Video: Town Hall Today

Town Hall Meeting at the State Department Today

She did a GREAT job!

Remarks With EU External Relations Commission July 10, 2009

Remarks by Secretary Clinton and Dr. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Vice President for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy of the Commission of the European Communities after their bilateral meeting.

Girl on the Field!

Look out! Here she comes! A mere three weeks after a serious fracture requiring surgery under general anesthesia - Here comes Hillary! With a rod and two pins in her arm (attribution:Big Dawg His Own Self), our incredible Hillary is ready, once again, to mount the steps of HillForceOne and be our lovely face to the outside world. Watch her. She masters the course.

(Seriously, could she be any cuter? I'll leave smarter alone. That is not even arguable.)

Secretary's Remarks: Remarks at the Top of the Daily Press Briefing

With the news orgs devoting the day to to the Michael Jackson Funeral, it was bloody difficult to find ANY other news. So for those concerned with the hemispheric crisis in Honduras, the meeting today between the Awesome Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State Spectacular, and Jose Manuel Zelaya,here is the text of her comments.

Secretary's Remarks: Remarks at the Top of the Daily Press Briefing

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:02:42 -0500

Remarks at the Top of the Daily Press Briefing

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Secretary of State

Washington, DC

July 7, 2009

---

QUESTION: That’s a very stylish sling.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you for noticing, Matt. That’s right. See, I’ve got my Secretary of State – (laughter). Oh, goodness.
Well, hello, everyone. I just finished a productive meeting with President Zelaya. We discussed the events of the past nine days and the road ahead. I reiterated to him that the United States supports the restoration of the democratic constitutional order in Honduras. We continue to support regional efforts through the OAS to bring about a peaceful resolution that is consistent with the terms of the Inter-American Democratic Charter.
As President Obama said today, we have taken this position because we respect the universal principle that people should choose their own leaders, whether they are leaders we agree with or not. And I told President Zelaya that we will do everything we can to avoid any further bloodshed, and I conveyed our deep regret over the tragic events that unfolded in the last days.
We call upon all parties to refrain from acts of violence and to seek a peaceful, constitutional, and lasting solution to the serious divisions in Honduras through dialogue. To that end, we have been working with a number of our partners in the hemisphere to create a negotiation, a dialogue that could lead to a peaceful resolution of this situation.
We are supporting the efforts that the OAS has made, but we think there needs to be a specific mediator, and to that end we are supporting President Arias of Costa Rica to serve in this important role. I raised this with President Zelaya, discussed it with him at length. He agreed that President Arias, who not only has a lot of experience going back many years as a mediator – in fact, won the Nobel Peace Prize for the work he did to resolve the conflict in El Salvador – but is the current president of the Central American Association. So he is the natural person to assume this role.
I spoke with President Arias earlier today, discussed it with him. He is willing to serve as a mediator. And we have received word that the de facto caretaker president, Micheletti, will also agree to President Arias serving in this role.
We hope that this process can begin as soon as possible. It was one of the questions that President Zelaya raised with me, what the timing would be. Based on my conversation with President Arias, I think he is willing to begin immediately.
And it is our hope that through this dialogue mechanism, overseen by President Arias, that there can be a restoration of democratic constitutional order, a peaceful resolution of this matter that will enable the Honduran people to see the restoration of democracy and a more peaceful future going forward.
So I’d be happy to take your questions.
QUESTION: Do you believe that – you use this phrase that is so often used here, “the restoration of the constitutional and democratic order.” One, does that mean that President Zelaya should be restored to his position?
Secondly, do you think it makes any sense for him to try to force his way back into the country, as he did over the weekend when the violence occurred?
And then lastly, does he need to compromise a little on this? Does he need to perhaps give up his plans for a referendum on extending the presidential terms?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Now that we have a mediation process that we hope can begin shortly, I don’t want to prejudge what the parties themselves will agree to. There are many different issues that will have to be discussed and resolved. But I think it’s fair to let the parties themselves, with President Arias’ assistance, sort out all of these issues.
We hope at the end of this mediation there will be a return of democratic constitutional order that is agreed to by all concerned. The exact nature of that, the specifics of it, we will leave to the parties themselves, as I think now is appropriate.
I was heartened that President Zelaya agreed with this. I believe it is a better route for him to follow at this time than to attempt to return in the face of the implacable opposition of the de facto regime. And so instead of another confrontation that might result in the loss of life, let’s try the dialogue process and see where that leads, and let’s let the parties determine all the various issues as they should. It’s their responsibility to do that.
QUESTION: Does the mediation effort now mean that you’re going to hold off on making a determination about whether this was, in fact, a coup that statutorily requires you to suspend non-humanitarian aid?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, Matt, we have paused in the aid that we think would be affected by the letter of the statute. There is humanitarian aid, and that is a concern for us – the well-being of the people of Honduras. But we’ve made the decision to basically pause on any further aid. We hope that this mediation process will lead to a rapid resolution, and that would be our preference.
QUESTION: And do you expect President Arias to actually go to Honduras?
SECRETARY CLINTON: No, he’s going to conduct it in Costa Rica, and the parties from Honduras, including President Zelaya, will be in Costa Rica for the mediation.
MR. KELLY: Okay, Nick Kralev, Washington Times.
QUESTION: Madame Secretary, what status – what official status does President Zelaya currently have in the United States? What has he been afforded? And what is the status of the ambassador of Honduras to the – to Washington? Does he represent the de facto government or President Zelaya?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Those are some of the specific questions that President Zelaya is discussing as we speak with Assistant Secretary Tom Shannon, with Dan Restrepo from the National Security Council, and others, because we do want to work this out in the most appropriate manner. The question of their ambassador to us and our ambassador to them is one we need to resolve. I was very pleased that President Zelaya and the foreign minister who was with him both commended us for the role that our ambassador is playing in Honduras, not only in providing security for members of President Zelaya’s family, but in being one of the few people who can talk to all sides at this time.
We are obviously going to be guided by the appropriateness of whether to leave our ambassador there going forward. If – President Zelaya believes that he’s playing a useful role, so we do not want to abridge that if it could be value-added to this mediation process.
MR. KELLY: Last question to Ginger Thompson, New York Times.
QUESTION: Madame Secretary, thank you for taking questions. Can you confirm reports that Assistant Secretary Shannon met yesterday, I believe, with Ricardo Maduro, who is representing the delegation that’s backing the de facto government, and can you tell us about the nature of those conversations and whether you all continue to have meetings with that delegation?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I’m not going to comment on that because our goal has been to reach the point where I believe we are now, which is to get the parties talking to each other and not through us or through other third parties. There’s been, as you know, an enormous amount of contact going on across the hemisphere and, literally, around the world. But it has been my view for several days that the most useful role we could play is to convince all that are directly concerned, not only President Zelaya, but also the de facto regime, the OAS, the UN, everyone, that we needed to have a process where the Hondurans themselves sat down and talked to each other. And that is – that’s been my goal, and I believe that we are on the brink of that happening. I’m hoping that it actually occurs soon.
So we have tried through our good offices to get people to this point. And we’re very grateful for the willingness of President Arias to serve in this position, and we’re also appreciative of the efforts of the OAS as well.
QUESTION: Thank you.
QUESTION: Madame Secretary --
QUESTION: One more?
SECRETARY CLINTON: All right, one more. One more.
QUESTION: Would you like to say something about the riots in China and also your trip to India, Madame Secretary?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, we are deeply concerned over the reports of deaths and injuries from violence in Western China. We are trying to sort out, as best we can, the facts and circumstances from the region, and we’re calling on all sides to exercise restraint. We know there’s a long history of tension and discontent, but the most immediate matter is to bring the violence to a conclusion.
With respect to India, I’m very much looking forward to my trip next week. We are working hard with our Indian counterparts to create a very deep and broad strategic engagement. And it is my hope that we’ll be able to announce our intentions when I’m in India, and that we will be cooperating and working together across the broadest range of concerns that our two governments have ever engaged on.
I am very hopeful that the relationship between the United States and India, which has improved considerably over the last 15 years, continues on the path that we’re on. India is an emerging global power. The recent election has provided political stability, and the new government is very committed to pursuing a very activist domestic agenda, particularly around poverty and the conditions of people in rural India, as well as its emphasis on development and job creation, but also to look for ways that India can play a role regionally and globally on the economic issues and other matters that confront us.
So I’m very excited. I was thrilled to go to India for the first time as First Lady and to begin a process that has led us to this point with the contributions of many along the way that really demonstrates that the world’s largest democracy and oldest democracy have so much more in common than perhaps was first recognized.
So thank you. Thank you all very much.

PRN: 2009/688

Happy Fourth From Hillary!

Happy Fourth from Our Girl, Hillary. She's a winner! There is not a place I passed today where Hillary Clinton has not visited and won people to her side, and where blood has not been shed for liberty. There is synergy. Hillary could have chosen a number of states to represent as senator. She (and Bill) chose New York - second only to Boston, MA as the seat of Liberty.

below is the transcript of Secretary Clinton’s statement on the occasion of 4th of July:

Hello everyone. I am delighted to welcome you on behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States as we celebrate our nation’s 233rd birthday.

For Americans, the 4th of July is a day to reconnect with loved ones, to remember our history, and to renew our commitment to democracy, tolerance, and justice. As President Obama said in Cairo last month, these are not just American values, these are core principles we share with people everywhere. So it is fitting that we open our doors and share this day with our friends and neighbors around the world.

Our fates and our fortunes are intertwined like never before. No one nation can meet today’s global challenges alone. We all share responsibility for working together to ensure a more peaceful and prosperous future.

So I hope that today’s celebration will become tomorrow’s partnership. There’s nothing we can’t accomplish, no challenge we can’t meet, if we work together toward common goals and seek common ground.

Thank you so much for joining us and have a wonderful 4th of July.

Hillary's Week in Pictures

Monday June 22 at the White House:



Wednesday June 24 at the State Department with Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov of Turkmenistan



Friday, June 26 at the State Department with the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa


Friday June 26 at the White House with President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel


She actually worked every day, but she did not have open coverage at every event. I think she is amazing to be able to do this so soon after surgery. By Friday, she was her same glowing self as usual! I have to admit I was very worried about her at first, but she looks spectacular for someone who went through this ordeal and has been in a lot of pain. She has two pins and a rod in her elbow. Source: Bill.

Hillary's Fractured Elbow

I can't even begin to write about this. The CNN video will have to speak for me. Get well Hillary! I am praying for you.

Remarks at the 100th Anniversary of the Boundary Waters Treaty Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls June 13, 2009

Good morning. What a glorious day, and it’s an absolute delight for me to be here on this occasion. I take any excuse I can to get back to come back to New York, and to celebrate this commemoration with all of you and to have an opportunity to spend time with my Canadian counterpart, Minister Cannon, is indeed a privilege.

I just want to recognize the significance of this extraordinary moment in time. The friendship between the people of the United States and Canada is the strongest in the world. There is no border that is longer and more peaceful; there is no greater trade between two nations. There are so many values that we share in common, and today we celebrate a treaty that helped to make this friendship possible 100 years ago.

The people who understood the significance of our relationship and the beauty of our natural surroundings were far-sighted and visionary. And the Boundary Water Treaty of 1909 made official something that people on both sides of the border have known for generations: that the rivers, the lakes, streams, the watersheds along our boundary do not belong to one nation or the other, but to both of us. And we are therefore called to be good stewards in the care of these precious resources. These waterways sustain some of Canada’s and America’s greatest cities. They foster travel and trade, they provide drinking water to families across the continent, and, of course, they offer some of the most beautiful vistas in all of creation.

Even as countries elsewhere in the past and today clash over natural resources, Canada and the United States have worked to remain peaceful partners in sharing these waters and caring for their long-term health. Now, when we’ve had differences, which all friends do, and even families, for that matter, we have worked that through. The International Joint Commission created by the Treaty has helped us to resolve our differences quickly and fairly.

The treaty has also established a sense of cooperation along the border. Other than comments about which side of the border has a better view – (laughter) – it’s something that we hear but don’t accept. It is so wonderfully easy to travel between our two countries, except for today, when we blocked the traffic on the bridge. I’m glad I’m no longer an elected official. (Laughter.) And I think when we look to the extraordinary relationship that we have between our two countries, I know how much traffic goes across this bridge – not just carrying goods as part of our trade relation, and not just visits by tourists, but residents on both sides who have children who play hockey on one side, who work on the other side, who have a summer home on one side. There is so much traffic that brings us together on a literally minute-by-minute basis. In fact, 300,000 people cross the border every single day to spend some time in the country next door. And they don’t have to pass through a military checkpoint to do so. Our border reflects our trust in one another.

Now, to properly celebrate the 100 successful years of this treaty, we have to do more than honor the past. We have to recommit ourselves to strengthening this partnership and find new ways to work together to solve common problems. As we look at this alliance that exists between the United States and Canada, it is stunning. $1.6 billion in goods flows across this border every single day. Many of our industries actually work hand-in-hand, supporting millions of jobs in both countries. We have the world’s largest energy trade relationship. Our power grids work together seamlessly, most of the time. We collaborate closely on citizen safety and defense. Our soldiers are serving shoulder-to-shoulder in Afghanistan. And we share a commitment to promoting democracy, good governance, and human rights worldwide. So our comprehensive alliance in the 21st century will move us even closer together as we collaborate to improve conditions not only in our own countries, but across the world.

One area where we must join forces in is protecting our environment, especially our shared waters. Article IV of the Boundary Waters Treaty prohibited pollution by either country, which made this treaty one of the world’s first environmental agreements. By 1972, our nations took another step toward protecting these waters with the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, which lays out the goals and guidelines for restoring and protecting the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Great Lakes Basin.

The Great Lakes-St. River system is a treasure. It contains one-fifth of the world’s fresh surface water. It provides millions of people with safe drinking water every day. So it’s crucial that we honor the terms of the Great Lakes Agreement as it stands today, but we also have to update it to reflect new knowledge, new technology, and, unfortunately, new threats.

The Agreement was last amended in 1987 and since then, new invasive species have appeared in our lakes, new worrisome chemicals have emerged from our industrial processes, our knowledge of the ecology of the region and how to protect it has grown considerably. In its current form, the Great Lakes Agreement does not sufficiently address the needs of our shared ecosystem.

So I’m pleased to announce that Canada and the United States have agreed to update the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. (Applause.) We look forward to working closely with state, provincial, and local governments throughout Canada, as well as other stakeholders, in the coming months to produce an agreement that reflects our best knowledge and our unshakable commitment to preserving this vital natural resource.

Now, as we work together on this, we must also strengthen our response to other environmental threats, especially climate change, one of the most urgent problems facing our world which endangers our world’s water sources, the safety of coastal regions, the future of agriculture and health, and the stability of communities everywhere. It is a paramount threat, and it demands effective and bold action, which can only be achieved through partnership.

The Canadian-American border is such a precious reflection of our great relationship, and it reminds us that although we may salute different flags, hear beautifully sung different anthems, our nations grew from the same land and the same ideals. It falls to us as it falls to every generation to strengthen that partnership and friendship. We look forward to many more years of working with you to achieve our common goal, and many more days of celebrating accomplishments like we do today in a beautiful, wondrous creation that God has given us to preserve and maintain.

Thank you all very much.

http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/06/124716.htm

CTV Video of Hillary's speech

More (good) video

Dipnote U.S., Canada Celebrate Boundary Waters Treaty Centennial Posted by Suzanne Hall on Jun 13, 2009 - 03:47 PM

U.S. and Canadian flags fly side by side in Cheektowaga, New York, Nov. 14, 2007. [AP File Photo]

About the Author: Suzanne Hall serves as the Public Diplomacy Advisor for Canada and Mexico in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.

Secretary Clinton flew to Canada to participate in the 100th anniversary of the Boundary Waters Treaty between the United States and Canada on June 13, 2009. The ceremony could not have taken place in a more beautiful setting: the Rainbow Bridge overlooking Niagara Falls.

The Secretary arrived early in the morning and proceeded directly to the bridge. Officials from both sides of the border — including Canadian Foreign Minister Cannon, legislators, governors, provincial premiers and mayors — were on hand for the celebration.

A brass ensemble from the National Academy Orchestra of Canada kicked off the event with a musical arrangement. Mayors from communities on either side of Niagara Falls then walked in, accompanied by an Honor Guard. Canadian Mayor Ted Salci from Niagara Falls, Ontario and Mayor Paul Dyster, representing Niagara Falls, New York, spoke to the importance of the Boundary Waters Treaty. Both talked about how U.S. and Canadian citizens have all benefited from its application over the last century.

The main event then began, with a processional from either end of the Rainbow Bridge. The two delegations — including Secretary Clinton and Foreign Minister Cannon — met in the middle of the bridge to shake hands. A binational honor guard then sang the national anthems from both of our countries and presented the colors. During her remarks, Secretary Clinton noted that over the last 100 years, the Boundary Waters Treaty has successfully prevented and resolved boundary waters disputes between Canada and the United States. Thanks to the Boundary Waters Treaty, our two countries have been able to smoothly move forward with important projects including dams. Of equal importance, the Boundary Waters Treaty is an important vehicle through which the U.S. and Canada seek to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of our shared waters.

The final moments of the ceremony were perhaps the most moving, providing a beautiful tribute to the importance of our shared water resources to Native Americans and Canadians. A young man named Ryan, a member of the Tuscarora tribe, read from the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, a Native poem praising the Earth. The portion of the poem talking about water was particularly poignant. Ryan read:

“We give thanks to all the Waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms — waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit of water.”

The ceremony closed with the sound of carillon bells above Niagara Falls. The centennial celebration — held in a spectacular location — served to highlight the breadth and depth of the U.S.-Canadian bilateral relationship.

http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/boundary_waters_treaty_centennial/

I hope the State Department posts the full length video of this. It must have been so beautiful.

The Nanny Diaries

This is the picture I didn't want to see: Hillary veiled. I guess it was bound to happen. It does nothing to detract from her beauty, and that is not the reason I didn't want to see this. She looks beautiful. It's the symbolism that bothers me. Why we end up seeing a veiled SOS is a somewhat covert, veiled story in itself.



Last Sunday, May 31, on the first anniversary of the fateful RBC meeting that was the beginning of the DNC's formal machinations to divest Hillary of all party support for the presidential nomination, while many of us PUMAs found ways to commemorate that dark day, Hillary left D.C. at 7 a.m. and flew to sunny El Salvador for the first of four days of meetings with OAS leaders on issues of hemispheric security, economy, and membership for Cuba. The itinerary published by the State Department outlined only this Central American trip.

She spent two days in El Salvador, is rumored to have made a side trip to Havana to get some assurances from that government of compliances with her demands (and ours) for democratization prior to the vote on Cuba's future association with the OAS, and proceeded to Honduras for the conference itself. The vote was held yesterday afternoon. The OAS nations voted to allow Cuba's readmission, but Hillary, the spearhead of the hardline demands for human rights in Cuba was not there to cast her vote! How could that be?

News outlets failed to point out that even though this had not been planned , or the plan had not been made public, she was whisked back aboard HillForce One and flown to Egypt to be present at Obama's Big Speech to the Muslim World, i.e. she did not leave of her own volition; she did not skip out on her duty to vote, she had been summoned.

There are whispers that Obama is not necessarily as popular in the Arab world as MSM would have us believe. There are those who say she had to divert her trip there because without her support he would have little or no credibility. I don't know about that.

When Hillary decided to accept SOS, of course she knew she would be serving "at the pleasure of the President." She also knew she would have to resign her Senate seat. Among the several names that were kicked around as possible successors, one who openly pursued the post, was Fran Dresher, aka The Nanny. She was not named, as we know, but when I look at the picture below, I feel validated in thinking that Hillary has somehow fallen into Fran's role here. She looks like the nanny who had to be there for the 5th grader's play or speech when his own mom, Nancy Pelosi, could not be.

She's sitting there as if she is going through the speech in her own head - ready to prompt. She also has that resigned look of the girl who had a hot date she had to cancel due to this emergency coverage. The worst part is that today was Dorothy Rodham's 90th birthday, and Hillary could not be with her because she had to babysit.

The next leg of the trip, in fact it is where the POTUS party now has landed, is Germany. Obama's staff has succeeded is completely pissing off the Germans by refusing to cooperate with some suggestions they made for this visit. He refused a photo op with Angela Merkel and furthermore the GM negotiations between his administration and German leadership deteriorated so badly that the most recent story is that Angela Merkel no longer wants to speak with him at all and refuses to speak with anyone but Hillary.

No one is saying whether or not the SOS is in Germany tonight, but I suspect she is or soon will be. A four-day trip extended to six and counting. If she is there, it points to Obama's complete ineffectiveness on the international stage - a meltdown of his confidence there, and his inability to function as "The Leader of the Free World."

President Truman famously said "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!" Obama, the 5th grader, should step aside and allow the grown-up to repair the damage of the past administration as well significant damage he himself has done to international relations and domestic situations. He should resign, admit to his incompetence and so should Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi. They should all get out of the damn kitchen and let Hillary make us all some breakfast. She makes good soft scrambled eggs. I'll eat that!

Press State,emt: OAS Resolution

OAS Resolution

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
June 3, 2009



The member nations of the OAS showed flexibility and openness today, and as a result we reached a consensus that focuses on the future instead of the past: Cuba can come back into the OAS in the future if the OAS decides that its participation meets the purposes and principles of the organization, including democracy and human rights. Many member countries originally sought to lift the 1962 suspension and allow Cuba to return immediately, without conditions. Others agreed with us that the right approach was to replace the suspension – which has outlived its purpose after nearly half a century – with a process of dialogue and a future decision that will turn on Cuba's commitment to the organization’s values. I am pleased that everyone came to agree that Cuba cannot simply take its seat and that we must put Cuba’s participation to a determination down the road – if it ever chooses to seek reentry. If and when the day comes to make that determination, the United States will continue to defend the principles of the Inter-American Democratic Charter and other fundamental tenets of the organization. This outcome is in keeping with our forward-looking, principled approach to relations with Cuba and our hemisphere.

We must now build on this success by meeting our goals with actions that move us beyond rhetoric to results, and advance the mission which each of our nations have pledged to pursue: strengthening good governance, democratic institutions, an unwavering commitment to fundamental human rights and freedoms, and the rule of law — the underpinnings of democracy and the founding principles of this organization.

###

She remains simply awesome.

June 3, 2008 One Year Ago

She was incredible that night.