Clinton Scores Points by Admitting Past U.S. Errors

[babylonsister]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/18/world/americas/18diplo.html?ref=todayspaper

Clinton Scores Points by Admitting Past U.S. Errors


Kena Betancur/Associated Press

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke during a press conference in Santo Domingo, on Friday.

By MARK LANDLER
Published: April 17, 2009


SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — It has become a recurring theme of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s early travels as the chief diplomat of the United States: she says that American policy on a given issue has failed, and her foreign listeners fall all over themselves in gratitude.

On Friday, Mrs. Clinton said here that the uncompromising policy of the Bush administration toward Cuba had not worked. That, she said, is why President Obama decided earlier this week to lift restrictions on travel and financial transfers for United States residents with relatives in Cuba.

“We are continuing to look for productive ways forward, because we view the present policy as having failed,” Mrs. Clinton said at a news conference in this sun-dappled capital, hours before flying to join Mr. Obama at the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago.

The contrition tour goes beyond Latin America. In China, Mrs. Clinton told audiences that the United States must accept its responsibility as a leading emitter of greenhouse gases. In Indonesia, she said the American-backed policy of sanctions against Myanmar had not been effective. And in the Middle East, she pointed out that ostracizing the Iranian government had not persuaded it to give up its nuclear weapons ambitions.

snip//

There are holdouts, of course: North Korea has greeted the Obama administration by testing a missile, ratcheting up its language and threatening to pull out of multiparty talks on its nuclear program. Mrs. Clinton, in turn, has had few warm words for North Korea’s reclusive leader, Kim Jong-il.

But in many countries, her statements have elicited an almost palpable sense of relief. And she suggested that the Obama administration’s drive for warmer relations with old foes was just getting started.

Asked whether the United States would build bridges to hostile Latin American leaders, like Hugo Chávez of Venezuela, Mrs. Clinton said, “Let’s put ideology aside; that is so yesterday.”

[BlooInBloo]

1. Love how she follows the lead of the boss.

[AtomicKitten]

5. Agreed. Humility is the first step toward credibility and good U.S. relations.

[Captain Hilts]

7. 'Bam and Hil are doing a good tag-team kiss and make up with the world. nt

[AtomicKitten]

8. Pres. Obama has delegated his elegant policy of improving U.S. relations effectively.

n/t

[elleng]

2. 'The contrition tour goes beyond Latin America.'

WTF???

[monmouth]

3. Hillary has really found her niche and is doing an excellent job. I'm

so glad she and POTUS came to this decision. She even looks relaxed and very self-assured. Any bets on her candidacy for '16? Her resume is solid and she is highly respected. I'd say it's a go!

[Captain Hilts]

6. She'll be too old. '08 was her only chance. Same for Biden. nt

[AtomicKitten]

9. Biden may still have the "Oval Office fever" (in his own words)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8300876

[Captain Hilts]

10. And he'll still be too old. nt

[biopowertoday]

13. Oh, STOP with the agist CRAP. I am

surprised to hear this from you of all posters. I know age is more detrimental to women in all walks of life by why do Democrats have to perpetuate that bias?

If Hillary does decide to run in 7 years --I am sure that will be the Repug mantra.

[Captain Hilts]

15. I would vote for her. But few folks start bein' prez at that age. Biden's older. nt

[karynnj]

18. My bet is that it is completely unlikely

Partly age, but partly a feeling that the 2008 campaign took a lot out of both her and Bill. I also sense that she feeling does not have the love for campaigning that many politicians do.

If she couldn't win a race that was virtually handed to her on a silver platter, I don't think she can win in 2012.

[Captain Hilts]

19. She won the races handed to her "on a silver platter." nt

[karynnj]

20. For three years - Nov 2004 - Dec 2007,

it was clear that all she had to do was run a competent race and she woud have the nomination.

[Cha]

4. "Let’s put ideology aside; that is so yesterday.”

Hillary could be talking directly to the recons in the US but they won't be taking their earplugs out.

What a job she has..I would think it would be so much more interesting than going back to the Senate after having spent 8 years there.

[denem]

11. "Let’s put ideology aside; that is so yesterday."

Hint: That was/is the manifesto of 'third way' Democrats.

[biopowertoday]

14. It was a grand comeback for Hillary. She is one smart woman.

[wyldwolf]

16. and of Barack Obama

[HughMoran]

17. What does that mean?

What are you trying to say here?

[Captain Hilts]

12. True, but if she were majority leader and Reid weren't, the majority leader wouldn't

be saying dumbass things like "I don't work for him."

She remembers when folks like Sam Nunn, etc. were saying that crap about Bubba.