The new Obama/Clinton partnership. Smart move? Or disaster in the making?

In the Obama-Clinton relationship, advisers say, the relatively smooth nature of their talks about the secretary of state job indicate that both, for now, have a working chemistry. The advisers say that Obama was clearly interested in bringing a rival under his wing, and that he also recognized that Clinton had far more discipline and focus than her husband.

At the same time, Obama's advisers said, he had the self-confidence to name a global brand as his emissary to the world. He recognizes, they said, that after Jan. 20, he will have to build the kind of relationship that ensures that foreign leaders know that when Clinton speaks, she is speaking directly for him.

"It helps to have a relationship that Bush had with Baker, that's no doubt true," said Martin Indyk, the former American ambassador to Israel, who was a supporter of Clinton in the primary battles. "But if they are seen as working together effectively, I think that can be easily overcome. I don't think he would have decided to appoint her if he didn't want her to be effective."

One close adviser to Obama said the president-elect also saw that Clinton's political skills would serve her well in the job, as happened with Baker and Kissinger. They understood that statecraft is politics by another name, the adviser said.

NOTHING that Barack Obama has done thus far readying himself to become the 44th President of he Untied States has garnered anywhere near as much negative attention as choosing Hillary Clinton as his Secretary of State. It seems risky to bring such a strong personality into a cabinet with so many challenges in their immediate future. Let's face it Barack cannot waste precious time smoothing ruffled feathers and refereeing internal strife with a plate simply overflowing with problems.

But I am one who believes that Obama had to do something like this. He could not simply leave Hillary in the Senate to sit quietly in the wings awaiting his call for support as he attempts to implement new policy decisions. Hillary Clinton simply does not wait quietly for anyone.

Putting her in the cabinet was sort of a no brainer. Then the only question remaining was what position in the cabinet?

The most obvious position would seem to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services so that she could help Obama push his Health care reform package through Congress and the Senate, which is of course a passion of hers. But everybody has to know that the minute Hillary's name is mentioned in the same breath as Health care that the Republican base will rise as one to try and quash it. They beat her before and I know they are confident they could beat her again.

The rest of the choices probably have too narrow of a focus for somebody with both Hillary's experience and ego to feel as if she is being utilized fully.

Secretary of State gives Hillary the chance to be a REAL part of the policy decisions coming out of the Oval Office, while allowing Obama to keep her close enough to have access to her experience (and her husband's), while making sure she is constantly reminded that she is part of a team in whose success she has a vested interest.

I have already decided that I am not going to second guess Obama's decisions, at least until they have been implemented and results can be examined, but in this one case I actually find myself having no worries. This cabinet choice may prove to be one of his most prescient decisions thus far.

God it feels good to have faith in my President again!