So, my Google homepage loaded up this morning with a CNN story on the wire about Obama's transition team setting up meetings. Then, in a "meanwhile," it goes onto mention that several Republicans are praising the idea of Hillary for Secretary of State:
Does anyone else see this as a cynical doubling down of the Republicans' support of Hillary in the Democratic primary? It seemed like Republicans were falling all over themselves to offer backhanded support to Hillary, especially after it was clear to everyone (but Hillary) that she wouldn't win the primary. It makes sense: Hillary was clearly the candidate Republicans wanted to run against. One can imagine entire warehouses of anti-Hillary pamphlets printed up by the RNC just sitting there, yellowing away somewhere in Secaucus, NJ (ah, the scenic warehouse district). Once Hillary officially lost the nominations, Republicans simply downshifted into supporting Hillary for veep, practically daring Obama to put her on the ticket. But, alas, Obama didn't want to take Hillary's negatives aboard and didn't want to deal with the drama Bill Clinton would have brought along to the ticket.
Meanwhile, Republicans praised the prospect of Sen. Hillary Clinton becoming secretary of state. Sources told CNN on Friday that Obama has spoken about that job with Clinton and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, another former rival for the presidential nomination.
Former Nixon and Ford Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said Clinton would be an "outstanding" selection, Bloomberg News reported.
GOP Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona told Fox News: "She's got the experience; she's got the temperament for it." And California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told ABC it would be a "great move."
So, now Republicans are pushing for Hillary for Secretary of State. I wonder if these Republican "endorsements" aren't laden with a similar cynicism with an ultimate goal of trying to woo female support away from Democrats? But then again, they've never tried to do that before, have they?

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