and widen the circle of prosperity. And governments, businesses, and workers all have a responsibility to make that happen.
So let’s begin with rights. The international community and international law recognize that workers everywhere, regardless of income or status, are entitled to certain universal rights, including the right to form and join a union and to bargain collectively. Child labor, forced labor, discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or other factors, should be universally prohibited.
So defending these labor rights and improving working conditions is a smart economic investment, but it’s also a very important value. Now back in 1999, my husband was president of the United States and the entire world was fiercely debating what we should be doing to deal with what is called globalization. Well, my husband gave speeches at both the World Trade Organization and the International Labor Organization. And he delivered the same message to each audience: To deny the importance of core labor issues in a global economy is to deny the dignity of work. The belief that honest labor fairly compensated gives meaning and structure to our lives.
Well, that was true then; it was true when I was a little girl and I watched my mother working in our home, and I watched my father working in his small business; and it is true today. Standing up for workers’ rights and high labor standards is both right and moral, but it is also smart and strategic. Just look at the progress that has taken place here in Cambodia.
In the late 1990s, this country was emerging out of years of war and economic ruin. Nearly 80 percent of Cambodians made a very meager living by subsistence farming. And the new government was looking for ways to boost growth and connect to the global economy. In the United States, my husband’s administration was convinced that trade incentives could be used to strengthen workers’ rights around the world. The result was an agreement – an agreement between the United States and Cambodia that opened American markets to Cambodian textiles in return for tough new monitoring programs in local garment factories. Now that agreement wasn’t perfect – no agreement ever is – and there are certainly, as I have heard, problems in garment factories across the country. But compare where Cambodia was in 1999 and where it is today. Working conditions have improved. Wages have risen. It has become easier to form a union, and instead of scaring off investors, the fact of these reforms actually attracted them.
Multinational clothing companies saw a chance to clean up their supply chains and improve their reputation. So they started buying more and more Cambodian products, and exports soared. Where there was once just a handful of state-owned textile and apparel factories employing only a few thousand people, within 10 years there were hundreds of new factories providing jobs for more than 350,000 Cambodians – mostly young women, who migrated from poor rural communities to earn wages far above the average of what otherwise would have been available to them.
Research conducted by the International Labor Organization and other institutions tell us that this is not an isolated example. Respecting workers’ rights leads to positive, long-term economic outcomes, including higher levels of foreign direct investment. And bringing workers, especially women, into the formal economy has ripple effects: Inequality declines while mobility increases, taxes are paid, countries and communities are stronger and better able to meet the rising expectations of their people.
Now the flip side of that is also true. Denying workers their universal rights costs society dearly in lost productivity, innovation, and growth, as well as undermining the rule of law and creating instability. So we should pay attention to these findings.
I do hope that decision makers around the world, including in my own country, actually look at evidence, because evidence matters. Whether you’re a scientist looking at research or a government official looking at analysis, look at the evidence. Here in Southeast Asia, economies have grown rapidly by attracting foreign investors looking for low-cost labor and material and by exporting affordable goods to more developed markets. But this export-driven model can only take a country and a region so far.
In the wake of the global financial crisis and worldwide recession, Asian countries can no longer count on endless demands from Europe and the United States. And by the same token, American manufacturers may be looking for new customers in new markets, especially in Asia. That’s why developed nations, like the United States, will need to build more at home and sell more abroad. And developing countries, in Asia and elsewhere, will need to grow a larger middle class that will fuel demand for both domestic and imported goods and services. Henry Ford, back at the beginning of the 20^th century, when he started building cars in Detroit, Michigan back in the United States, paid his workers the unheard salary of $5 a day. And all of the other employers came to him and they complained that he was paying his workers too much and that would raise the wages of all the other workers in all the other businesses. And Henry Ford said, “If I don’t pay my workers, who will buy the cars that I am making?”
So if you begin to pay your workers more, they then buy more goods, which actually helps more businesses. And that is the next phase of growth in Asia, as well as the future of the global economy. We should not be in a race to the bottom. We should be in a race to see how we raise income, raise standards of living, and raise the sharing of prosperity. So for this to happen, we will have to make sure that women have the opportunity to move from the informal economy to the formal economy with employment. We will have to make sure that migrant workers are respected and protected, that people in modern-day slavery are free and rehabilitated. In effect, how do we transform the workforce to create more opportunities?
Well to begin with, governments will have to modernize labor laws to respect workers’ rights and ensure that men and women have fair, safe working conditions and can earn a living wage. And governments will have to get serious about enforcement, cracking down on unscrupulous recruiters, criminal traffickers, and abusive employers.
Now, strengthening the rule of law will not just protect workers, it will also attract investors and make it easier for everyone to do business. And multinational corporations, like those in America, will have to insist that every link in their supply chain meets international labor standards. Now, of course, I know there’s a price tag that comes with that. But it is an investment, and it’s an investment that will pay dividends, because it can be very attractive to consumers in my country, in Europe, and elsewhere to know that the goods they buy are being produced in conditions that really help people improve their own lives. And then, of course, workers will have to keep pushing for their own rights, organizing and advocating.
Now, it took decades of struggle for workers in America to form unions strong enough to protect their rights and secure changes like the eight-hour day and the minimum wage, but it helped to create the great American middle class. And we are now adjusting our economy to the new challenges, but we certainly were advantaged by all of the changes over the last one hundred years.
I think the nations of Southeast Asia are at the beginning of your own journey. I know that there are still many problems and a lot of poverty. And I have been now in every country in the region, and I know there’s a (inaudible). There are still too many people who are terribly poor, too many children who don’t get the healthcare and the education they need, too many government officials that are not really serving the people. But there is good news as well.
And I want to commend the Government of Cambodia for their draft new trade law that could be a model for the region. It would extend rights and protection to domestic workers. It would allow people to join unions. And if this law is passed and enforced, it will set a very strong standard for the rest of the region.
Similarly in Vietnam, where I was a few days ago, there is still – there is also encouragement despite continuing problems. At the start of the year, a new anti-trafficking law came into effect. After reports of abuses on coffee plantations in Lam Dong Province, officials called for greater inspections and stricter punishment for illegal labor brokers. And Vietnam is working with the International Labor Organization to improve conditions in garment factories.
And the prospects for progress are even more dramatic in Burma, which for many years was one of the most repressive and closed societies in the world. I saw with great interest reports of the government in Nay Pyi Taw rolling back the restrictive and exploitative labor rules. Workers are beginning to organize, although they still face penalties for joining unregistered unions. There will be a lot of challenges, but I hope that we see continuing progress there.
Now, for our part, the United States is putting in place protections to ensure that the increased investment we would like to see advances the reform process. Because after all, what we want to do is make workers rights, rising wages, fair working conditions the norm everywhere. And we will be working with all of the countries represented here.
We’ve also made workers rights a centerpiece of a new far-reaching trade agreement called the Trans-Pacific Partnership. We are working with Vietnam, Malaysia, Australia, Canada, Mexico, and others in these negotiations.
We are also throughout Southeast Asia supporting training and workshops on international labor standards for union organizers, employers and government officials. We’re sponsoring exchanges so labor academics can learn from each other, and we’re helping police and prosecutors go after trafficking and other abuses.
We’re working with ASEAN to deal with the migrant worker problem. We have so many people across borders looking for better opportunities and are often exploited and abused. Now, after visa requirements among ASEAN countries becomes easier, then we need a framework on the rights of migrant workers by 2015.
We’re also working with labor ministries, and we’ve signed agreements with Vietnam and China that provide exchanges and technical assistance on a range of labor issues, from mine safety to social security.
America is a Pacific nation, and our futures and our fortunes are bound up with each other. So we want to work with all of you, and particularly on behalf of women and workers, because we think that holds the key. The World Bank has done some excellent research showing that if the barriers to women’s participation in the formal economy were eliminated, growth rates in every country would rise, and some would rise dramatically.
So when I talk to government officials who I can tell are not really interested in women, which I do from time to time – not women officials but the other kind, as you know – (laughter) – and I make the case that women’s rights should be protected and women’s opportunities should be advanced, sometimes I see their eyes glaze over. (Laughter.) And they say to themselves, I’m thinking as I look at them, well, she says that all the time. She goes around in the world talking about women’s rights, and that’s fine and I’ll listen to her, but I’m not really that interested.
But when I say if you will change your laws so women can open up bank accounts or women can have access to credit, so women can start new businesses as easily as men, so that women can have fair wages when they move into the formal economy, your GDP will rise, all of a sudden I see them waking up. (Laughter.) Because it’s true that I have spent many years of my life talking about how important it is that women be given the same rights as men and the same dignity so that they can fulfill their own God-given potential.
But the argument I’m making today and I’m making around the world is that you are losing out if you do not empower women as economic beings. Because I’ll go back to the experience I had in Africa. Now, I don’t think the economist I was talking to was prejudiced against women. I just don’t think he thought of all the things women do without being paid, that all of us do, have done, and continue to do to keep families and communities and societies and economies going.
And so therefore any country that wants to maximize their economic growth in a sustainable, inclusive way will be leaving money on the table if they don’t include women and do everything they can to show respect for what women can do for themselves as well as their countries.
So this is an exciting time to be a woman in Southeast Asia, because if we work over the next years to realize the potential that this conference demonstrated with all of the excellent recommendations that the ministers have told us about, then we will see Asia grow even faster and more successfully, and most importantly we will see more girls and boys having the opportunity to fulfill their own God-given potential.
Because after all, I think as a mother, what we want for each of our children and what we should want for every child is that chance to be all he or she can be. Because talent is universal, but opportunity is not. So for every child who is not educated, we may be losing a scientist who would solve multi drug-resistant malaria. We may be losing a great activist. We may be losing a great academic. Who knows? But one way for sure to maximize the chance of every society to do even better is to be sure we give women the chance to compete and to demonstrate what they can contribute to us all.
Thank you very much. (Applause.)
[slideshow]

Hillary Clinton: The 2016 Beat Goes On

Not being much of a poll-watcher or believer,  I am not familiar with this one.  Here it is, anyway, for what it is worth.  When I see these polls, I bear in mind that Hillary has been out of office all of three weeks, and that these numbers can be very different two years from today, but if you really need a boost today, here they are.

Public Puts Hillary Clinton Far Ahead of 2016 Contenders

Emily Ekins|Mar. 1, 2013 7:00 pm

The latest Reason-Rupe poll asked Americans what one person they would most like to see run for president in 2016. Without being given a list to choose from, Hillary Clinton was the most frequented name given at 22 percent. It is unclear from this data alone whether this result stems from Americans who want her to run and win and those who want her to run, and well, lose.

SNIP

 

 Read more >>>>