The world needs Bill more than the U.S. needs Hillary. (LAT)

[kpete]

Hillary to Please Just Go Away so Bill can become UN SecGen.

EDITORIAL
Secretary-General Bill Clinton
The U.N. needs Bill more than the U.S. needs Hillary.
May 28, 2006

THE BEST THING HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON could do for humanity is not run for president. Nothing against her personally, mind you; it's just that her aspirations could get in the way of her husband's worthier ones.

In our continuing quest to find an appropriate job for our favorite ex-president — a year and a half ago we suggested he become chairman of the Democratic Party — we now offer an even better suggestion. This time, it's a post he has coveted. Not long after leaving office in 2001, Clinton reportedly told an aide that his dream job would be secretary-general of the United Nations. That's our dream too.

.............

If Clinton's nationality makes his selection improbable, the fact that he is the husband of a potential U.S. presidential candidate makes it impossible. There is no way the rest of the world would support a U.N. chief who might be married to a head of state, especially when that state happens to be the U.S.

If the Security Council members were truly inspired to pick the right man for the job, and if Hillary Clinton's candidacy were the only obstacle standing between her husband and global leadership (granted, a big if), we'd like to think she'd do the right thing and put her presidential aspirations on hold. The world needs Bill more than the U.S. needs Hillary.

more at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-clinton28may28,0,3904973.story?coll=la-news-comment-editorials

[catabryna]

1. I was just talking with my mom the other day...

and we discussed this exact same scenario. And, I do think Hillary would stay on the sideline if it appeared that her candidacy would put a damper on any well-founded potential that Bill would be considered for this important UN job. I, unlike many others, do not think that Hillary is looking out only for herself. I think she has a wider view of the world as a whole.

[applegrove]

2. I truly believe that Bill Clinton would be excellent for the UN. Kofi

Annan has had a horrid mine-field to negotiate.. and has done an admiral job. We need someone like Kofi. Someone as brilliant and as capable. My worst fear is that Bolton or McCain or some other dunderhead.. who cannot get their mind around their thirst for power and so will do whatever PNAC says.. will get the job. That it will be someone so simplistic and delusional in their world view.. that they will happily allow themselves and the UN to be diminished.

When is Annan's term up? Can it be extended? Please tell me it is not till 2009?

That being said - I doubt Clinton will get any nomination to the U.N. At least not in the next 5 years. So no threat to Hillary Clinton's race for the White House.

[Spazito]

3. For Bill Clinton to become Secretary General of the UN would be

unprecedented, I believe. The Secretary General has previously been from countries other than the 5 permanent member of the Security Council: United States, China, Britain, France, Russia.

It seems some believe Tony Blair is also wanting the job.

It will be interesting to see if the UN breaks precedent to put either of them into the position.

[Crowdance]

4. Amazingly sexist piece

I'm no fan of Hillary Clinton; she's been quite a disappointment as my Senator, and I'm not supporting her again. However, this sounds like an old-fashioned call for a woman to stand aside so that a man can be "the accomplisher." Let's reverse the plea: Can't Bill just put his own ambition aside, stop his public speaking, squelch rumors of leading the U.N., so that his wife can have her turn at running for the most powerful position in the nation? Why is it more reasonable to ask this woman to halt her career in order to allow the progression of the man's?