Barack & Hillary: Frenemies or Cougar Alert?!

I had to let the news sink in. Hillary Clinton being nominated for Secretary of State made me throw up a little in my mouth. I knew the drama surrounding the appointment had reached a fever pitch crescendo to rival the best of Puccini. I was wishing on a star this was like that season of Dallas when Pam found Bobby in the shower and the previous year had been a very bad dream. Oh well. 

It's not just due to the history of racial animus that occurred during the primaries. It's not just because the Clintons had to be dragged kicking and screaming on the campaign trail to support their party's nominee. There's also the very real history of violence, intimidation and funding of paramilitary groups in Latin American countries that has caused great harm to millions which was implemented and supported during the Clinton administration. And let's not forget NAFTA! You know Bill was grooming Hill the entire time he was in office. Theirs is the political marriage of our time.

Despite my grave misgivings about the secret deals, questionable funding sources and hidden agendas of Bill Clinton I can grudgingly recognize that his wife is one tough woman who's survived a lot. The thing is she's still attached to Bill. This is also the inherent flaw of some women's pursuit of all things feminist. There's a serious credibility issue for white women who have clearly benefited from white male supremacy by being married to it and raised by it, to then complain about being oppressed by it. 

Especially when all the talk of inclusion and diversity goes out the window when they are expected to operate on a level playing field with non-white people and don't want to. (Paging Gloria Steinem). It seems some white women like the pedestal a little bit more than they're letting on.  

Now I'm wondering if the President-Elect is being shrewd by trying to neutralize all inside threats to his administration and making an end run or whether he might actually like Hillary. Of course liking someone and trusting them are two entirely different things. Then the thought occurred to me how much Hill likes being attached to a powerful man and how the most powerful man right now is a man with the initial B, but it ain't Bill. This is survival of the fittest and a younger, healthier more spry man certainly has its appeal. Eeeeewww gross I know, but certainly not impossible. 

I'll be watching and waiting for the other shoe to drop, though. So is Mrs. O I bet! Mrs. Clinton will be on the road a lot carrying the Obama agenda flag. Who's minding the candy shop while Mama's away? What will come first: a scandal over another Clinton "indiscretion" or a direct sabotage attempt against Obama? Leopards don't change their spots. Snakes betray. Scorpions sting you to death (if they can). The Clintons are the Macbeths of the political world, after all. She still has to be confirmed. Those hearings are gonna be interesting. I've got the popcorn ready.

The Guardian has interesting analysis on this.

photo credit AP