Hillary trots out Rahm’s crisis-management advice in Europe
posted at 10:26 am on March 6, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Rahm Emanuel famously offered the advice not to waste a good crisis, and apparently that’s the new motto of the Barack Obama administration. In fact, they have so much fondness for that strategy that they want to share it with our allies. Hillary Clinton told the European Parliament that they shouldn’t allow the economic meltdown to pass without exploiting the panic for more statist policies. And that’s only a slight exaggeration (via Mitch Berg):
The financial crisis offers a new chance to rebuild economies based on a greener model with less dependence on unreliable overseas energy imports, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Friday.
“Never waste a good crisis,” Clinton told a hearing at the European Parliament. “And when it comes to the economic crisis, don’t waste it when it can have a very positive impact on climate change and energy security.” … “This is a propitious time … we can actually begin to demonstrate our willingness to confront this. We are making up the best we can for lost time,” she added.
No, Saul Alinksy didn’t say that, or at least he didn’t say it first. Machiavelli originally said, “Never waste the opportunities offered by a good crisis.” I’m not sure which leadership strategy is more worrisome; at least Machiavelli relied on competence and success.
I’m not sure if we’re seeing Machiavelli or the Peter Principle at play in the new administration. The incompetence has been so pronounced and so widespread that one almost wants to believe that some master plan is at work that will make sense in retrospect. On the other hand, any plan that starts off by destroying Wall Street and the capital investors is a plan I don’t want to see succeed, regardless of its eventual denouement.
Regardless, having Hillary cackle with glee over the opportunities for statist global-warming policies this crisis has created provides the administration with some highly questionable optics. I guess she’s got a job and doesn’t have to worry about the economic meltdown.
Blowback
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“Never waste a good crisis.”
— Hilary Clinton, March 5, 2009
Is it a “good” crisis because thousands of people have lost their jobs and nest eggs? Or is it a good crisis because the Obama administration can pass many of its agenda items without much scrutiny? What exactly makes it a “good” crisis?
RedSoxNation on March 6, 2009 at 10:27 AM
This is outrageous…
RedSoxNation on March 6, 2009 at 10:28 AM
The Republicans better pounce on this issue.
RedSoxNation on March 6, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Hey, we didn’t waste 9/11 either. We used that crisis to finally take Saddam out, textbook definition of “not wasting a good crisis.” But that thinking is only bad when dems use it to do things you disagree with.
ernesto on March 6, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Well, she’s right. They are creating crises as fast as they can.
Vashta.Nerada on March 6, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Hillary also said “We’re going to take things from you for the common good” at one speech during her campaign.
It’s all the same crap dressed up with a different ribbon.
katy on March 6, 2009 at 10:30 AM
I say Machiavelli on steroids. They are creating or expanding crisis mode as their main strategy to fast-track their agenda. Working like a charm so far.
neuquenguy on March 6, 2009 at 10:31 AM
They see this as a chance to take down America, and rebuild it in their image…
right2bright on March 6, 2009 at 10:32 AM
Has Hillary even been back in the good ‘ol US of A since she was confirmed SecState? Or is she now on a permanent road trip?
Skandia Recluse on March 6, 2009 at 10:32 AM
Using this crisis to steal my retirement money…yeah, I kinda disagree with that kind of thinking.
PappaMac on March 6, 2009 at 10:33 AM
My God, how I am starting to seriously hate these people. This will be a boon for the conservatives, IMO. Keep talking BHO, Hillary, Rahm, etc. We’ll be back in your face very soon.
zeebeach on March 6, 2009 at 10:33 AM
Oh well. At least now we can get rid of any notion the Hillary would have been a better candidate than o. The sneakiness and borderline law breaking policies set by the clinton administration seem to have become not only the Dem norm but are being creatively expanded as fast as possible under this administration.
jeanie on March 6, 2009 at 10:34 AM
“Dems exploiting and deepening the crisis to bring about their socialist policies”
Better be the headline of the day today or our republican leadership is NOT doing their jobs.
HoosierCon on March 6, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Well, the upside is my previously suspended contempt of Hillary, (thanks, Barry) is back full force. Downside, there isn’t a single sane voice in the Obama administration. We’re doomed.
anniekc on March 6, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Machiavelli (How many have actually read The Prince? It’s a good little book) believed in his principles to further the success of the state/nation, and thus the people of that state. He didn’t believe in L’etat, cest Moi.
Dear Leader believes otherwise. He wants to destroy the current state and reshape it in His image.
rbj on March 6, 2009 at 10:34 AM
I thought it was Rove who was Machiavellian?
jp on March 6, 2009 at 10:34 AM
I wish Hellary said it they way I have modified above.
WashJeff on March 6, 2009 at 10:35 AM
The Democrats are thrilled with this economic crisis they have caused, they have been working toward it for about a century now. Now their day has come.
Maxx on March 6, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Both…people will beg for govt. intervention, and they will have a destroyed system to rebuild…and few will complain.
Tough to complain when you are trying to find a home and a job…priorities.
right2bright on March 6, 2009 at 10:36 AM
they’ll probably get to the point where they suddenly decide to do something in the Foreign Policy arena at same time(a war) and sell it using the Moral Equivalent of War argument tying it into the Economy/healthcare and Obama’s soon to come Civilian Defense Corps.
jp on March 6, 2009 at 10:37 AM
With stocks tumbling and pension plans evaporating and record numbers un-employed, if Republicans can’s NOW tell the libs where to stick the “climate change” talk, then I don’t know what. Makes me want to buy a Hummer and quit separating the recyclables from the trash. I’ve had it.
Marcus on March 6, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Gulf of Tonkin.
Google it.
Isn’t this the same crap they accused Bush of for his entire term?
nailinmyeye on March 6, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Wonder what her reaction would be if the Europeans said “Thanks, Madam Secretary — here are the plans for all our new nuclear reactors.”
DrSteve on March 6, 2009 at 10:38 AM
That is bull sh** and you know it. And you are comparing apples to oranges. The Obama administration is promoting its domestic and foreign agenda on education, health care, and global warming in response to a credit crisis that has infected our banking system. Why are the Democrats addressing these issues before they have even staffed the Treasury Department.
When will Democrats start making arguments that don’t include the childish “but Bush did it too; but Bush did it too.”
RedSoxNation on March 6, 2009 at 10:38 AM
What crisis? Let’s talk about Michelle O’s buff, toned arms again.
(/sarc)
ErinF on March 6, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Well, give them credit for “transparency,” one word I am already sick to death of. They don’t have any compunction of being clear that they are going to use any deceitful tool to accomplish their socialist agenda. Give them credit for balls..
Star20 on March 6, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Obama/Pelosi/Reid/Clinton are the epitome of the Peter Principle in action. In a Hierarchy Every Employee Tends to Rise to His Level of Incompetence, here the people elected these people beyond their level of incompetence.
The adage that a million monkeys in a room with a typewriter can come up with the next great novel is at play here as well…I don’t think, no matter what plugs Bidden says, that you have to worry about bumping into any of these geniuses at a mensa meeting
PatriotPete on March 6, 2009 at 10:39 AM
yeah, I’m anxiously awaiting Ron Paul to start tearing into the Dems over these things the way he dumbed downed and aided the Dems Politically by doing this idiocy against Bush/GOP
jp on March 6, 2009 at 10:40 AM
To keep hoping that these people are going to self-destruct or that the American people are going to wake-up on their own is very dangerous. A few short years ago Rush Limbaugh was saying that the Democrats were imploding and Rove believed he was implementing a plan to relegate them to minority status for decades. We under-estimate them at our own peril.
neuquenguy on March 6, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Where’s Ap gone?????
Equanim1ty found on March 6, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Yes, now that we’re in a fight for our very survival, it’s time to spend trillions on global warming.
This is just incongruous.
jeff_from_mpls on March 6, 2009 at 10:40 AM
OK, how far do you think you can bounce a quarter off Michelle’s butt? over/under 6ft?
jp on March 6, 2009 at 10:41 AM
She’s really retaining water these days.
AubieJon on March 6, 2009 at 10:41 AM
“
The MacAMERICA IS BACK!”*facepalm*
Christien on March 6, 2009 at 10:42 AM
But, remember children, Bush, Rove and Cheney were the opportunistic craven manipulators…….
/sarc
Techie on March 6, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Durinf the Democratis primary, Obama boorishness actually made me have a kind thought or two about Hillary.
Now those kind feelings are gone and I am back to my severe dislike of her.
Oddly, both Hillary and Obama are making me have fond thoughts of the post ’94 Bill Clinton.
myrenovations on March 6, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Not really. Global warming is the wedge to re-distribute American wealth around the world.
neuquenguy on March 6, 2009 at 10:43 AM
I just bought some normal light flood light bulbs. Those fricken CFL bulbs die quicker than the normal bulbs except you pay two extra bucks per bulb. I feel putting the ten dead CFLs I have in the trash to send the mercury back into the ground.
WashJeff on March 6, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Hillary says that if any media types rebel (like David Brooks), send them dead fish (like Rahmbo did to Brooksie).
jgapinoy on March 6, 2009 at 10:43 AM
No master plan, in fact there really is no real plan.
The markets are confirming this.
FireBlogger on March 6, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Sometimes the commercials just write themselves. Get on it GOP.
WisCon on March 6, 2009 at 10:43 AM
I guess she’s got a job and doesn’t have to worry about the economic meltdown.
Ed, you hit the nail right on the head. Everyone in the Obama Adminstration looks at it this way. Not to mention the fact that when his 4 longs years is up he will be set for life with a nice pension, security, book deals, and speaking engagements (teleprompter required). Us on the other hand have to worry day in and day out about our future and that of our children.
What the hell does he care, homeboy got a job!
milwife88 on March 6, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Maybe those one world government conspiracy types are justified in their thinking, this global coordination of leftist policy is giving me the creeps.
Bishop on March 6, 2009 at 10:44 AM
I wish I had your optimism
neuquenguy on March 6, 2009 at 10:44 AM
My God man,do you even understand what you are saying here?
canditaylor68 on March 6, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Personally, and for what it’s worth, I think the main basis for o’s continuing popularity is his no taxes for those making under 250K. I am certainly in this category, but have figured out that it is hollow rhetoric and the ‘additional’(about 700$ plus of minus a year)will most certainly be more than offset and made to look trivial with the inevitable increases in prices, fees, and other expenses that o’s global warming and energy policies etc are bound to produce. If the lie of this tax baloney could be effectively impressed on the American people, I think you would see o’s popularity tumble with the middle class.
jeanie on March 6, 2009 at 10:45 AM
This was really dumb of Hillary and it will come back to bite Obama….or was it really smart of Hillary because it will come back to bite Obama.
clnurnberg on March 6, 2009 at 10:45 AM
To further this point, you only have to look at how America voted in 1936 and 1940. While FDR was prolonging a recession and turning it into a depression, America said, “my I have another.”
WashJeff on March 6, 2009 at 10:45 AM
FAIL.
fossten on March 6, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Not necessarily. The GOP should be loud and clear against the administration. Some are (like Coburn and Demint), but not nearly enough. And schmucks Collins/Snowjob/Specter don’t help our case either.
The GOP needs to be loud, and they’re just not.
ErinF on March 6, 2009 at 10:46 AM
GOP is incompetent if they don’t run on this combined with Rahm’s quote
jp on March 6, 2009 at 10:46 AM
But introducing democracy in the Middle East was a clear rationale with a chance of success — as we now know.
In contrast, pissing away $1 trillion on a make-believe asteroid that is heading toward the earth (you can’t see it, but the debate is over, the science is pretty solid on this asteroid, it’s totally out there, trust me). THAT is a cynical use of crisis to make things objectively worse.
That’s the difference between an open government and, well, an Obama government.
jeff_from_mpls on March 6, 2009 at 10:46 AM
Man? Ernesto is David Brooks’ buttboy.
AubieJon on March 6, 2009 at 10:46 AM
Have you considered the possibility that the market plunging IS part of the plan? Have you seen the administration do or say anything to to help the market? After all, we are talking about a government who sees crisis as opportunity to implement agendas that otherwise would be unacceptable to the American public.
neuquenguy on March 6, 2009 at 10:49 AM
She needs to lose her head over that comment, But I hope she doesn’t at least not yet. The obama admin needs to try and defend this position and then we need to really pounce!
Amadeus on March 6, 2009 at 10:50 AM
That was an attack, not a crisis.
RepubChica on March 6, 2009 at 10:50 AM
The stock market plunge is just a little old market “gyration”.
And finding out your Secretary of the Treasury is a tax cheat is a “hiccup” in the process.
These are not good people we’re dealing with.
jeff_from_mpls on March 6, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Imagine if Bush said this during 9/11.
promachus on March 6, 2009 at 10:51 AM
nailinmyeye
they said time and time again…”Bush is just using fear to scare people into going along with his policies”
Well…how the worm has turned….
We are watching this administration intentially cause the destruction of our way of life for the following possible reasons:
1) So, if things recover, they can take credit.
2) They can ride it down and reconstruct it in the image they see fit.
3) They are building a power base for themselves among immigrants and the poor (as most of us will be poor before long). They want all of us to become dependent on them so that they have a built in power base from here on out. We will “need” them to continue their policies because we can’t do for ourselves and succeed with the system they put in place.
They should all be tried for treason. Send them to Guantanimo.
sandlin71 on March 6, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Didn’t Hitler do the same thing?
Take an economic crisis situation and screw up Germany and the rest of the world…
albill on March 6, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Who can out shrew Hillary Clinton?
Why, twinkle toes Emanuel can.
Speakup on March 6, 2009 at 10:52 AM
unfreakingbelievable. They are so confident they aren’t even hiding the fact they are exploiting crisis as a means to an end.
BTW, Gordon Brown is a Socialist, but unlike Obama and Clinton, at least he recognizes the need for nuclear energy.
Buy Danish on March 6, 2009 at 10:52 AM
But remember if you want them to fail your un-patriotic, racist and a traitor to America.
gwelf on March 6, 2009 at 10:53 AM
I would like to attempt to put a silver lining in this crisis. Maybe the citizens of this once great nation, will see the evil that the Democratic agenda is thrusting upon us all. They will see the poverty that the Liberals are seeking to throw us all into. That the sacrifice of the value of our retirements funds will show the people of this country, that Liberal policies are not in the best interest of this country and that Liberalism will be dealt a mighty defeat…
Am I giving the citizens too much credit?
PappaMac on March 6, 2009 at 10:53 AM
Ed,
I see you’re still debating whether this is just rank incompetence or intentional. While there is plenty of incompetence in the Obama administration (heck, doing all this intentionally would itself be incompetence), it’s hard to hold the Dems accountable for the damage they are doing if one just chalks it all up to incompetence and unintended consequences.
Barry ran for POTUS intentionally, though grossly unqualified. The MSM was, is, and will continue to be intentionally in the tank for him. Voters intentionally elected him.
“ANYBODY BUT OBAMA!” should be a rallying cry in 2010 and 2012.
Christien on March 6, 2009 at 10:53 AM
Same here. I never thought I ever refer to the Clinton years as “the good old days”.
At least Bill was too busy chasing the White House interns to be screwing the country as bad as Barry/Hill/Rahm have been…
Timothy S. Carlson on March 6, 2009 at 10:54 AM
She is not saying anything that the White House chief of stuff hasn’t said before
neuquenguy on March 6, 2009 at 10:54 AM
That is probably true. But, like you, I make under $250,000, but I believe that given the circumstances and the hard work, I could make more than that at some point in my life.
The people who are under the magic 250 and still support Obama are the people who believe that if one takes an entry level job at McDonalds that is all they will ever have.
Class warfare mixed with ideological warfare.
myrenovations on March 6, 2009 at 10:54 AM
The only connection you can make with 9-11 and the present actions of the obama administration is that obama accomplished what the terrorists couldn’t.
hawkdriver on March 6, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Actually, the 9-11 analogy is pretty fruitful as a way to contrast solid leadership against the calculated manipulation of a left-wing ideologue.
President Bush attacked the immediate threat first, by toppling the taliban infestation of Afghanistan.
Child-President Obama says we can’t rush in and deal with the immediate threat of the stock market collapse, we have to deal with the long term issues like global warming first.
Compare President Bush to Child-President Obama, and Obama will always come out looking worse than he already does.
jeff_from_mpls on March 6, 2009 at 10:56 AM
I suppose if Hillary had been around when Hitler was overrunning Europe, she would have put a positive spin on taking advantage of that crisis.
“There’s never been a more opportune time to pour your savings into blood banks, prosthetics and funeral parlors.”
fogw on March 6, 2009 at 10:56 AM
Ed……….
…………. as we all crawl out of the ashes when this is all over, I surely hope you will have written all of this down.
Seven Percent Solution on March 6, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Sophistry.
Saddam was a very bad person. Iraq is better off today than they were before. Regardless of motives or justifications, it’s a done deal and the world is at least no worse off.
This bunch is going to make you poor and unemployed. How is this similar at all? Destroying the world economy to get your political views implemented is naive at best, Stalinistic at worst.
You will suffer personally, and your family and your progeny will pay the price for the rest of their lives.
Asher on March 6, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Never waste a depression.
Never waste a case of herpes.
Never waste a nuclear attack.
Never waste a sodomy.
What else am I missing?
Notorious GOP on March 6, 2009 at 10:58 AM
“Well, we would, but there’s this thing later at the Watergate, and Hillary will be there… might be awkward… you know what? We’ll get the next one, sport, we promise.”
- RNC
TMK on March 6, 2009 at 11:00 AM
You know you’re going to be sent to a re-education camp for that statement, right? Rahm will be your personal escort.
myrenovations on March 6, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Yes, you’re correct. This time we need to destroy them, really (no, I don’t mean “murder them”). I’ve tended to be moderate in terms of listening to others’ point of view. No longer. I have childred to protect here.
zeebeach on March 6, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Offtopic…
on cnbc, they’re cameras are backing up enough so you can see the teleprompters.
fox news and cnn are zoomed in so you can’t see them. the business guys must be getting pissed at obama.
Vincenzo on March 6, 2009 at 11:01 AM
neuquenguy on March 6, 2009 at 10:49 AM
I and I think some others here had mentioned that, and one of o’s strategies is to keeps everybody wondering, and we all seem to be falling for it(except Rush?)We keep attributing all this devious stuff to him and some grand master plan and mostly I think we’re right. But in the case of the market, I think he just doesn’t care since he cannot control it. He has built it out of his game plan because he’s only comfortable with stuff he can control. Hope I’m right about this!!
jeanie on March 6, 2009 at 11:01 AM
I think his popularity is simply due to him being in office for only 46 days. The American people will give him a few more months before you see any major dent in his approval ratings.
And I actually agree with this attitude. Don’t get me wrong, Obama is a disaster and we’ll be in much worse shape come 2010 and 2011. But you don’t give up on a President after a month and a half. We may be a fickle society with a short attention span, but we’re not THAT impatient.
Doughboy on March 6, 2009 at 11:01 AM
*** DEEP THOUGHTS by: Internet Warrior ***
If we cross a Bulldog with a Shitsu, we would get Obama.
Mark Garnett on March 6, 2009 at 11:01 AM
PIMF, dammit.
zeebeach on March 6, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Wow, the Dow dove again. Is Obama speaking somewhere or something?
carbon_footprint on March 6, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Hillary trots out Rahm’s crisis-management advice in Europe.
Sorta like the blind leading the blind?
Meanwhile, China is increasing the size, lethality and scope of its military…
While the United States and the West are busy arguing over where to place the deck chairs, China is about to fire a salvo of torpedoes into the heavily listing hulk of the Titanic.
coldwarrior on March 6, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Funny enough he is. I was thinking the same thing myself. The top headline on Yahoo’s homepage is “Obama to speak at the graduation of 25 Ohio police recruits”. Wall Street must’ve read that too.
Doughboy on March 6, 2009 at 11:05 AM
That’s because China knows that one should never let a good crisis go to waste.
myrenovations on March 6, 2009 at 11:05 AM
Gas is beginning to creep up. If by summer, it’s back to last summer’s levels, things will go out of control.
McCain sucked, but Obama is the worst of all worlds.
The financial-sector problems were inevitable, but I think McCain would have seen U.S. oil and natural gas as bridges to other energy sources. With Obama and Congressional Dems, we’ll have a situation analogous to keeping the royal grain silos stocked, while everyone else starves.
Energy, judicial appointments, and foreign policy–though maybe little else–were the reasons not to vote for Obama and, instead, to vote for McCain.
Again, with Obama, we have the worst of all worlds on all issues.
BuckeyeSam on March 6, 2009 at 11:05 AM
Hey, that was going to be my point too. The mad media would never let conservatives get away with the adjective “good” when millions of people are losing their homes and jobs. They will probably allow Hillary to call it “an unfortunate choice of words” and do a mea culpa, if it picks up any traction.
Axeman on March 6, 2009 at 11:05 AM
This whole administration has to resign, now! All of them. Every single one of these dirtbags. Either that, or they need to be perp-walked and thrown in the slammer. They are terrible, despicable, America-hating morons who are using every second of their time in power to destroy our country.
progressoverpeace on March 6, 2009 at 11:05 AM
Yes! He has a bunch of police graduates in Columbus Ohio held hostage while he pushes his economy destroying agenda, and lies to them by bragging about the “tax cuts” coming in April – while not telling them that he is going to raise their energy costs so they can’t turn on a freaking lightbulb without being penalized.
Buy Danish on March 6, 2009 at 11:05 AM
I heard that China is also busy buying California foreclosed properties by the bucketfull.
neuquenguy on March 6, 2009 at 11:07 AM
bambi is at a police academy graduation or something akin to that in columbus ohio. he is saying that his 700 billion stimulus package allowed these 25 recruits to get a job. they must be well-paid police rookies.
kelley in virginia on March 6, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Wow, the Dow dove again. Is Obama speaking somewhere or something?carbon_footprint on March 6, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Yes. For some reason, Dopey is in Columbus, Ohio, addressing a class of police academy graduates.
Shouldn’t he be back in DC helping Geithner sift through resumes to help him staff the Treasury? Better yet, looking for a replacement for Geithner?
BuckeyeSam on March 6, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Wow, the Dow dove again. Is Obama speaking somewhere or something?
carbon_footprint on March 6, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Fox News:
“Obama Speaks at Police Graduation in Ohio: Watch Live”
Bishop on March 6, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Yep, I can hear him flapping his gums on the TV in the other room.
Things look bad all around, but Hillary says “this is a propitious time”.
forest on March 6, 2009 at 11:08 AM
and china owning california would be bad how? because of the food grown there? they can have hollywood.
kelley in virginia on March 6, 2009 at 11:08 AM
You know what the problem with this whole “never let a good crisis go to waste” philosophy is that its implicit within that thought that those in power have a vested interest in keeping the crisis going for as long as they can. Because without the crisis, there is nothing for them to leverage. Can’t the MSM and the public see the danger in that?
AmericanUnderground on March 6, 2009 at 11:09 AM
Better yet, writing his own letter of resignation.
progressoverpeace on March 6, 2009 at 11:09 AM
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