Word is that Senator Clinton might be offered the top foreign policy job, and it is now becoming clear that President-elect Obama will begin his administration with plenty of former Bill Clinton people on board: Rahm Emanuel, John Podesta, Wendy Sherman, the list goes on.
So why should you care?
Well, "Talking Points" believes Obama wants to be seen as a moderate and picking establishment people reinforces that. Senator Clinton is a tough lady and she carries authority abroad. So the pick has credibility from the jump. It also gets the Clintons on Obama's side, at least while she's in the administration. All presidents have to watch their backs.
In addition, we have seen some nasty culture war battles erupt over the past few days. That's not what a new president needs. Barack Obama has nothing to do with gay marriage, and the sight of protesters attacking churches and assaulting elderly ladies carrying crosses cannot make him happy. Many Americans feared the far left would rampage if Obama were elected, and that seems to be happening with frightening speed.
Again on Friday, The New York Times blamed a Long Island politician, Steve Levy, for the brutal murder of a man from Ecuador. And The Los Angeles Times is calling for Obama to shut down ICE raids on businesses that hire illegals.
The gay marriage movement and the amnesty movement have both kicked into high gear just days after the election. Again, stuff like that does not help President-elect Obama, as most Americans oppose gay marriage and blanket amnesty for illegal aliens.
So just 10 days after his big victory, Barack Obama is already in damage control. He must divert attention away from the intensifying culture war, and a high-profile cabinet member like Hillary Clinton provides some cover.
Now it's important to remember that all of this is not Barack Obama's fault. He can't control who supports him. But there's no question the far left in America feels emboldened after eight years of the Bush administration.
We are living in a hyper-age where cable news and talk radio drive issues with frenetic speed. President-elect Obama faces a dangerous economy and angry citizens from all ideological persuasions. Hillary Clinton may be thinking that even with the War on Terror, things are a lot easier abroad than they are right here.
And that's "The Memo."
Pinheads & Patriots
No "Pinheads & Patriots" tonight because we have a very special segment for you. In support of my book, "A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity," I revisited my pal Jon Stewart Thursday night.
Click here to watch O'Reilly's appearance on "The Daily Show."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JON STEWART, HOST, "THE DAILY SHOW": I'm worried about you.
O'REILLY: Yes.
STEWART: This election thing — and I showed some clips from FOX. I want to show a couple here more from — this is you, Bill, on FOX.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O'REILLY: I'm, along with a lot of other Americans, very uneasy about his governance, what he's going to do.
A lot of people are fearful. They don't know. Uncertainty breeds fear.
They're fearful about how Barack Obama is going to govern, and I'm not sure how he's going to govern either.
Let's be honest. The guy is still a mystery.
Hey, I'm afraid I'm not going to have any money or a job.
REP. DENNIS KUCINICH, D-OHIO: Bill, you shouldn't be fearful.
O'REILLY: I am. I'm scared to death that I'm going to be living...
KUCINICH: The Bill O'Reilly that I know is not fearful.
O'REILLY: ...in San Francisco on Long Island.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEWART: This is Mr. Snuggles. I don't want you — I don't want you to be scared. This is hot cocoa.
O'REILLY: I love this.
STEWART: Let me give you some marshmallows. OK, you're in — you're in a safe place. Cocoa. There you go. All right. You've got a no spin zone. I've got a safe zone.
Bill, I want you to talk to me. Tonight is about getting over your fears.
O'REILLY: Fear of governance.
STEWART: What are you afraid of with Barack Obama? You can talk to us.
O'REILLY: I'm afraid of all of them. I mean, it hasn't been so great the last four years, has it, Stewart? I think you've made that a theme.
STEWART: Eight years. I'm going to go eight years.
O'REILLY: Well, you're going eight years?
STEWART: I'm going eight.
O'REILLY: The first four were OK with me because we didn't get attacked again, all right. So they were all right with me. The last four are kind of shaky. So I don't trust any of these guys.
STEWART: So this is not Obama. You've been fearful the whole time.
O'REILLY: The whole federal government frightens me. There isn't anything about it I like.
STEWART: Really?
O'REILLY: I'm an anarchist. Power to the people.
STEWART: Aren't you surprised at the level of fear that this gentleman, who has not done anything yet, has inspired?
O'REILLY: Well, that's because he hasn't done anything yet.
STEWART: That's why people are...
O'REILLY: He didn't do anything in the Senate. He didn't do anything in Illinois.
STEWART: But look at the actual data.
O'REILLY: Look, I want everybody to — you gerrymander these clips like crazy. You just clip, clip, clip, clip, clip.
STEWART: Gerrymander?
O'REILLY: You like that word?
STEWART: Are you saying I have redistricted my clips?
O'REILLY: You certainly have.
STEWART: All right.
O'REILLY: The master of propaganda. I like Barack Obama.
STEWART: That is a high compliment from you.
O'REILLY: From me? I like Barack Obama.
STEWART: Yes?
O'REILLY: I think he's a brilliant guy and ran the best campaign I've ever seen anyone run, OK? And I made that quite clear.
STEWART: You're not an ideologue. I will say that.
O'REILLY: No. And I haven't cheap-shotted the man ever.
STEWART: I have.
O'REILLY: But I don't know what he's going to do. Well, that's what you get paid to do.
STEWART: I get paid to cheap-shot people.
O'REILLY: Isn't that a great job?
STEWART: It's not a bad job. It's a good living.
We are a moderate country.
O'REILLY: I would say that, yes.
STEWART: But the right in this country has got this mythology pinned down that we are all — that being religious means you're good. It doesn't mean you're good. It just means you go to church. That...
O'REILLY: Wait, wait. I don't know who you're talking — you're kind of wandering here. You're wandering around. Americans, by their polling, say I am a moderate conservative. That's what most of the people say they are. There's a foundation to the country, and secular progressives want drastic change.
STEWART: No, they don't.
O'REILLY: Oh, come on. Stop it. You ever read the Daily Kos?
STEWART: They want the tax rate to go from 36 percent to 39 percent. In what 3 percent does that turn it socialist?
O'REILLY: OK, look. You want to...
STEWART: I always enjoy talking to you, and I do enjoy watching your program.
O'REILLY: I appreciate that.
STEWART: And you're not an ideologue. You just — I'm not sure what you are.
O'REILLY: "A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity," ladies and gentlemen.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
I like Stewart. He's not mean-spirited like some of his cohorts.
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